LAUREL HILL — To fill three City Council seats, voters here chose city hall outsiders over an incumbent and a former mayor.

Among new council members is the current mayor’s wife.

Debra Adams, Daniel Lane and Scott Moneypenny will replace incumbent Willie Mae Toles, retiring Councilwoman Betty Williamson, and will fill a third seat vacant for more than a year and a half.

Former mayor and city councilwoman Joan Smith and resident Randy Tickle were also defeated.

“I am looking forward to working for the citizens of our city,” Councilwoman-elect Adams said.

In an interesting political twist, her husband is Laurel Hill Mayor Robby Adams.

“Maybe we’ll have to check our politics at the door,” Robby Adams said, laughing. “It’s a unique situation.”

He said while their relationship could lead to more cohesiveness on some city matters, it wasn’t necessarily a guarantee.

“How many husbands and wives always agree on everything?” Robby Adams said.

The couples’ boys, Dylan, 10, and Aidan, 6, were “real excited” that their mom was elected, he said.

“Debra told me our older son was calculating. He said, ‘Mom, if you serve two terms, I can vote for you on your third term.’ He’s already doing the math,” Robby Adams said.

While the mayor is a non-voting member of the council, under Florida’s Sunshine Laws, there would be some restrictions on kitchen table conversation, Adams said.

“I just can’t share with her what another council member’s thinking,” he said.

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Issue most Laurel Hill couples don't face? Obeying Sunshine Laws

CRESTVIEW — Graham Fountain, Republican, retired state law enforcement director and former undersheriff, seeks election to the Okaloosa County Commission District 1 seat being held by Wayne Harris, who will not seek re-election.

He served in the administrations of Gov. Jeb Bush, Florida CFOs Gen. Robert Milligan and Tom Gallagher, Okaloosa Sheriff Larry Gilbert and Walton Sheriff Mike Adkinson, and is a seasoned legislative and regulatory advocate and public policy expert. He was commissioner of the Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission and the State Historical Commission, and served on the USDOJ and Florida Homeland Security Advisory Councils.

He has managed over $400 million in budgets and work capital project program dollars, and has led more than 1,000 employees. While director (colonel) of Law Enforcement for the Florida Department of Transportation under Jeb Bush's administration, Fountain served on the department’s executive committee and was involved in the delivery of all statewide transportation projects and programs.

Directing a statewide build out of commercial vehicle inspection facilities and law enforcement and communications operations centers, Fountain gained experience in road building, building construction and information technologies. He also served on the ESG-16 support function in the state emergency operations center, making decisions on emergency management operations during activations and out-of-state deployments.

As financial investigations chief for Florida CFO Bob Milligan, Fountain directed the state’s Fiscal Integrity Program, which identified and investigated waste, fraud and abuse in state and local agencies receiving and spending public funds.

Fountain holds a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice/Political Science from Troy State University and received his master’s degree in Management and Leadership Studies from Liberty University Graduate School of Business.

He is a graduate of the American Association of Highway Safety and Transportation Officials’ Executive Leadership Academy, Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute’s Chief Executive Program at Florida State University, The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center at Glynco, and over 2,000 hours' advanced training in accreditation, quality assurance with Sterling Organizational Excellence Systems, leadership and management, homeland security, emergency management, and public safety technology.

Fountain plans to focus his campaign on the continued restoration of trust in county government; economic development; highway capacity issues; and making sure county government is well prepared for emergency management challenges in the future.

A strict constitutionalist and champion of full transparency in governance, Fountain will work with other board members and the Clerk of Court to fully implement a comprehensive website for the public to review all budget work, financial transactions and expenditures, and public employees’ salaries.

He also will propose a “county citizens academy,” similar to citizens academies held by the sheriff and local police departments." He pledges to donate a portion of his salary, if elected, to local charities and non-profits that serve the county.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Retired law enforcement director, former Okaloosa undersheriff eyes county commission

CRESTVIEW — Getting down to the wire on Election Day evening, candidates for Crestview mayor were optimistic about the outcome of the evening's ballot counting.

But in the end, it was the incumbent who triumphed.

Mayor David Cadle said he was humbled that voters should elect him to a third term as mayor of the county’s biggest city.

“I think it's a validation of the reform movement we started in the police department and improvements and efficiencies we created in other city departments,” Cadle said.

Serving as mayor, he said, “has been one of the biggest blessings of my life.”

While Cadle and his supporters gathered at Hub City Smokehouse, other candidates’ Main Street election night parties were in full swing as well.

VOTERS WANT CHANGE

"I gave it everything I had," Councilman Tom Gordon said at Desi’s Restaurant. "I've been a good steward of the resources I had. I gave it every penny and every minute."

Gordon congratulated Cadle, but noted that against the mayor’s 703 votes, he and business owners Landrum Edwards and Jeremiah Hubbard had a combined 966 votes.

“Fifty-eight percent of the people wanted change,” Gordon said. “Voters are looking for change. They want better.”

After the final results came in, Hubbard thanked his supporters gathered at Casbah Coffeeshop, before heading down the street to congratulate Cadle.

“There are greater things always waiting for us on the horizon,” Hubbard said.

IN THE FRONT ROW

Edwards held no downtown gatherings for his campaign, but observed results coming in at the Supervisor of Elections office.

"Lanny's not a party person," his wife, Voncile, said. "We're just lying low today."

“I enjoyed the campaign,” Edwards said. “I hope I got some ideas out. I love my city of Crestview and I’ll still be sitting in the front row at council meetings, making my voice heard.”

Tuesday’s final count showed 1,669, or 13.3 percent, of Crestview’s 12,574 registered voters cast ballots in the election.

“If people don’t participate in the running of the city of Crestview, if they don’t vote, how can they gripe about anything?’ Edwards said. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CRESTVIEW ELECTION: Cadle elected to third term

LAUREL HILL — Voters in Okaloosa County’s northernmost incorporated city chose newcomers over an incumbent and former mayor to fill three seats on the City Council.

School teacher Debra Adams, retired engineer Daniel Lane and former Marine and sailor Scott Moneypenny will replace incumbent Willie Mae Toles, retiring Councilwoman Betty Williamson, and fill a seat that has been vacant for more than a year and a half.

Former mayor and city councilwoman Joan Smith, running to reclaim her council seat, was defeated with 27 votes to Adams’ 52, Lane’s 75 and Moneypenny’s 52.

Long-haul truck driver Randy Tickle received 20 votes, and Toles received 38.

Residents at a North Okaloosa Republican Club-sponsored candidates’ forum expressed a desire to see the city move forward from distractions including monthly deadlocks that failed to fill the vacant council seat, allegations of racial bias, and questions of residency.

Electing relative newcomers to the council seemed to indicate frustration with the status quo offered by longtime residents.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill voters choose newcomers to fill 3 council seats

CRESTVIEW — From widening roads in Crestview to paving roads in Laurel Hill, addressing crime statistics in Crestview to the very existence of Laurel Hill as an incorporated city, winners of Tuesday’s elections face issues of concern to their respective communities.

Here’s what insiders feel are the biggest issues facing both communities.

CRESTVIEW

From Crestview City Clerk Betsy Roy's perspective, the new council and mayor will immediately face one of the city’s biggest challenges.

“Obviously one of the first items is next year’s budget and that will be starting very quickly after they take office. That’s always the biggest thing. It’s probably the hardest thing that faces new council members,” she said.

Other issues that have arisen during the mayoral campaign, such as crime statistics and the perennial problems with State Road 85 traffic, also hinge on the budget, she said.

“Everything is brought by the different departments, so I can’t really comment on what they might bring. It’s brought on an item-by-item basis.

“The budget is the biggest challenge because it encompasses everything.”

LAUREL HILL

The Rev. Mike McVay is the first to say, “I don’t have a dog in this race,” but as pastor of one of the city’s largest congregations, he has an interest in Laurel Hill’s well-being.

“I think one of the biggest things is this discussion concerning the dissolution of the city,” McVay said. “That’s one thing I think a lot of residents would like to have the opportunity to discuss.

“And we all know that the streets are in terrible, terrible shape, but without any revenue coming in, the chances of them being repaired aren’t very good. How is the city going to fix them?

“And then there’s the issue of what kind of businesses we allow to come in. That’s been a big sore spot for a lot of people over the last two years; not being able to get a credit union but at the same time we got a liquor store.”

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: What’s at stake in Crestview's, Laurel Hill's elections

LAUREL HILL — Some residents know exactly what they want in a city council member.

"Honesty! Honesty!” Carl Gay said.

“And someone who’ll work for the people and not for their own self,” his wife, Ann, said.

“A great leader with honesty,” Tara Llewellyn said.

Fewer than 20 residents listened Monday as City Council candidates discussed hot topics during the North Okaloosa Republican Club's forum at Laurel Hill First Baptist Church's Fellowship Hall.

School teacher Debra Adams, retired engineer Daniel Lane, former Marine and sailor Scott Moneypenny, former mayor and city councilwoman Joan Smith, and Councilwoman Willie Mae Toles were present. Randy Tickle, a long-haul trucker, was absent due to illness. (See our Election Guide, which includes Tickle's comments on his platform.)

Here are some of the questions and answers:

Should Laurel Hill dissolve and be absorbed by the county?

ADAMS: “There’s a lot more research that needs to be done. This is a huge decision that needs to be made.

“Personally, I don't think this is a decision that needs to be made by the council or the mayor. It should be decided by the people. But it is the council and mayor's jobs to educate the citizens.”

LANE: “I'm not so sure it's going to be that easy to turn this town over to the county, or whether the county wants it. It's hard for me to say ‘yes’ when there's people who've lived here all their lives.

“It's going to be a long time before this ever takes place. We can't just turn the city over to the county and expect the county is going to be here the next day to pave the roads.”

MONEYPENNY: “It's definitely a very, very tough decision. I will fall back on my military background. I was involved in the BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure). I can say that with all the bases that were closed, the repercussions lasted many, many years.

“To see Laurel Hill dissolve, it would have to be an extremely long-term plan.” Services such as street lighting and garbage collection would be affected, he said.

JOAN SMITH: “I said it would be up to the people and it would be a referendum on the ballot. So many things would have to be approached. It would be a  long, drawn-out process. And who says the county wants us back?

“The ones you talk to that want to dissolve are the ones paying the ad valorem tax, and they don't feel like they're getting anything for their taxes.”

TOLES: “We have to speak if we're going to be city council members. We can't say we're going to do this for Laurel Hill or we're going to do that for Laurel Hill, but then you say something different behind my back.

“We don't need to talk about where we've been. I don't talk about where we've been or how many kids went to Laurel Hill School. That's not fixing any roads.”

The city lacks a grocery store, hardware store and banks. What can be done to attract more businesses?

ADAMS: “We had the opportunity to have a bank; a credit union. It did not happen. I was told by current council members there were too many people in the community that didn't want it.

“We had a credit union willing and able to come to our community and we turned them away. But when city government turns away a credit union, we have a bit of an issue.”

LANE: “We have a dollar store, a gas station and a liquor store. You can't buy a loaf of bread hardly in any of them. I'm all for getting any kind of business in this town.

“If you work for Laurel Hill, you have to get yourself out and do something to attract businesses.”

MONEYPENNY: “I have been on the phone with the Economic Development Council. I said, ‘Send some business our way.’

“One of the things that will help Laurel Hill is to develop our commercial corridor along (State Road) 85. Make it look like some place that someone would want to come to. Get business in the 1905 Gallery; get our tax base up.”

SMITH: “We don't have to let people come to us. We have to go to them.

“We have to go out and tell people what's available. Invite them to come see what we do have. That's what it's going to take.”

TOLES: “You and me can't do it. It takes all Laurel Hill to do it. (We're) going to have to make it happen first.

"We need grocery stores, we need jobs, we need business. We have young kids not doing anything. Some just sit down because there's nothing to do.”

Many long-time residents recently learned they live outside city limits. With their permission, should the city annex their property?

ADAMS: “Back in the '60s, it was assumed the property was annexed when the city annexed the property across the road.

“I think it is our job as a city to fix it. In 2006, there was an ordinance passed that said yes, you would have to be charged to be annexed into the city, which was a bad part because this was a misunderstanding.

“Somebody didn't cross a T or dot their I's, but the intent was there.”

LANE: “Those boundaries are set. They were set by Okaloosa County. It was not the city's responsibility. We have to go back to the records that show where those lines end and where they did not.

“We need the city attorney to make sure those boundaries are looked into. It's got to be definitely sure where those lines are, and we need to find out and do whatever needs to be done.”

MONEYPENNY: “There were 23 people notified they don't live inside the city limits … Why would you want to annex them? To give them amenities. We don't have too much to give.

“Another reason is to increase our tax base. Twenty-three people are not going to bring too many tax dollars to pave our roads.”

SMITH: “Every annexation I know of, the one who is requesting it has had to foot the bill. It was terribly expensive. It should not be the city's responsibility to foot the bill.”

TOLES: “Some people who live outside the city limits can't afford to pay the (annexation) fee, and the city can't afford it either.

“We need to stop this and find out where people live. Nobody knows where the city limit is. They (county authorities) only know where the city limit is when we're ready to vote.”

Do you have solutions for immediate relief of the roads, and would you support an assessment?

ADAMS: “Is there an immediate fix? No, because it takes money, equipment and manpower. All that stuff our city is lacking.

“We have a (Community Block Development Grant) … $600,000 is not going to cover 14 miles of roads. We need more grants to pave more roads. This is going to take time.”

LANE: “I know some of the fellows doing the patching could do with a little training. When that inspector comes and sees that hole, he's going to make them do it over again.

“It may be years on end before we get enough to fix those roads.”

MONEYPENNY: “Special assessment? Absolutely no. We're not young bucks. We live on a fixed income. The only way my bank account grows is if I don't spend any more."

He suggested looking at traffic patterns to take heavy trucks off side roads. “Any trucks that drive on our roads need to be looked at because they're tearing up the roads.”

SMITH: “I do not. We pay an ad valorem tax, and that would be enough for the roads.

“We had a project going. We chose the streets that would not be included with this grant. We started working on it, and all the planning that went to that went upside down and that was the end of that.

“What it takes is to use the money that has been assigned to us and work with the county, and I believe we could find some good progress.”

TOLES: “I been here. I drive a lot. I go to the post office a lot, and that's a terrible road.

“Last Saturday, I attended a funeral in Montgomery and I fell asleep (as a passenger) going because the road was so smooth…

“We got to get together. We got to get the people together.”

Laurel Hill School graduates have too few job opportunities to stay here. What can be done to attract more businesses to the industrial park?

ADAMS: “We can't turn our backs when we have a credible business that wants to come to Laurel Hill. We can use the Industrial Park to attract businesses.

“Community members who have contacts need to approach businesses.”

LANE, citing his nine children and 27 grandchildren, said, “I know what can happen when kids don't have anything to do… Try to draw any kind of business that can give jobs. We need to make sure there are opportunities here.

“Kids are very important. There's not that many fortunate enough to go to college. We need something here.”

MONEYPENNY advocated more vocational training and youth volunteer opportunities. “Everyone talks about, 'We need to bring businesses in,' but what kind of business can we bring in for a high school kid?

“Volunteer. Get your foot in the door with a volunteer group. I think it really takes getting to them when they start high school, and finding out where they want to go. To get an 18-year-old to work at Elite Trailers — that's a tough one.”

SMITH cited the school’s CHOICE programs, which, in conjunction with industry, lead to students’ certification in vocations.

“It all goes back to try to reach people for the Industrial Park. Try to get businesses in. The whole (1905) Gallery up there is empty. It needs businesses in it.”

TOLES: “The kids that graduate from Laurel Hill, they don't have anywhere to go. They can't stay here. If they stay here and they don't have no job, they’re on drugs. I've seen kids destroy their life because they don't have nothing.

“If your kid graduates, make them leave here. I've seen it. I'm saying it from my heart."

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill council candidates discuss roads, businesses and dissolution

CRESTVIEW — Okaloosa Supervisor of Elections Paul Lux says while just 12,574 Crestview residents are registered voters, he's still optimistic.

“I would contend this election actually is garnering more interest than we have seen in recent elections in Crestview,” Lux said. “The mayoral race has become so contentious it has a lot of people paying attention to it.

“It’s one of those factors that when people say, ‘What can we do to improve the turnout,’ I like to say the choices of candidates help to draw voters.”

As polls closed Thursday, Crestview voters outnumbered their counterparts in Laurel Hill, Fort Walton Beach and Shalimar during the first of two weeks of early voting for municipal offices.

AHEAD OF PAST COUNTS

While 178 voters have cast early ballots in Crestview, two Laurel Hill voters voted early. Three residents voted in Shalimar and 64 voters turned out in Fort Walton Beach, according to Supervisor of Elections' daily counts.

With a week of early voting remaining, Lux said Crestview is on track to top 2013’s 213 total early votes and possibly the 339 who voted early in 2011.

Absentee voters performed a bit better, with 239 votes in Crestview, 13 in Laurel Hill, 246 in Fort Walton Beach, and 33 in Shalimar.

Lux cautioned against using the lack of early Laurel Hill voters to draw conclusions about potential voter turnout.

“They don’t really take advantage of either early voting or absentees as a general rule,” Lux said. “It’s just a geographic thing.”

NO PREDICTIONS

Four mayoral candidates — incumbent David Cadle, business owner Landrum "Lanny" Edwards, City Councilman Tom Gordon and business owner Jeremiah Hubbard — are on the ballot in Crestview. Six council candidates — educator Debra Adams, retirees Daniel Lane and Scott Moneypenny, former Mayor Joan Smith, transportation worker Randy Tickle and City Councilwoman Willie Mae Toles — are running for three seats in Laurel Hill. Twelve council candidates are running for three Fort Walton Beach seats, and three town commission candidates are running in Shalimar.

Several candidates automatically will take their seats because they ran unopposed, including new Crestview City Councilmen Bill Cox and JB Whitten, two Fort Walton Beach councilmen, and Shalimar Mayor Gary Combs.

Early and absentee votes do not offer insight on voters’ choices of candidates. Early and absentee votes will be counted together on Election Day, March 10, beginning at 7 p.m.

EARLY VOTING

Registered voters may vote early in Crestview and Laurel Hill's municipal elections 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Supervisor of Elections Office, Brackin Building, 302 Wilson St. N., Suite 102, Crestview.

WHO’S VOTING?

City – Reg. Voters – Early Votes – Absentee Votes

Crestview – 12,574 – 178 – 239

Fort Walton Beach – 12,603 – 64 – 246

Laurel Hill – 318- 2 – 13

Shalimar – 635 – 3 – 33

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this article included incorrect infomration. Jeremiah Hubbard, though in ministry in 2011 and before then, is no longer an evangelist. We regret the error. 

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Mayoral race piques early voters’ interest