After recount loss, Weidenhamer doesn't count out another run

Tom Weidenhamer might not have been re-elected to the Destin City Council, but he’s OK with that and understands the will of the people.

“I’m on vacation,” he said with a chuckle. “Evidently, they wanted some changes in leadership and that’s what they got.”

In the city of Destin’s first recount in recent memory, the owner of S.O.S Printing and Graphics fell short of challenger and former Councilman Cyron Marler by 30 votes.

Weidenhamer told The Log that while he lost the recount, experiencing the proceedings was educational and he’s glad he went through it.

As for why he didn’t get the re-election nod, he’s not so sure.

“There may have been a few people who didn’t like my advocacy of the dog park, but you really don’t know… especially when you are only talking about 30 votes,” he said. “It could have easily been that those 30 people knew Cyron better than they knew me.”

Marler, who attended the count Saturday, said now that he is officially councilman-elect, he wants to congratulate Weidenhamer and wish him well.

“Tom’s a good guy,” he said. “I’m encouraging him to run for Mr. Hines’ seat when he vacates it to run for the county commission.”

The city will temporarily appoint someone to fill Councilman Larry Hines’ seat, before ultimately holding a special election to replace him for the remainder of his term.

Falling short in the Jan. 31 election as well, Scott “Sky” Monteith offered his analysis of the situation on The Log’s Facebook page.

“Weidenhamer fell short due to the trash debacle and I’m somewhat surprised he went alone,” he wrote. “As for the dog park, it’s the only thing that made it this close — insisting on the recount certainly hasn’t helped his public image. I almost hope he decides to run in August to prove to him the people’s will.”

The recount, which was required by law, did have a financial cost to the city of Destin. They are ultimately responsible for paying the supervisor of elections staff for the process and overtime. Those numbers were not readily available by press time.

Weidenhamer is not counting out the opportunity to throw his hat in the race when Hines departs. He also only has to sit out for two years before he is eligible to run for city council again.

All in all, win, lose or draw, Weidenhamer told The Log he enjoyed his time on the council and would continue to keep working with his community to the best of his ability.

“All of the people we got on the council are good people and they love Destin,” he said. “That’s what matters to me.”