Voters on Tuesday ousted the only incumbent who sought re-election to the Walton County Commission, which means three new board members will begin representing the county this fall.
Challenger Cindy Meadows beat incumbent Cecilia Jones by just 152 votes to take back the District 3 seat she held from 2004 to 2008, according to unofficial results.
Meadows, 58, of Seagrove Beach, took the lead in the universal primary with 34.97 percent of the vote over Jones’ 33.31 percent. She also beat three other challengers, including former District 5 Commissioner Tim Pauls.
Meadows was the first woman ever elected to the Walton County Commission in 2004. She stepped down in 2008 because of health reasons, and voters picked Jones to fill her seat.
“It was a tough race and it was a close race,” Meadows said Tuesday night. “I’m glad to regain my seat and I look forward to going to work and finishing up some of the projects we started when I was a commissioner.”
Meadows will take office in November despite a significant lag in campaign funding. She raised $25,942, about $20,000 less than Jones, who had the largest campaign coffer of all Walton commission candidates.
On the heels of some recent and prominent controversies, the primary drew 13 candidates for the three County Commission seats.
Bill Chapman, former services director for the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, defeated five opponents in the primary for the open District 1 seat with 28 percent of the vote. His closest competition came from Bill Fletcher, with just under 21 percent.
Chapman, 62, of Ponce de Leon, will face Democrat Frank Day in the general election Nov. 6.
“I’m pleased with the outcome and want to thank all my supporters who helped with the campaign and came out to vote,” Chapman said. “It’s been a long, hot race and I’ve put some miles on my car and burned some gasoline, as I’m sure the other candidates did, too. Now I look forward to taking on the Democratic challenger.”
Chapman raised $26,160 in campaign funds, the most of the candidates in his race, according to records.
District 1 Commissioner Scott Brannon announced he would not seek re-election amid controversy over use of his public email account.
Bill Imfeld, the county’s former finance director, handily beat opponent Rick Roberts for the open District 3 seat, with almost 58 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results.
Imfeld, 64, of DeFuniak Springs, stepped down from his position in March after nearly 12 years.
According to the Elections Office, Imfeld raised $14,775 in campaign contributions, about 40 percent more than Roberts, a 40-year-old manager at Clements Antiques in DeFuniak Springs.
“I’m pleased the voters of Walton County have expressed confidence in me, and look forward to working with them to restore confidence in county government,” Imfeld said after the election Tuesday.
Current District 3 Commissioner Larry Jones did not seek re-election after serving three terms.
With the defeat of Cecilia Jones, three out of five commissioners will be new to the board come fall.
“I think it’s going to be good to get a fresh approach and a new start (at the commission),” Meadows said. “Some things have not been as great as I think they can be. People have a lot of expectations and we’ve got to work really hard to let them know they’ve elected the right people for the job.”
Supervisor of Elections Bobby Beasley said he was disappointed with Tuesday’s turnout of just under 26 percent of registered voters.
He said he expects a bigger turnout, hopefully 70 to 80 percent, for the presidential election Nov. 6.
