YOUR CITY ELECTION GUIDE: Council hopefuls stake out their positions on everything from sand to skyrises

The Log asked City Council candidates Jim Bagby, Larry Hines, Cyron Marler and Larry Williges the following questions. Here are their unedited responses. After reading up on each candidate’s plans for the city, Destinites can vote for three city councilmen on March 9.

1.Tell us about your personal and work history in two paragraphs or less. 

Bagby: Born in Denton, Texas and grew up in east Texas near Tyler.  I enlisted in the Army in 1976 at the age of 18 and eventually graduated with an engineering degree from West Point in 1982.  Jennie and I were married in 1986, Sara was born in Wurzburg, Germany in 1989 and Jennifer was born in Fort Knox, Kentucky in 1992.  I earned my masters degree in public administration in 1994 from Western Kentucky University.  We were assigned to the Pentagon with duty at Hurlburt Field in 1999.  We retired from active duty in 2003 and five months later I was hired as the Town Manager for Rosemary Beach in Walton County.  Jennie is a staffing specialist for the Okalossa County School District; Sara is a junior at Georgetown University in Washington and Jennifer is a senior at Fort Walton Beach High School and will be attending New York University in the fall.  I serve as a lector at Resurrection Catholic Church and on numerous boards and committees in the area.

Hines: My parents believed work built character so as I grew up I got plenty of opportunities to build character.  I picked blueberries and cucumbers on my grandfather’s farm when I was eleven.  I can tell you it takes a lot of cucumbers to fill up a bushel basket when the biggest cucumber can be no bigger than your little finger.  I had a paper route when I was 13 and converted that opportunity into a lawn mowing business.  At 16 I went to work at the local grocery store as a bag boy.  In the next seven years I put myself through college working as a stock boy, cashier, snack bar attendant, assistant manager and manager at the same grocery store.  They were loyal to me and I was loyal to them.  The most fun was standing behind the two way mirror and catching shop lifters.

After graduation from college I joined the Air Force. I was an F-4 and F-15 pilot, Division Chief responsible for the test and evaluation of F-4, F-15, F-16, F-111 and A-10 aircraft, an Engineering Division Chief, and while at the Pentagon I managed the Air Force Range Improvement Program which funded 40 bombing ranges around the world. After retirement from the Air Force I co-founded a small computer software company called Suncoast Scientific Incorporated. I served as its President for eleven years until it was acquired by Motorola in 2000. I served as a Vice President for Motorola until I retired in December 2002. The software products produced by Suncoast are still in use today in such major cities as Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Miami, Baltimore and Washington, DC.

Marler: I am a 4th generation of one of the founding families of Destin and was born & raised in Destin. I am a widower (my wife went to be with the Lord in September of 2009) I served on the City Council from 2000 – 2008 (two terms) & currently serve on Two City Committees, Public works/public safety & Board of Adjustment. I am currently employed by Legendary Inc. as a Service Technician in the commercial Maintenance Dept. I have been with Legendary for almost 5 years, Before that I was Employed by McHenry Electric & Sandollar Electric.

Williges: I’m a former Destin City Councilmember who served two terms (8 years) before having to sit down (term limits) until this current election. Prior to coming to Destin some 18 years ago, I completed a 20-year career with the U.S. Postal Service and a 22-year career with the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a master sergeant.

______

STAY TUNED FOR LIVE RESULTS

For election night results, keep up with thedestinlog.com on Tuesday. Reporter Tosha Sketo will be liveblogging from the Supervisor of Elections Office with up to the minute results as the ballots are counted.

______

2. Do you own any businesses or property in Destin that may be perceived as a conflict of interest if you were elected to the council?

Bagby: No and no.

Hines: My wife and I are retired so we don’t work for any local businesses nor do we own any interest in a Destin business. We own a unit at Marbella Condominium where we plan to move after we sell our house. We also own a unit at Pelican Beach Condominium and are part owners of a unit at Jetty East Condominium.

Marler: I do not own any Business in the city, however my employment with Legendary and my relation to certain property owners may depending on the issues pose a conflict, of which I would abstain if needed. I do not own any property that would have a conflict of interest.

Williges: I am fully retired and do not have any business interests in Destin, nor do I own any property which could cause a conflict of interest. I cannot envision having to recuse myself from voting on any issue.

 3.Are there any ways that you can see for the council to cut spending in 2010? If so, how? 

Bagby: Yes, sheriff’s contract should be reduced at least $400,000.

Hines: Ad valorem taxes or property taxes account for over 50% of the revenue received by the city. The property taxes received by the city have decreased each of the last three years due to the decrease in the assessed value of the properties in the city. I think the city council and city staff have done a great job in maintaining our services while making the necessary budget cuts the last three years. Unfortunately I think our real estate values are going to decrease another 10% in 2010. This equates to approximately a reduction in revenue of $700,000. I don’t have any magic ideas on how to achieve this. Our budget process will start in a few months and if I am elected I will be an active participant in the process and I will do my best to make the reductions where they hurt the least.

Marler: The City is pretty much bare bones now, millage rate has been rolled back for several years now and you get what you pay for, if we were to cut services back then our citizens would get less and that’s not fair to them. Stay out of Lawsuits.

Williges: Any recommendations on how the council could cut spending in Destin should require a thorough review of the current budget. I do not have that document available at this time.

4.Are there any issues you would take on if elected that the current council has not pursued? 

Bagby: I would continue working with the staff on the Governor’s Sterling Award process, I will continue to try and secure access to federal flood insurance for all owners in Destin, and I will continue to support our efforts to create a festive market place in the harbor area.

Hines: I will propose the city sponsor an economic summit to brainstorm ideas on how we can get our economy growing again. I would invite the Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council, Destin Area Chamber of Commerce, Destin Fishing Fleet, Okaloosa County Economic Development Council, realtor associations, major employers and local businesses to participate. Our strengths are the harbor, the beach and fishing industry. We need to focus on how we can get more tourists to visit our area. For example the TDC currently spends approximately the same amount of funds on advertizing as it does on transportation. I would suggest we could work with the TDC to increase the spending on advertising and reduce the spending on transportation. I would also start an initiative to try and recruit small high tech companies to relocate or start their business in Destin. The overall goal would be to improve tourism while expanding our business base to include businesses not dependent on tourism.

Marler: I still feel that the affordable housing issue should be and needs to be addressed, If we do not do something to make housing affordable to the Blue/Grey & some of our lower paid white collar citizens we will fast lose not only the backbone of our city but our permanent voting base as well, then we will be more like The Resort Communities in other states where out of town/state land owners tell us what to do . I also will look in to how we take care of our public areas, such as our parks and Cemetery.

Williges: I would like a review of the tier system of development as contained in the comprehensive plan. I would also like to see some valid numbers as to how our multimodal system has reduced traffic, especially on U.S. 98. On perhaps a more minor note, I would like to see some roadway lane and side markings on Commons Drive in the Diamond Lakes area. I would also like to see streetlights in this area. I would like a review of corner lot setback requirements and finally, a citywide effort to get rid of unoccupied/eyesore trailers.

5.Are you happy with the direction Destin is going in? If not, what would you do differently? 

Bagby: Yes, but I am concerned that we have not gotten our development procedures properly fixed.  This needs to be done immediately before the market comes back.

Hines: I am basically happy with the way Destin is going. Completing the Harbor Board Walk is essential to making the Harbor an attraction for tourists. We need to keep moving in the direction of a by-pass road, more sidewalks and bicycle paths and in general moving more toward features appealing and useful to our residents.

Marler: Yes, but I would like to slow it down a little. When we became a City in 1984/85 the infrastructure that was put in place was great at the time but the city has grown faster in some areas then our system can handle, if we can slow it down just a little bit so we can catch up I think we can make this city a great place to live, work & play in.

Williges: The Council appears to be going in the right direction in making Destin an even better place to live. No recommendations at this time.

6.How should Destin manage growth and development? Are you satisfied with how the city has dealt with development in the past? 

Bagby: We need to refine our tier system.  We should be fair to those who have invested enormous sums in property while balancing the needs of the community that wants a small town, family-friendly environment and not 200 foot condos everywhere.

Hines: I think the Tier 3 system which allowed large, tall buildings to be approved on the north shore of the harbor was a mistake. I would do away with the “public benefits” portion of the development system. Projects should be approved based on their compliance with the rules and codes and how they fit into their neighborhood not on how much money the developer can contribute to the city. As far as a height limit on the harbor, for example, take the tallest current building, not counting Emerald Grande, and let that be the maximum height for all new buildings.

Marler: We have a good system in place with our Comp plan 2010 and it’s fast approaching the time to start our ground work on Comp Plan 2020. However I think the City & the developers/land owners can work more closely together to work out any differences that may arise when it comes to compatibility in some areas. There has been a lot of talk about our tier system and if it needs overhauling or not, although there have been projects approved under our current system 2 & 3 they have yet to rise from the ground. How do we know if it needs fixing if we have nothing to base it on. It is like buying a new car and saying the motor will not run with out turning the key, so I am happy with our way of dealing with our most resent past developments.

Williges: If anyone has ever heard me address traffic issues on U.S. 98, especially during high tourist activity in the summer, you would know that I feel growth management has not been exercised in Destin. An example of this has been the repeated changes in methodology used to determine current and future traffic volumes on U.S. 98. The "big boys" prevailed.

7.Where do you stand on beach restoration? Are there any ways in which you think the process could be made more palatable to those who say renourishment constitutes a taking of private property? 

Bagby: I support beach restoration.  I believe the property owners should be allowed to “purchase” their portion of the nourishment project and retain ownership to the water’s edge.

Hines: Some people think we should not spend any money on beach renouirshment because the sand may just wash away. When we build a road we know it will need to be maintained and at some point in time resurfaced, so we create a budget for road maintenance. The beaches attract the tourists and create the property tax base the city needs to operate. Over 50% of the cities’ revenue comes from property taxes and a large percentage of this comes from properties near the beach frequented by the tourists. Therefore we have no choice but to maintain our beaches or we will see a decline in the property tax revenue the city needs to maintain the services the city provides. The East Destin beaches have been renourished one time and the West Destin beaches have never had a true renourishment project. The model for future beach renourishment projects will be to use bed tax funds, which are paid by the tourists, and assessments of the property owners on or near the beach being renourished. There would be no or minimal city or state funds needed. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection recently changed their policy on beach renourishment projects and eliminated the requirement for an Erosion Control Line (ECL) when no state funds are used in the project. Without an ECL, after a renourishment project is completed there is no change in property ownership. If it’s public property before the project it remains public after the project, if its private property prior to the project it remains private after the project. Hopefully this change in policy will go a long way in solving this important issue.

Marler: The State of Florida made it pretty clear when they drew the line in the sand(mostly in the water). This is now your Southern property line  although its under water WE will use public tax dollars and fill all this in and give you back your part of the beach & build  up OUR part of the PUBLIC area on the other side of the line that was under water, this way when the next Hurricane comes along it will take OUR part of the beach first and hopefully save YOUR part of the beach and your home/condo and when its all over WE will come back and do it all again, and ALL WE ask for is that on our side of the line the PUBLIC be allowed to enjoy the beach that saved your house that you built on shifting sand. And in answer to the second half of the question it is in the hands of the highest court in our country and whatever there decision may be all parties must live by it and with it.

Williges: Beach restoration is vital to Destin’s survival as a tourist destination. We are all anxiously awaiting the U.S. Supreme Court decision on the matter. Both sides of the issue of "taking of private property" appear to be deeply entrenched in their opinions with little, if any, room for compromise. As far as Holiday Isle is concerned, perhaps if the recipients of vitally needed sand (paid for by taxpayers) would open up some area of their “private beach” to the public it could make local dissenters more favorable to this beach restoration.

8.Do you think the city is on the right track with its road projects? Can you conceive of a better way to deal with traffic problems in Destin? 

Bagby: Yes, I think this is one of our success stories.  If you look at all the problems with the Main Street project and how few problems we had with the Airport Road and Mountain Drive projects you can see us getting better.

Hines: In general I think the city is on the right track. Highway 98 is a state road and to some extent we have limited power to make changes. I do think we can do better on the summertime bumper to bumper tie-ups. We know they are caused by stop lights. We also know the traffic jams occur on holidays and when a sudden rain shower hits at 10:00 AM in the summer and most of the tourists decide to visit our stores and restaurants. I think we should schedule police officers to be at the stop lights on holidays to manually control the lights to optimize traffic movement and/or train Destin citizen volunteers to control the stop lights manually. If elected I will personally discuss this approach with the Sheriff’s Department.

Marler: Yes, I wish the city could do more projects but in our current economy they do what they can. 6 lanes on US 98 from Sandestin to Airport road would help, In other words fill in the gaps. However the State of Florida DOT has said this has been put on the back burner due to budget cuts to the tune of $9 Billion. So better enforcement of our traffic laws will have to do, unless someone comes up with those flying cars I was promised as a child.

Williges: The City is taking a much-needed step in the right direction to alleviate traffic problems created by allowing for overdevelopment in Destin. I can only hope it's not "too little too late."

9.Would you have accepted the settlement agreement with the Oasis? Why or why not? 

Bagby: I voted against the agreement.  We should not have rushed the decision because I think the city council could have impacted the negotiations to our benefit by demanding concessions on the distance, the alcohol and other issues.

Hines: Based on the terms of the agreement I would have voted to accept it. The most important thing the city achieved is the city forced the location of the club to a section of the city that I think will not economically support the club. I therefore think if it is ever opened it will die a financial death on its own. The city also achieved limits on the clubs advertising that it could never have achieved in a court due to constitutional issues. For example the club can’t advertise on bill boards in Okaloosa, Santa Rosa or Walton counties or on TV prior to 10:00PM I don’t support the club but given the legal issues I think the city did all it could.

Marler: Although I personally feel it is morally wrong, to not accept the agreement would have cost the city thousands of dollars in legal fees and the city would have lost in court. Our ordnance as originally written was faulty this lawsuit brought this to light and now the new Ordnance can be enforced on any Topless business. The City got more then what was asked for, not only did it move to where it was zoned,  but we get background checks on the dancers, and the state beverage people, ATF and local law enforcement will be watching. The agreement has been signed it up to the people at Oasis to make or break. I give the place If they open 1 to 2 years at the most, Destin is just not the place for this kind of business but then again the Sewer Treatment plant is near by.

Williges: Regarding the settlement with the Oasis, I have not been privy to Council Executive Board meetings on the issue. Up front, I will say that I am not in favor of their future goals. Also, I don’t know what factors influenced a change in the “expert” legal advice the city paid for and received several years ago resisting such an enterprise. Also, I don’t know what, if any, consideration was given to “community standards.”

10.Tell us about your vision for Destin? What do you want the city to look like in 25 years, and how can that vision be achieved? 

Bagby: I would like to see a Destin that has a viable and vibrant harbor and town center areas with residential areas where our children can afford to live and raise their children.  I would like to see a Destin where our residents and visitors are both respected and able to enjoy Destin to its fullest.

Hines: My family moved to Destin 20 years ago because we fell in love with the emerald green water,  sugar white beaches, fishing culture, low crime rate, quality schools and great restaurants.  We still have that now and we have added better shopping, more recreational activities and a hospital in the area.  The key issues are development of the north shore of the harbor, summer time traffic and protecting our culture.  We need to control the build out of the north shore so the developments fit into our vision and maintain our culture.  We also need to complete the bypass road that would be used mostly by locals.

Marler: I want the city to still have that small town feel, by that I mean people working together as a community for the greater good of the city and not a bunch of NIMBY’s or I GOT MINE tough luck that you did not get yours. I want to see more families move here and plant their roots here just like The Destins, Marlers, Kellys, Taylors, Maltezos, Woodwards, Windes the list goes on & on. A 21st Century Mayberry, It can happen but it takes work and the right people to help guide it along, I want to be one of those people. Destin in 25 years, I would like to see the entire Harborwalk project completed from Harborwalk Village to Harbor Docks. I want to see our Fishing Fleet grow, it is how we got started we should always protect them any way we can. And I want harmony between our beach front owners and the general public.

Williges: My vision for Destin some 25 years down the road would be for tourism not to interfere with residents’ quality of life. How this can be achieved would take an “unbiased visionary,” which I am not. I would like to see an increased effort on redevelopment of existing businesses and homes in a beautification effort.

11.What do you think is the biggest threat to that vision? 

Bagby: I think greed, loss of beach nourishment projects and adverse development trends on the harbor could threaten this vision.

Hines: The two biggest threats to that vision are over restrictive fishing regulations and public apathy. The City needs to continue to support the local fishing fleet to make sure the fishing regulations are based on sound scientific data. We need to make sure we stay the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village.” Achieving a vision takes years to accomplish but it can be destroyed with a few bad decisions. The city council obviously votes on the issues and makes the final decisions but they should support and honor the will and ideas of the citizens. Achieving our vision will not happen all at once, it will be a slow process based on many decisions. If elected I’ll do my best to keep in touch with the mood and the consensus of the people.

Marler: To quote the old comic strip POGO “ We have met the enemy and they is us”. We are our own worse enemy, If we do nothing, we are nothing, nothing ventured nothing gained, nothing to look forward to. People with vision made this World, and our Country. Look around everything we have today was somebody’s Vision or Idea. So we must hold on to our dreams for one day they become Reality.

Williges: The biggest threat to any vision for Destin lies in the current economy and future recovery.

To read more about the candidates, click here.

To read about the candidates' war chests and fundraising strategies, click here.

DECISION DAY

While unopposed mayoral candidate Sam Seevers already has that race in the bag, locals still have a chance to choose three new councilmen to help lead Destin.

Polls open in Destin on March 9 at 7 a.m. Voters must bring a photo and signature ID, such as a Florida driver’s license, military ID, passport, student ID or credit card. The polls will close at 7 p.m.

Polling places for Destin precincts are as follows:
•Precinct 20: Destin Community Center, 101 Stahlman Ave.
•Precinct 35: Destin United Methodist Church, 200 Beach Dr.
•Precinct 44: Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 307 Beach Dr.
•Precinct 49: Destin City Hall Annex, 4100 Indian Bayou Trail
•Precinct 50: Village Baptist Church, 101 Matthew Blvd.

There are 9,698 eligible voters in Destin. During the 2006 municipal election, which corresponded with the presidential election, 6,296 Destinites, about 65 percent of the population, cast a vote.

Mayor-Elect Sam Seevers and three new councilmen will be sworn into office on March 16.