County Commission candidates share their thoughts on Destin's traffic issues, beach restoration (with MUGS)

With early voting underway, and the 2010 Primary Election two weeks away, The Log asked the four candidates who are running for Okaloosa County Commissioner seats to share their thought’s on some of Destin’s pressing issues. The candidates are Don Amunds (District 4), Danny Bennett (District 4), David Parisot (District 2) and Elaine Tucker (District 2). Here is a brief bio of each candidate, and their complete, and unedited responses.

Don Amunds Current County Commissioner District 4 and serving as Vice Chair of the Commission. I earned the status of a certified county commissioner in 2008.  I’ve lived here in Okaloosa County since I was about 8 years old when my father was transferred to Eglin.  I grew up here and went to the public schools here. After graduating from Choctaw HS, I joined the Army and was assigned to Camp Rudder and then the 2^nd Armored Division in Northern Germany. 

After serving in the military I became a law enforcement officer and worked in several different positions for the sheriff’s office for 17 years before running for county commissioner in 2004. I have a Bachelor’s degree from Troy University in Criminal Justice with a minor in business.  I live in Mary Esther with my wife, Joanna and my two sons, Scott and Robbie. We worship at Trinity United Methodist Church. 

My involvement in the community including serving on the Board of Children in Crisis, I am an Honorary Commander of the 33^rd at Eglin, a member of the All Sports Association, I am involved with the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge, Enlisted Widows Foundation, Military Relations-Hurlburt Field, and many other organizations in the community.

Danny Bennett has made Okaloosa County his home for more than 40 years, and considers himself a “concerned citizen” who wants to take action and make a positive impact on the residents of Okaloosa County. While he may not be a career politician, Bennett has been in business in the county for more than 20 years and is a combat veteran of the United States Army Airborne Infantry.

David Parisot , Republican Candidate for Okaloosa County Commissioner, District 2

Dave Parisot is 64 years old and retired from the USAF in 1989 after 21 years (4 1/2 years enlisted & 16 1/2 years as an officer in aircraft maintenance and logistics with 2 tours as Squadron Commander and final 3 years with HQ Air Force Inspector General.) He was a small business owner in housing construction with 8 employees from 1989-1994 and in retail sales from 1994-2004. He fully retired in 2004. His education includes a Master of Business Administration in Management, a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, an Associate of Arts in Real Estate, the USAF Air Command & Staff College, Squadron Officers School, plus many professional courses in leadership, safety, management, human relations, equal opportunity, investigation techniques, and seminars on Florida Sunshine and Public Records Laws, and Florida Ethics Guidelines.

Dave is a charter member of the Okaloosa Citizens Alliance (OCA), a life member of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) (national & local chapter), and an active member of the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce. He has participated in over 90 meetings and workshops of the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) in the past 4 years, including all budget workshops for 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010. His active participation in these meetings by research and addressing the BCC from a citizen’s view has assisted the BCC with reducing spending and down-sizing Okaloosa County government since 2007. He published a report on his research of the “Okaloosa County Budget Process” in Sept. 2008, a report on the “Okaloosa County Tax Collector’s Budgets and Expenditures from 2001-2009” in July 2009, and co-authored a report for OCA on the “Tax Collector’s Deferred Compensation Program” in Dec. 2009. Dave actively volunteers at Children in Crisis, the Freedom Lounge USO, and at the all-volunteer Shalimar Library. He and his wife of 29 years, Chong, purchased their home in Shalimar in 1981 when assigned to the 33TFW at Eglin AFB. This is now their retirement home. Dave has a daughter, two sons, and four grandchildren. For more information, go to www.ElectParisot.com or call Dave at 613-6545.

Elaine Tucker served as a Shalimar Commissioner from 1998 – 2002 and the District 2 County Commissioner from 2002-2006.  Since then, she has been a co-host of a local radio talk show featuring an open forum for local issues, and raised more than $2 million for local youth charitable organizations as Director of Events for Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation.

Elaine was the first Okaloosa County Commissioner to earn certification by the Florida Association of Counties, served as Chairman of the Commission in 2004, led Okaloosa County’s successful BRAC effort, served as chairman of the Okaloosa-Walton Transportation Planning Organization for 3 years, and is a former Eglin Air Force Base Material Command Community Leadership Representative.  Also, she has been named an Eglin Air Force Base  James E. Plew Outstanding Community Ambassador.

As a candidate for the Okaloosa County Commission, what is the biggest issue/concern you see facing Destin?

Amunds: The economy and tourism, along with the fishing fleet and ecological oil impacts on the fishing industry. Our job market ties directly to that.

Bennett: We have two Major concerns, they are to reduce the Budget and hold BP accountable for the Oil Spill.  We must bring back the Tourist to our beautiful beaches.  BP must foot the bill and pay all claims promptly for this tragedy.  As for the Budget, we must go line item by line item and cut wasteful spending. 

Parisot Restoring businesses and property values. The County Tourist Development Council has $1.3M to spend on advertising to counteract some of the negative national media on the oil spill to bring people back. Proper targeting should help the tourist, fishing, and real estate markets. Adding a second red snapper season and relaxing catch limits would help our fishing industry. If more people come to Destin, it will also help the short-term rental businesses.

Tucker: The biggest issue, as with the rest of Okaloosa County, is how to recover from the long-term effects of the recession facing Florida.  This economic downturn was only made worse locally by the financial and ecological disaster brought on by the Gulf oil leak and the national media misrepresentation of oil on our beaches.

As we all know, traffic is a big issue in Destin. In your opinion, what can be done to improve the traffic conditions in Destin?

Amunds Continue the partnership of DOT, City of Destin and Okaloosa County to link parking lots and service roads together to form transportation routes to take as much traffic as we can off the main routes, specifically Hwy 98, in Destin, continue to look at the best use of traffic circles or roundabouts.

Bennett: Unfortunately with the budget where it is, we will have to re-examine the needs of the County concerning road improvements and direct our attention to these areas, which will be based on safety and serviceability first.

Parisot: As we all know, traffic is a big issue in Destin. In your opinion, what can be done to improve the traffic conditions in Destin? Ans.: Destin will benefit from continued support of the bypass planned for north of Hurlburt and Eglin AFBs, which should remove much of the thru-traffic on Hwy 98. The recently completed upgrades on Commons Blvd. and the planned round-about and road improvements to Mountain Drive will help. Any programs for roads and traffic in the Destin area must be done in coordination with the Mayor, City Council, and City Manager of Destin.

Tucker: While County Commissioner, roads and storm water infrastructure was my #1 issue.  I worked to create a strong working relationship with Mayor Barker and the City of Destin, to partner on projects like the Commons Blvd. roundabouts. I spent hours as the Chair of the TPO to secure funding from State and Federal agencies and I will continue these efforts when elected. As in any tourist area, busy times will generate greater traffic but I think we all agree we would like the traffic over the low tourist season we had this year.

Beach Restoration has been a contentious issue in Destin for years, what is your position on the issue?

Amunds: I believe beach restoration is important. Without our beaches, we lose our tourists which affect the whole economy, from condominium sales and rentals to hotels, restaurants, and other businesses. We then lose our tax base by losing income from the property taxes and bed taxes.  We also need to re-nourish our beaches to protect structures and our shorelines from erosion.  Should a hurricane directly hit our main land without barrier islands the damage from storm surge could be substantial. Scientists believe the loss of our reefs has caused our increase in the undertoe we’re seeing. Therefore, we also need to rebuild our reefs to reduce undertoe.

Bennett: Personally I am against beach restoration unless a major Catastrophe has occurred.  I am against spending tax payers money to pay for beaches that Mother Nature can and has corrected in the past. I am very much against paying attorneys to fight to restore beaches at a cost of over $500K to you the tax payer.  We must work together with the people to resolve our issues. 

Parisot: Beach restoration has been a contentious issue in Destin for years. What is your position on the issue? Ans.: The beaches are a prime draw for tourism and fishing and are very important for Destin’s economy and jobs. Getting sand where it is needed most in the most cost efficient manner is a big part of this. Funding sources for the restoration of public beaches are federal and state revenues, the dedicated 1-cent bed tax of the Tourist Development Council, and the Municipal Services Benefit Unit (MSBU). MSBU funds should be the last to be used and any unused monies should be refunded to the property owners who paid in. Tax dollars should not be used to restore private beaches.

Dave Parisot

P.S. The “political disclaimer” below is listed as a precaution in the event anyone interprets this reply to your questions as an advertisement.

Tucker: I believe that we should be proactive not reactive on this issue which in turn will save millions of tax dollars and personal property in the future.  I worked hard to get this area into the Federal Beach Renourishment cycle so that our beaches will receive regular rebuilding. Additionally, we partnered with Destin, Okaloosa County, the TDC and beachfront residents to designate the critical need areas, the sand source site and the funding program.  That cooperation and partnership is vital in the future.