FOLLOWING THE MONEY TRAIL: While some Destin candidates are rolling in the dough, others just say no

While some candidates for Destin City Council have spent the last couple of months filling their war chests, others say they “don’t like being beholden to anybody.”

“I don’t like spending other people’s money,” said Larry Williges. “Some people might think that I’m under obligation to them, and I don’t want to go there.”

Williges fueled his campaign with $600 of his own money, turning down the contributions that were offered. He’s spent about $400 of his campaign cash on 50 signs and $25 on the candidate-qualifying fee. He said he has no plans for any more expenditures before the March 9 election.

“I’m running on my past record and reputation,” Williges said. “People know who I am and what I stand for.”

Williges’ campaign credo is in stark contrast to newcomer Larry Hines, who said it takes money to run a campaign. The Holiday Isle resident has raised $5,195 since October, more than any of the other candidates combined. He’s spent about $3,250, with most of that going toward mail outs and signs.

“I think any person running that’s not an incumbent has a name recognition problem,” said Hines, who mailed out between 3,000 and 3,500 flyers during his campaign. “I’m trying to contact as many of the registered voters as I can to introduce myself. The mail outs are extremely important because people recognize my name and my face when I go door to door.”

But Williges said he questions why someone would put thousands of dollars into a campaign for a job that doesn’t pay anything. He said most of Hines’ contributors are “desperate people on Holiday Isle who need sand for their beach,” many of them living in Destin only part time.

“They’re desperate, and they may feel that if they can get a man on City Council that’s looking out for their interests, it helps them,” Williges said. “I hold myself to a standard that I avoid all that controversy. I put in $600 of my own money, and I think that shows people my sincerity.”

But Hines said all his contributors are friends, residents of Destin or property owners in Destin. He said he didn’t begin the race with a plan to raise so much money, but people just started donating after he announced his candidacy. He said he recently stopped accepting donations.

And Jim Bagby said he doesn’t see a problem with taking donations from part-time residents. He said people who own property in Destin, but can’t vote in Destin elections, should be able to contribute money to a candidate running for office.

“Those people are going to affect the taxes you pay and the quality of services you receive,” Bagby said.

He has raised the most money next to Hines, with locals donating $2,700 to his campaign. He said he would spend about $2,500 by the time the race is over, with most of that going toward signs and mail outs. He said his last campaign expense will be a mail out to about 700 Destinites who’ve voted in the last four elections.

“My main thing has been to try to go door to door because I think people like to be asked for their vote,” Bagby said.

With less money than any of the other candidates, Cyron Marler is running his campaign with $100 of his own money. He’s only spent $25 for the candidate-qualifying fee. He said he recycled all of the signs from his last campaign, and he doesn’t see any reason to spend more money. He said he’s been approached with contributions, but turned them down.

“I felt like everybody already knows who I am,” Marler said. “Signs and word of mouth get around.”