CRESTVIEW — Potential candidates, or those who want to learn about the candidate process, may attend Candidate University, a three-hour seminar by the Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections office.

Two Dec. 10 sessions are available.

The first is 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on the conference room’s third floor of the Water & Sewer Building, 1804 Lewis Turner Blvd., Fort Walton Beach.

The second is 6-9 p.m. on the conference room’s third floor of the Buddy Brackin Building, 302 N. Wilson St., Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Candidate University set Dec. 10 for budding politicians

FORT WALTON BEACH — Okaloosa County commissioners on Tuesday voted to extend through December a pilot program that increases recycling and decreases garbage collection.

The program started in February in the neighborhoods of Poquito Bayou, Longwood and unincorporated Shalimar.

County commissioners are considering implementing the program countywide.

Public Works Director John Hofstad told commissioners that he and his staff still are negotiating with Waste Management to amend its current contract with the county.

“We continue to hammer away with Waste Management to try and structure a deal,” he said. “We’re not quite there.”

Under the new program, solid waste customers would swap their 18-gallon curbside recycling bins for 96-gallon rolling cans. Household garbage pickup would drop from twice a week to once a week, and three different trucks would collect garbage, recycling and yard waste on the same day.

Hofstad assured commissioners that any amendment to Waste Management’s contract would have to include “a significant rate reduction” for customers or it wouldn’t happen.

Commissioners said they support a rate cut and want the county staff to take the time to reach a deal.

“I think we need to walk through this cautiously and do it the right way so our citizens get benefits from this,” Commissioner Wayne Harris said.

Commissioner Nathan Boyles, who was sworn in at the beginning of Tuesday’s meeting, said the county must “be careful to look at the numbers” as it moves forward to secure an agreement that is best for residents’ long-term interest.

 “If we can take steps to move towards a recycle-type mentality … we could save ourselves substantial problems down the road,” he said.

Hofstad said Waste Management expects to present the county with a “best and final offer” sometime in the next few weeks.

 “Our goal is to have it resolved by the end of the year,” he added.

If the county decides not to amend Waste Management’s contract and implement the new recycling program, the next opportunity would be in 2016 when the contract expires.

Contact Daily News Staff Writer Tom McLaughlin at 850-315-4435 or tmclaughlin@nwfdailynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomMnwfdn.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa extends pilot recycling program, may become countywide

FORT WALTON BEACH — Okaloosa County Commissioners on Tuesday denied the Tourist Development Council’s request to allow Kathy Houchins to serve as chairwoman for a third year.

Commissioners would have had to waive existing TDC rules because the current policy prohibits a chairman from serving more than two one-year terms. The TDC requested the waiver because it said Houchins’ experience would be helpful to Dan O’Byrne, the county’s new tourism development director.

Commissioners praised Houchins’ service but voted unanimously not to grant the TDC’s request.

“I don’t think it’s necessary to do this,” said Commissioner Dave Parisot, who also serves as a TDC member. “The TDC is an advisory committee. I don’t think retaining long-term membership … would be necessary for Mr. O’Byrne to do his job.”

Parisot said many TDC members even have supported the idea of having shorter terms and more turnover on the council.

Commissioner Kelly Windes, who was sworn into office at the beginning of Tuesday’s meeting, agreed.

“There’s times when you need to make waivers on policy,” he said. “I don’t think it’s in the best interest of the people of Okaloosa County for this to be one of those times.”

Commissioner Wayne Harris said the county needs to “stay tuned to its existing policies.”

“Kathy (Houchins) is a phenomenal friend and a phenomenal person,” he said. “I just think we’re sending the wrong message when we wave a policy we’ve just established.”

In early May, the TDC was among many county departments rocked by the discovery of a financial scandal that ultimately claimed the life of former tourism director Mark Bellinger.

Bellinger, 53, died May 4 of a drug overdose amid fraud allegations. The FBI discovered that he spent $747,000 from a BP oil spill grant to illegally buy his home in Destin. Authorities also found that Bellinger had made numerous questionable expenditures with bed tax money, including $710,000 for a Marquis yacht.

O’Byrne, who was hired in August to replace Bellinger, has been dealing with increased oversight from commissioners and more stringent policies, particularly those governing spending.

Contact Daily News Staff Writer Kari Barlow at 850-315-4438 or kbarlow@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @KariBnwfdn.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa denies TDC request for Houchins third term

LAUREL HILL — Mixed emotions abound for this north county town’s residents after city leaders on Tuesday unanimously voted to consider dissolving the city and becoming an unincorporated community.

City leaders voted 4-0 to set a Dec. 11 town hall meeting on the fate of Laurel Hill. The town’s history stems to 1895, when it first appeared on a map; the Florida legislature incorporated it in 1954.

That longevity counts for something, some residents said.

"It's one of the oldest establishments in Okaloosa County and to take it away so many years later is just sad," said lifelong resident Krystal Kirkland, who plans to attend the 6 p.m. town hall at First Baptist Church of Laurel Hill.

She won't be alone, according to resident Pam Nolan, who opposes the measure.

"I hope it doesn't happen," Nolan said of dissolution, noting she will attend the town hall meeting and encourages others to give input. "I think many people feel the same way. If people care about (the city), they will be there.”

However, Paul Mack, who lives on Skyline Drive, said his road is in dire need of repair and he would support the measure, under which Laurel Hill would run under Okaloosa County’s control.

"We are not getting our money's worth for taxes we pay (as citizens)," he said, adding that if Laurel Hill were to rejoin the Okaloosa County, he believes many roads would receive repairs.

The topic arose after resident Harold Jones addressed the council about many of the city’s roads in disrepair.

"I think it's time we looked at this realistically," Jones said. "The roads are a problem, have been a problem, and will continue to be a problem."

Jones said he has met with Okaloosa County officials several times for assistance in fixing the roads, without success.

He suggested removing the "city" title from Laurel Hill, making it an unincorporated community.

Jones suggested the issue come before residents in the next election cycle. Council Vice President Robby Adams motioned to begin the process of having a referendum on the matter.

Council member Betty Williamson seconded Adams’ motion, which passed.

Larry Hendren and Clifton Hall also voted in favor of the motion. Willie Mae Toles was absent.

Adams’ motion to begin proceedings for possible dissolution was necessary to draft an ordinance for the March ballot.

"Before the council can get the ball rolling, they have to get the citizens’ input in a town hall meeting," city attorney Daniel Campbell said. Should the council proceed with drafting the ordinance, its leaders must work with the Okaloosa County tax collector's office to ensure they follow Florida statutes.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill sets Dec. 11 town hall to mull dissolving the city

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Rick Scott, one of the most vocal critics of the federal health care overhaul, is dropping his staunch opposition to the law.

Scott said in an interview Tuesday with The Associated Press that he now wants to negotiate with the federal government. He said it's time for Republicans to offer solutions to help families after they lost their bid to defeat President Barack Obama.

"The election is over and President Obama won," Scott said. "I'm responsible for the families of Florida … If I can get to yes, I want to get to yes."

Scott had previously stated that he would not go along with any parts of the health care overhaul that the state controls.

But his newfound willingness to have a "conversation" about putting it in place in Florida comes at a critical time.

States have until Friday to notify federal authorities whether they plan to set up health insurance exchanges, a marketplace where individuals and smalls businesses can shop for the most affordable coverage and where many will get help from the government to pay their premiums.

Florida so far has taken no steps to set up its own exchange.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced an extension last week. She still wants to hear if states will be setting up health insurance markets under the law. But governors can now take another month, until mid-December, to submit detailed blueprints.

Most states have been on the fence awaiting the election outcome. They now have three options: running their own exchanges, operating an exchange in partnership with the federal health officials, or letting the feds handle everything.

Scott said he still has concerns about the exchanges, including the cost of running one and whether it would increase the cost of health care for families. But he said he's sure federal officials want to find ways to provide affordable health care to people.

"I don't think anyone involved in trying to improve health care should say 'No, no, no,'" said Scott "Let's have a conversation."

Scott's willingness to discuss the issue with federal officials in Washington aligns him closer to some other Republican leaders in Florida.

Incoming Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford, for example, said the state may be willing to set up an exchange if it gets some better answers from Washington about how they will work.

Weatherford said that in the short term the state may have to default to the federal government but he is leaving open the possibility that could change.

"To me, Florida should control its own future," Weatherford said.

Scott made his fortune as a health care executive and once ran the nation's largest hospital chain. He made his first foray into politics by forming a group called Conservatives for Patients' Rights that ran TV ads criticizing health care reform before it was adopted by Congress.

Florida led the legal battle to stop the health care overhaul and shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the law Scott said that the state would not implement the exchanges or expand its Medicaid program to enroll more people in the program.

Florida had the nation's third-highest rate of residents without health insurance during the past three years, according to Census data released last year.

But the state also has some of the most stringent eligibility requirements in the country for Medicaid.

A family of three with income of $11,000 a year makes too much and single residents are not covered. The Obama administration wants those requirements loosened so that an estimated 2 million uninsured Floridians could be covered by Medicaid. But experts don't believe all those eligible will participate. Feds will pick up 100 percent of the tab for the first three years and at least 90 percent after, along with extra funding for technology costs.

Florida's Medicaid program currently costs more than $21 billion a year, with the federal government picking up roughly half the tab. It covers nearly 3 million people — about half are children — and consumes about 30 percent of the state budget.

Advocates who favor expanding the Medicaid rolls say it will save money in the long run by deterring people from emergency rooms — the most expensive, least effective place to treat people.

The issue has been predictably polarizing with conservative groups urging states to dig in their heels and fight federal implementation.

"Governors should join the growing chorus in sending a strong message to Washington that their states will not implement these flawed health insurance exchanges" said Nicole Kaeding of Americans for Prosperity. "Exchanges raise prices on consumers and increase taxes on hardworking families."

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Governor wants to talk health care

CRESTVIEW — Lines stretched out of the library lobby, across the portico and down the sidewalk Saturday morning as several area residents took a sunny fall day to vote on the early voting period’s last day.

Of Okaloosa County’s 129,578 registered voters, 32,811 cast ballots during the Oct. 27-Nov. 3 early voting week. Of those, 10,588 voted at the two north county polling places, including more than 7,600 at the Crestview Public Library and almost 3,000 at the Supervisor of Elections office on Wilson Street.

Among those exiting the library’s main meeting room was Carmine Harrell, who had just exercised his right to vote for the first time. Carmine, a Crestview High School senior, turned 18 Saturday.

“It was the first thing he wanted to do,” Lee Harrell, his mother, said. “He feels empowered. He was very excited. It was the first thing he said this morning: ‘I get to vote today!’ He’s been talking about it all week.”

Seizing the opportunity to vote for his local and national civic leaders was a great feeling, he said.

“It was good. It was easy,” Carmine said after voting. “I feel more American today.”

Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections Paul Lux said, at times, the large turnout of voters like Carmine overwhelmed early voting places. While voters at the Crestview library waited in line for often more than 15 minutes Saturday morning, the wait in Shalimar sometimes reached 40 minutes, Lux said. The two legal-sized, two-sided-page ballots kept printers humming. But sometimes the machines got overworked.

“There’s always the occasional problem when you put that kind of stress on a computerized system,” Lux said. “There will always be some technical hiccups.”

Lux said that given the amount of interest in tomorrow’s presidential election, he expects a high turnout at the polls on Election Day. However, he said, even with a slate of constitutional amendments, local and national offices, some voters wouldn’t bother to vote.

“I always like to tell people I would like to be pleasantly proved wrong by having everybody come out to vote,” Lux said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Early voters turn out in droves

SHALIMAR —  Incumbent Wayne Harris will face challenger Ron Connor on Nov. 6 in the race for the District 1 seat on the Okaloosa County Commission.

Harris, a Republican, was elected in 2008. Connor, a Democrat, lost to Harris that year.

Harris, executive director of the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce, said he wants more time on the board to reach some of his goals.

"There are some things I wanted to do, but I haven’t completed them yet, and I want to see them through," he said.

Among his top priorities are paving Okaloosa Lane and more of the dirt roads in the north county.

"I’ve got one ultimate goal, and that’s to get the road into Bob Sikes Airport to open that whole industrial park," Harris said. "I want to see that done in the next four years."

Connor, a former Navy commander, said he’s running for the seat because he hasn’t been pleased with Harris’ performance.

Connor said he is most concerned about what he calls the county’s high-paid "czars" supervising various departments such as the airport and library.

"It’s just a layer of bureaucracy that’s not needed," he said.

Connor also has spending and safety concerns about Bob Sikes Airport. The industrial park has too many buildings located too close to taxiways and runways, he said.

He said he also is concerned about the September arrest of former County Commissioner James Campbell on perjury and official misconduct charges.

"That was money laundering, plain and simple," Connor said. "I think they’re kind of washing over it."

Harris, who spent 27 years in the Air Force, said he’s had many questions from residents who are upset about the most recent financial scandal to rock the tourism development department. He said the county needs strong leaders in the coming months to navigate the aftermath.

"I think I am one of those strong leaders," Harris said.

Contact Daily News Staff Writer Kari Barlow at 850-315-4438 or kbarlow@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @KariBnwfdn.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Connor challenges Harris for Okaloosa commission seat

CRESTVIEW — A long-time resident’s lengthy service and contributions received recognition Oct. 22.

“This evening’s a very special time because each year we honor one of our finest,” Mayor David Cadle said during Monday’s city council meeting. “He has been selected as (Firefighter) of the Year. I have the greatest admiration for these men and women because they serve our people so well.”

Cadle and Traylor introduced Battalion Chief Tony Holland, a long-time member of the city’s fire brigade.

“Tony came to us right out of high school and was the first official firefighter I hired,” Traylor said. “He went from rookie, going to firefighting school with the chief (and) up through the ranks.”

Holland supervises the department’s communications and handles computer expertise.

“He was instrumental in implementing our tablet program, the first in its kind in Northwest Florida,” Traylor said. Each fire battalion uses tablet computers to map incidents and communicate among members.

Holland also is the company chaplain.

 Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Life-long Crestview resident named Firefighter of the Year

CRESTVIEW — On Thursday, Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections Paul Lux stated in a press release there are three ways residents can vote in the November election: Vote Early, Vote by Mail, or Vote at the Polls on election day.

Early voting is from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 27 through Nov. 3 at the Crestview Public  Library, 1445 Commerce Drive, Crestview; Supervisor of Elections Office, 302 N. Wilson St., Suite 102, Crestview; Niceville City Hall, 208 N. Partin Drive, Niceville; and the Shalimar Annex, 1250 N. Eglin Parkway, Shalimar. (Early voting is no longer offered at the University of Florida Research and Engineering Education Facility by Eglin Air Force Base.)

Voters can request absentee ballots early by telephone, email, mail, in person or at www.govote-okaloosa.com. The ballots must be returned to the Supervisor of Elections office by 7 p.m. on Election Day to be counted. Third-party pick-up by a designated immediate family member is allowed four days before election day. The deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail is Oct. 31.

Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on election day. You must vote in the precinct in which you live. Florida Statute 101.043 requires you to show photo and signature identification when you vote in person, whether early or at the polls.

For details call 689-5600.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Early voting starts Saturday