5th Gen Local
Beach Comber
Sure some will find a way to spin this into a biased article slanted and tainted with nepotism, conspiracy, unholy unions, mud slinging, backdoor deals, and the like, but here goes anyway::funn:
Walton sheriff?s candidates face home stretch
Kimberly White
August 23, 2008 - 2:15PM
They've walked door-to-door, hung fliers, sent out mailings, attended numerous community forums and set up roadside campaign signs throughout Walton County.
Tony Cornman, who along with the other candidates for Walton County sheriff has spent months trying to familiarize the public with his name and credentials, admitted the campaign trail has been tiring, but said that "if I didn't think I could win, I wouldn't be in the race.
"I understand there are a lot of people in the race and we're going to split these votes seven ways, but I think my chances are as good as any of the other candidates," he added. "Next Tuesday night will tell."
The moment of truth for him and the five other Republicans vying to replace incumbent Sheriff Ralph Johnson, is just two days away. Voters will decide Tuesday who will run against Democrat Danny Griffith in November's general election.
This year's race is reminiscent of the 2004 election, when Johnson, a Republican running for a second term, faced six challengers. He won less than 30 percent of the vote, but that was enough to win the primary. He then narrowly beat Democrat Billy McKee in the general election.
Johnson did not return calls for comment on this article.
As of 5 p.m. Friday, according to the county supervisor of elections Web site, Johnson had $23,250 in his campaign war chest.
Challenger Michael Adkinson, the city marshal of DeFuniak Springs, had $68,655. That's followed by Thomas Cooper ($36,445.00), Cornman ($18,104.66), Richard Brown ($5,310), Dennis Wise ($3,580) and Jimmy Macon ($672.75).
Griffith had $9,275.
All the challengers say they have spent most, if not all, of their money on signs, mailings and print and broadcast advertising.
Jim Anders, who chaired the Republican Party of Walton County in 2004 and now is president of the 30A Republican Club, predicted a close race. He said a couple of the candidates appear to be neck-and-neck.
Many people were not aware in 2004 that there would not be a runoff between the top two vote-getters, he added, but more people now are aware that "the candidate with the highest vote count on the 26th will be the candidate who will run against the Democrat in November."
But Tim Norris, the current chairman of the county's GOP, is less optimistic. He said that he sometimes thinks "our voting public is asleep at the wheel," and that the large pool of candidates once again could end up splitting the anti-incumbent vote.
Meanwhile, many candidates say they have received strong support along the campaign trail.
Macon reported that his campaign has "gone real good," and said many people have told him they will support him Tuesday. When asked how he felt about the possibility of the six challengers - including himself - splitting the anti-incumbent vote, he said the possibility "did cross my mind, and that would bother me."
Wise has spent most of his time finding out from people "what they want and what they expect and what they're not getting."
"To prevent that (split incumbent vote), vote for me and you'll know there won't be a split," he said. "If everyone makes the wise choice, there's no possibility for a split vote. And if they don't vote in the primary, they won't have a choice in the general."
Brown was similarly optimistic, although he admitted that he's not a politician who will go around patting himself on the back and saying he's the greatest candidate.
"I'm more of a people person ... I believe the other candidates are just as qualified as I am, and we all want the same thing," which is change, he said. "But I also want to express that the people in Walton County will have a tough decision at the polls."
Brown also emphasized the importance of change and getting "the good ol' boy system out of the office."
"The majority of the folks that I speak to feel there needs to be a change," Cooper agreed. "I, in turn, tell them that it's up to you as a voter to go out and make that change."
Adkinson said there has been "some widespread fear among the electorate" that the large field of candidates will effectively split the vote and hand Johnson a third term, and that everyone seems to agree that there are too many candidates in the race.
He speculated that some of them may be staying in the race to promote a particular platform or agenda, comparing the sheriff's race with that of presidential candidate Ralph Nader, who "certainly has a position or issue that he wants more of a focus on."
Norris said he and other volunteers still are making phone calls to Republican voters to ensure they go to the polls Tuesday.
"We're trying to continually put it in their minds that they need to put in on their calendars to get out and vote, or vote early, and make sure they realize that they have to vote because there won't be a run-off," he said.
Walton sheriff?s candidates face home stretch
Kimberly White
August 23, 2008 - 2:15PM
They've walked door-to-door, hung fliers, sent out mailings, attended numerous community forums and set up roadside campaign signs throughout Walton County.
Tony Cornman, who along with the other candidates for Walton County sheriff has spent months trying to familiarize the public with his name and credentials, admitted the campaign trail has been tiring, but said that "if I didn't think I could win, I wouldn't be in the race.
"I understand there are a lot of people in the race and we're going to split these votes seven ways, but I think my chances are as good as any of the other candidates," he added. "Next Tuesday night will tell."
The moment of truth for him and the five other Republicans vying to replace incumbent Sheriff Ralph Johnson, is just two days away. Voters will decide Tuesday who will run against Democrat Danny Griffith in November's general election.
This year's race is reminiscent of the 2004 election, when Johnson, a Republican running for a second term, faced six challengers. He won less than 30 percent of the vote, but that was enough to win the primary. He then narrowly beat Democrat Billy McKee in the general election.
Johnson did not return calls for comment on this article.
As of 5 p.m. Friday, according to the county supervisor of elections Web site, Johnson had $23,250 in his campaign war chest.
Challenger Michael Adkinson, the city marshal of DeFuniak Springs, had $68,655. That's followed by Thomas Cooper ($36,445.00), Cornman ($18,104.66), Richard Brown ($5,310), Dennis Wise ($3,580) and Jimmy Macon ($672.75).
Griffith had $9,275.
All the challengers say they have spent most, if not all, of their money on signs, mailings and print and broadcast advertising.
Jim Anders, who chaired the Republican Party of Walton County in 2004 and now is president of the 30A Republican Club, predicted a close race. He said a couple of the candidates appear to be neck-and-neck.
Many people were not aware in 2004 that there would not be a runoff between the top two vote-getters, he added, but more people now are aware that "the candidate with the highest vote count on the 26th will be the candidate who will run against the Democrat in November."
But Tim Norris, the current chairman of the county's GOP, is less optimistic. He said that he sometimes thinks "our voting public is asleep at the wheel," and that the large pool of candidates once again could end up splitting the anti-incumbent vote.
Meanwhile, many candidates say they have received strong support along the campaign trail.
Macon reported that his campaign has "gone real good," and said many people have told him they will support him Tuesday. When asked how he felt about the possibility of the six challengers - including himself - splitting the anti-incumbent vote, he said the possibility "did cross my mind, and that would bother me."
Wise has spent most of his time finding out from people "what they want and what they expect and what they're not getting."
"To prevent that (split incumbent vote), vote for me and you'll know there won't be a split," he said. "If everyone makes the wise choice, there's no possibility for a split vote. And if they don't vote in the primary, they won't have a choice in the general."
Brown was similarly optimistic, although he admitted that he's not a politician who will go around patting himself on the back and saying he's the greatest candidate.
"I'm more of a people person ... I believe the other candidates are just as qualified as I am, and we all want the same thing," which is change, he said. "But I also want to express that the people in Walton County will have a tough decision at the polls."
Brown also emphasized the importance of change and getting "the good ol' boy system out of the office."
"The majority of the folks that I speak to feel there needs to be a change," Cooper agreed. "I, in turn, tell them that it's up to you as a voter to go out and make that change."
Adkinson said there has been "some widespread fear among the electorate" that the large field of candidates will effectively split the vote and hand Johnson a third term, and that everyone seems to agree that there are too many candidates in the race.
He speculated that some of them may be staying in the race to promote a particular platform or agenda, comparing the sheriff's race with that of presidential candidate Ralph Nader, who "certainly has a position or issue that he wants more of a focus on."
Norris said he and other volunteers still are making phone calls to Republican voters to ensure they go to the polls Tuesday.
"We're trying to continually put it in their minds that they need to put in on their calendars to get out and vote, or vote early, and make sure they realize that they have to vote because there won't be a run-off," he said.
I would guess that each of these guys are in the race because they think THEY are the best one for the job and as Mr. Cornman says: "if I didn't think I could win, I wouldn't be in the race.
Further agreeing with Mr. Cornman, "Next Tuesday night will tell.
