Councilman Nic Allegretto will become the next mayor of Fort Walton Beach after running unopposed in the qualifying period that ended Friday, January 3 at noon.
- Allegretto, who has served as a city councilman for nearly eight years and as mayor pro tem for the last five years, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead the city.
“I’m honored and blessed to serve as mayor of the great city of Fort Walton Beach,” Allegretto said. “After spending nearly 8 years serving as a city councilman, and the last 5 years as mayor pro tem, I plan to use that experience to help make sure that our city continues to be a great place to live and work.”
Allegretto, a local business owner who co-owns Scooter Brothers on Racetrack Road with his uncle, has been a city resident since 2010.
Looking ahead to his tenure as mayor, Allegretto acknowledged future challenges while maintaining an optimistic outlook. “We have challenges ahead that we will face as a community. I am confident that we will work together with our residents, business partners and visitors to turn those challenges into opportunities,” he said.
In other election news, seven candidates are competing for three council seats in the upcoming March 11, 2025, municipal elections.
- Brandon Jeffery Paul Bishop
- Logan Browning
- Sonya Faison-Vazquez
- Jason Harwell
- Benjamin Merrell
- Debra Riley-Broadnax
- Travis Smith
Additionally, Councilman David Schmidt ran unopposed for the two-year seat previously held by former councilman Larry Patrick, who resigned in August 2023. The seat is currently occupied by Councilman John Mead, who has served since September 2023.
Allegretto added a lighthearted note about avoiding campaign activities, saying, “I am elated to not be involved in the creation, placement or removal of any campaign signs!”