I am Todd Abbott, a fiscally conservative Republican, and I am running for re-election as Washington County Commissioner for District 4, after serving Washington County in that position for the past 12 years.
I graduated from the Washington County school system in 1981, and I have two children (Dustin and Laci) and three grandchildren (Seth Abbott, Kaede Laney and Isla Laney), all of whom live in Washington County.
I have owned and operated two debt-free businesses in Washington County for over 30 years, Carpet Masters and Interstate Cleaning Services.
I have been asked many times why I should continue to have the privilege of serving Washington County, and what I have accomplished over the past 12 years, and the answer is lengthy, but no single County Commissioner can accomplish anything without the cooperative effort of the entire team.
The long answer to a seemingly short question is that I am proud to serve with a team that, for the first time in recent history, has been able to accomplish much, on many fronts, for Washington County, in spite of many challenges, including several hurricanes and severe weather events, flooding and the natural disaster of COVID-19.
Economic Development is a slow-moving train, and much like that train, takes a lot of effort and energy to get moving, but as it moves, it acquires kinetic energy, making movement faster and easier.
The economic slump in 2005, 2006 and 2007 saw little progress, and many projects that were planned or underway fell by the wayside, with several stagnant years following. However, in spite of natural disasters and unanticipated costs and challenges, we now see a bright future.
We are starting to see the fruits of our efforts as we see new businesses on Hwy 77 and on Hwy 79 in Vernon, as well as in the Hwy 79 Corridor Project- a collective effort by Washington County, Holmes County and Bonifay, Florida.
Several new retail stores, including Blackmon’s, Dollar General and Family Dollar/Dollar Tree; new restaurants including Popeye’s, Beef ‘O’ Brady’s, Outrigger and several more in the planning stage; along with major projects such as Community South Credit Union headquarters, are the direct result of increased demand and commerce, especially around the Hwy 77 and I-10 interchange, with Murphy Oil USA in front of Walmart also undergoing major renovations.
Washington County has recently processed almost 800 applications for building permits, holding promise for the immediate future growth of the area, and we are proud to have facilitated Veteran’s Services claims totaling over $18 million dollars, thanks to our tireless staff.
We have facilitated rebuilding many County parks, boat landings and other County buildings, and we are replacing many concrete bridges and culvert systems.
Our staff has been able to achieve Hazard Mitigation, with 17 flooded home buyouts, along with over $4 million dollars in CARES Act Funding, almost $5 million dollars in American Rescue Act Funding, and we have implemented the County-wide Rapid SOS Emergency Alert System. We have also facilitated over $20 million dollars in grants, with $42 million dollars pending, all of which will improve infrastructure in the County.
In addition, we have been successful in not increasing ad valorem taxes in the County, and in some cases, we have been able to decrease them. If you look at your current food, gas, mortgage or rent, and other cost of living expenses, you will see that costs have dramatically increased, so we are particularly proud of not having raised taxes.
Washington County has recently been challenged by several Local States of Emergency, including COVID-19, wildfires, high wind, tornado activity and flooding, along with several major weather events, including Tropical Storm Fred, Hurricane Sally and Hurricane Michael, and throughout these emergencies, our County Commission worked as a team, with our various departments, to fund and solve these challenges.
In 2010 I ran for the first time for this office, and I vowed to work with the Washington County Board of County Commissioners and the citizens of Washington County, to satisfy the expressed needs and interests of all those citizens.
Working with the Board of County Commissioners, we have succeeded in improving Washington County in many ways, paying down debt and more effectively managing the county.
In 2010 my expressed campaign topics included the oversight and support of policies that ensure Washington County taxpayer money is spent wisely; the creation of a fertile environment for new business in Washington County; safeguarding the beauty and cleanliness of Washington County; working toward more paved roads in Washington County and ensuring that non-paved dirt roads are properly maintained on a regular and routine basis; and supporting a balanced budget for Washington County.
Washington County has approximately 600 miles of dirt roads that are maintained with 10 road graders, and each dirt road is graded 2 to 3 times each month, with a total of 1,600 monthly hours spent grading our dirt roads.
I’m excited to say that we are working on the largest road project in Washington County history, and the Board of Commissioners currently has 30 of our roads under contract to be paved, and six have been completed. Our new process for reworking existing improved roads, using innovative techniques, also saves money and time.
Internet service (Broadband) is a hot topic, and we have four test sites up and running, with good feedback at this point, with plans for sixteen towers that will provide internet service to all of Washington County, with seven towers currently standing, and three more towers under construction.
I am proud to say that we have diligently worked, and continue to work, as a team, on all these projects, and today we do indeed have many improvements in Washington County.
I humbly ask for your support and vote, so that I might continue to serve you as Washington County Commissioner for District 4.
For more information, visit www.ToddAbbottForCommissioner.com, email me at tabbott@washingtonfl.com or call me at 850-638-6789.
