A few political signs are appearing in Washington County, Florida, but nowhere near the numbers, or level of roadside pollution, to which neighboring Holmes and Jackson Counties have already grown.
One hot topic of discussion this election cycle is the availability, or lack, of internet connectivity in rural Washington County, and the opportunities available to citizens to secure a reasonably-priced, dependable source of online connectivity, especially in light of the Coronavirus and the increased need for home internet, especially for students.
Washington County Board of County Commissioners Chairman Tray Hawkins and County Administrator Jeff Massey recently made a trip to Washington DC to explore the possibilities of increasing the availability of broadband in the County and made significant headway, according to reports.
In local Washington County, Florida politics, some races attracting job applicants include those for Clerk of Court, School Board, Superintendent of Schools, Supervisor of Elections and the Board of County Commissioners.
Sheriff Kevin Crews has qualified to run for re-election, but as yet there has been no challenge to him for the job.
Longtime educator Jerry Harrell is challenging incumbent Washington County School Board Member District 2 Lou Cleveland in a non-partisan race for that seat, while incumbent School Board Member District 3 Milton Brown has yet to be challenged.
Tax Collector Ken Naker and Property Appraiser Gil Carter have also both qualified for their respective positions, but neither faces opposition at the time of this publication.
Clerk of Court Lora Bell is again challenged by local resident Stephanie Blankenship, who vied for that job four years ago against Bell.
The position of Washington County Supervisor of Elections sees the heaviest traffic, with local resident Republicans Corey Odom and Christopher Hyatt, along with Democrat Priscilla Brown, vying for that office, currently occupied by long-time incumbent Carol Rudd.
In County Commission races, Republican incumbent Tray Hawkins, District 3 Commissioner, has an opponent in Democrat Isaac Brown, who vied for that office eight years ago, while Republican incumbent Steve Joyner, representing District 5, has drawn opposition from Republicans Christopher Cloud of Bonifay and Lynn Gothard of Wausau, who was unseated by Joyner in 2016.
Washington County District 1 Commission seat, currently held by incumbent Alan Bush, is challenged by Vernon’s Travis Hall, who made a bid for that office eight years ago, in 2012.
Washington County Superintendent of Schools Joe Taylor has competition for the first time in eight years for that job, faced by Martha Compton, currently serving as Director of Florida Panhandle Technical College, with both candidates of the Republican party.
With just over sixteen weeks of hard campaigning to come, most of those in the hottest months of the year, we typically would be looking toward parades, festivals, town hall forums and political debates, but the Coronavirus and social distancing make the fate of those events suspect, and these candidates may have to conduct virtual campaigns.
Rumors are rife about potential candidates in these and other races, and as these contests are slugged out, with candidates unable to shake hands or kiss babies, the region looks toward upcoming non-traditional candidate forums and public debates, including online and virtual forums, such as those endorsed and executed by the Washington County Republican Party, the Chipley Kiwanis Club, the Roulhac Enrichment Center and various town hall meetings, as seen in these photos from past election forums.
