Steven Menchel for Destin: Local announces city council campaign

For Destin local Steven Menchel, running for a seat on city council is a no-brainer.

“A lot of people get involved with stuff because they are running for office, but I am already involved in a lot of things and I will continue to be whatever happens,” he said.

Menchel and his wife Vivian moved to Destin from New Orleans eight years ago and since that time Menchel said he has hit the ground running. Although retired, Menchel explained he is more active in the community now than he was during his entire working career.

“This is the city, of any place in the world my wife and I wanted to retire, I wanted to retire here,” he said. “This is a way of giving back to the city I love.”

With an extensive background in law enforcement and high-level government security, Menchel wasted no time joining the city of Destin’s Public Works and Public Safety Committee as well as the City of Destin Bicycle Sub-Committee and the Adopt-A-Street Program.

“You don’t just go to the city with a complaint, but with a solution too,” Menchel said, noting that when he noticed a need for improved street signs in Destin, he presented a spreadsheet and solution to the issues he saw.

Menchel said if he gets the vote for councilman, he will devote himself fully to the position.

“I’m here for the people,” he said. “I’m a full-time council person because I don’t have to leave to go to work.”

Aside from his work with the city, Menchel is also very active in the community. He volunteers with Emerald Coast Hospice, is a member of the Okaloosa County Citizens Emergency Response Team, joined the Okaloosa County Republican Executive Committee, and is the president of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Chapter #1428 of Fort Walton Beach, to name just a few of his affiliated organizations.

“I’m running for this position for our children and grandchildren, for my love of Destin, for my desire to give back to the city I call home and to ensure a better Destin in the years to come,” said Menchel. “But my big thing is, I want to hear from people and I want to know what is important to them. I want to gain and earn their respect.”

To learn more about Steven Menchel and his campaign for city councilman or to give him your input visit http://menchelfordestincitycouncil.com, call 837-3838 or email menchelfordestincitycouncil@gmail.com.