THE DEBATE BEFORE THE DECISION: Four square off for three City Council spots (UPDATE with PLAY BY PLAY)

Destin City Council candidates stood before the proverbial firing squad and about 100 citizens Thursday night, answering questions about everything from development to dog poop.

There are three open council seats and four candidates. Cyron Marler and Larry Williges have served on the council before. Jim Bagby is a current councilman, and Larry Hines is running for his first term on the council.

 “This has the atmosphere of a good ole family reunion,” Hines said in his 90-second opening statement.
Destin Log Editor William Hatfield, who moderated the Destin Area Chamber of Commerce and Log forum, began by asking the candidates what their top priority would be as council members.

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Reporter Tosha Sketo offered live updates from Thursday's candidate forum. CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED.

For more photos from the forum, click here.

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Williges said overdevelopment and summertime quality of life were two things he wanted to focus on if elected.

He also noted that protecting the fishing fleet was high on his list of priorities. From opening to closing statements, Hines said time and again that his top priority would be improving the economy. Bagby said his main focus is fiscal discipline. Marler’s top priorities are the fishing fleet and the beaches.

“Without those two things, we wouldn’t have any economy,” Marler said. “Without the fishing, Destin wouldn’t be here.”

Questions submitted from the public stayed on the beach topic, asking the candidates about their views on the West Destin beach restoration project, dogs on the beach and offshore drilling.

Marler started by acknowledging that some Destin homes have been built too close to the water, but he said the city allowed it to happen. He went on to say that the city has an obligation to support tourism by maintaining the beaches, so he supports beach restoration “no matter what.” A Holiday Isle resident, Hines said he’s all for the project, especially since the Florida Department of Environmental Protection took out the requirement to set an erosion control line, eliminating the private property issue. Bagby fully supports beach restoration, but he thinks property owners should be allowed to buy into the project.

“The biggest factor people are annoyed about is taking tax dollars and putting them into private properties they have no access to,” said Williges, who supports the project but thinks beachfront properties owners should allow the public to access the beaches they paid to restore.

In regard to dogs on the beach, all the candidates were against allowing man’s best friend to roam in the sand.

Although Bagby noted that he likes Walton County’s policy, which allows dogs on the beach with a permit during specified non-peak hours. Marler went on to say that the city must strengthen its ordinance so that it corresponds to the county ordinance and allows the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office to enforce the rules.

“People ought to take care of their dogs, and we ought to enforce that,” said Bagby, who is in favor of enforcing rules about cleaning up after dogs and keeping them on a leash whether or not they are allowed on the beach.

All the candidates said they are against offshore drilling in the area. Hines and Williges said they believe in offshore drilling, but that it can’t be done locally because it would interfere with the military mission. Marler said he thinks there are other places in the country that would be more appropriate sites for offshore drilling. He went on to say that the real solution is for the country to focus on alternate energy sources. Bagby said he has a record of opposing offshore drilling locally because he’s concerned that drilling platforms would be unsightly.

“That is not the view I think we should have from our beaches,” Bagby said.

Beach questions led to development questions, and the candidates weighed in on high rises and the city’s tiering system.

Williges said he thinks the tiering system has failed. He said the system was meant to take subjectivity out of the process, but the public benefit brought it back. Bagby said he supports the concept, though he’s critical of the process. He said that in the past the council has promised citizens that developments would be skinnier so that the harbor wouldn’t be lost behind high rises, but that hasn’t happened and needs to be addressed. Marler said high rises are something “Destin has to live with.” He said there is very little land available on the harbor, forcing developers to build up. He said the current approval process needs “a little tweaking.” Hines said he doesn’t think developments should be allowed to go higher than 10 stories.

“I’m philosophically opposed to the tier system,” said Hines, who doesn’t like that developers can influence the council with money.

One of the last questions asked of the candidates was what they think Destin needs from a sheriff and whether or not they are in favor of a Destin Police Department.

All the candidates were against the city opening its own department. Marler said he thinks a metro police department would be a better solution. He said the next sheriff should have a more visible presence in Destin.

Williges thinks a city police department would bring more problems than it solves. He said the city has never had to deal with a union before, and a unionized police force could create problems. He also noted that the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office has gotten a bad rap because of Charlie Morris, and most of the officers there are “good people.” Hines said he wants the next sheriff to increase patrols in Destin and add video surveillance cameras to the roads. Bagby said a city police force just doesn’t make financial sense. He went on to say that the new sheriff should consider how much Destin pays for police protection.

“What Charlie Morris did to us was morally wrong,” Bagby said. “Citizens are paying twice, through county taxes and city taxes.”

In closing, Hines said he plans to use his business and government background to help the city. He said that all of the candidate’s hearts are in the right places, but if he’s elected, he promises to “get serious about the economy.” Williges promised to read every document presented to him carefully, making each decision thoughtfully.

“I’ve always said the devil is in the details,” he said.
Marler quoted Star Trek in his closing, saying, “the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one.”

He said the city needs “blue-collar people” like himself to take care of those need. Bagby said that all of the candidates are qualified, and he’s running on his reputation of being a thoughtful council member. He reminded everyone to vote on March 9.

“Don’t let 200 or 800 people decide the future of Destin,” he said.