Fort Walton Beach City Manager Jason Davis is offering residents something unusual this holiday season: the chance to pull the trigger on a Taser aimed at him.
- The “Shocking Holiday Fundraiser” will take place during the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce’s First Friday Coffee on Dec. 5. Raffle tickets are $15 each or eight for $100, available at united-way.org/shocking, with the winner selected at random.
Davis said the unconventional fundraiser idea came from his experience in South Florida, where county departments competed to raise money for United Way through annual campaigns that brought in more than $300,000.
“I was trying to think of something new and fun — so tase the City Manager,” Davis said. “We expect our police officers to be tased as part of their officer certification process. I would never ask them to do something I wouldn’t do myself.”
Davis acknowledged the fundraiser gives residents a lighthearted outlet for any frustrations they might have with city decisions.
- “I equate it to the dunk tank you see at the fair,” he said. “Upset with the guy that raised your water bill? Think The Landing project is taking too long or don’t like the school zone speeding cameras? Here’s your chance to support the United Way, while also getting a chance to tase me.”
