In a wide-ranging forum last Tuesday evening that highlighted both consensus and division on key issues facing Fort Walton Beach, seven city council candidates presented their qualifications and visions for tackling challenges from fiscal management to affordable housing and infrastructure development.
- The forum was hosted by the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors and the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce at The Beach Weekend venue.
It’s important to note that candidates were often not asked the exact same questions.
CANDIDATE BACKGROUNDS AND MOTIVATIONS
Each candidate brought distinct experiences and motivations to their campaign.
Incumbent Travis Smith emphasized his deep roots and continued commitment to ongoing projects. “Initially probably didn’t have the intent of running the second go around, but something else lit a fire underneath me,” Smith said, noting his desire to “finish what I started” with several city initiatives.
Ben Merrell, a combat veteran and local business owner, presented himself as someone ready to move from criticism to action. “We just hit a stage in life where we didn’t want to complain when there was things going on with the city,” Merrell explained. “I thought it was a great time for me to dig in, roll up my sleeves and tackle some projects.”
Brandon Bishop highlighted his hands-on approach to understanding city operations, particularly in public safety. “I go on ride-alongs with them to see how they work their shifts… I do a lot of ministry stuff, so I teach and preach at my church. I do a lot of nursing home events, so I engage with people.”
Debi Riley, making her third bid for council, emphasized her extensive community experience. “I’ve had 25 plus years experience working with the people and listening to their voices, learning the things that are most disturbing to them,” she said, adding, “I have no self-interest. I don’t want to build a resume.”
Jason Harwell pointed to his grassroots community work. “I’m the founder of an environmental organization, Erase the Trace Okaloosa,” he noted, citing accomplishments including “cleanups of homeless encampments, the storm drain mural project downtown, and other activities.”
Logan Browning brought municipal government experience to his candidacy. “Participating in council meetings, watching council meetings, and then just the education that I learned while I was with the city,” he said, describing his preparation for the role.
Sonya Faison-Vazquez, who joined the forum later, emphasized her community outreach work and focus on affordability issues. “ I’m basically focusing on local businesses, affordable homes. You could bring a thousand jobs here. But what good are the jobs if they’re not paying you enough to actually live here?”
NAVIGATING THE BUDGET CAP
The recently implemented 3% budget cap emerged as a crucial topic, with candidates offering varying perspectives on its implications and management.
Smith expressed confidence in maintaining services despite the cap. “Every year at the end of a budget season, we usually have a budget amendment and that budget amendment usually rolls over a bunch of excess dollars,” he explained, noting approximately $1 million in surplus funds from the previous year.
- “ I don’t expect any services would need to be cut unless we’re going over budget, which, to my knowledge, I don’t know that we ever have,” he added.
Riley voiced concerns about long-term implications and flexibility. “When you cap off the budget, you’re going to have to be projecting out three, four, five years down the road,” she said. “If there is something unforeseen, almost like having a savings account on a rainy day, you gotta have available funds.”
Merrell emphasized the importance of transparency and citizen engagement in budget decisions. “It’s as much on us as council to be transparent as much as it is on the citizen to want to be aware,” he said, noting that “every council meeting is recorded. Every council meeting is public. Every vote is public record.”
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND DEVELOPMENT
The candidates presented diverse approaches to addressing housing affordability while managing development.
- Merrell acknowledged the broader context of the housing crisis. “I don’t think that you can isolate it to just Fort Walton. Across the nation, we’ve seen prices skyrocket,” he said, noting the impact of low interest rates during COVID and subsequent rate increases affecting affordability.
Smith advocated for market-based solutions rather than direct city intervention. “I don’t think it’s incumbent upon us to use taxpayer dollars to supplement what private industry already can do,” he said, noting that previous city housing funds had seen limited use until recent housing authority projects.
Harwell connected housing costs to broader quality of life issues. “When I ask people on social media what are the reasons that they are leaving the city, a lot of those reasons are work, housing, and there’s not enough things to do with their families,” he said.
INFRASTRUCTURE AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT
The Around the Mound project received unanimous support, with all candidates rating it 10 out of 10 in importance, though they emphasized different aspects of its impact.
- Smith, who serves as the council’s representative on the regional TPO board, provided specific timeline updates. “The final report on the PD&E study will be completed and signed off by the state of Florida in November,” he said. “The great news is, we already got the design phase fully funded… at that point in time, all it is is getting money from the state to do the construction.”
On waterfront development, Smith highlighted upcoming improvements. “Being a waterfront community and looking around and accesses that we have for our citizens to access the waterway, it’s pretty piss poor if you ask me,” he said, describing plans to expand the Liza Jackson boat launch through a partnership with county tourism dollars.
- He noted untapped potential in neighborhood access points: “When you look around our city, there’s some fantastic neighborhood boat launches that are in dire need of repair. There’s some fantastic water access in a bunch of neighborhoods around here that could be greatly improved for the use of our citizens.”
Browning emphasized preserving local character while embracing growth. “We definitely want to keep the structure in the way that it is and keep Fort Walton Beach, Fort Walton Beach, but also improve it so when you’re coming over that beautiful new bridge, it’s a warm welcome,” he said.
Merrell addressed concerns about pontoon boat rentals from his perspective as a business owner. “We can sit up here and we can all pick one thing we’d love to take out if we didn’t want it… But at the end of the day, it’s a business and I am for small business,” he said, emphasizing the need for legal and safe operations.
CITY MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP
The search for a new city manager generated substantial discussion about qualifications and priorities.
Merrell framed the position in business terms. “If the city of Fort Walton Beach is a $60 million corporation, then the city manager is a CEO… and the council would be the board that they answer to,” he said, adding that the position requires someone who can “assure his staff and assure the people that Fort Walton Beach is going to continue to grow.”
Smith emphasized leadership qualities. “Leadership is the absolute, unequivocal, most important attribute that a new city manager can have,” he said. “We need someone that can create a positive environment. Attitude is everything.”
Riley outlined specific qualifications needed. “You need to have some type of background or experience in business or public administration… you need to understand policies and procedures, you need to understand government, you need to understand mandated statutes,” she said.
Harwell focused on interpersonal qualities. “They can be well qualified, but if they got bad energy, that energy is going to bleed over to the employees,” he said, emphasizing the importance of creating a positive work environment.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND REPRESENTATION
Candidates emphasized different approaches to citizen engagement and representation.
Bishop stressed direct citizen interaction. “I’ve been doing a bunch of door knocking the last election, this election, engaging with a bunch of citizens, because that’s what Fort Walton is all about,” he said. “It’s not about what I want done, it’s about what Fort Walton Beach wants done.”
Faison-Vazquez proposed neighborhood-level engagement. “My plan is to build workshops in these neighborhoods so you guys can sit down and talk to me and let me know what your needs are,” she said, emphasizing accessibility to constituents.
CLOSING ARGUMENTS
In their closing remarks, candidates offered final pitches that crystallized their campaign messages and visions for the city.
Merrell reflected on his evolution from concerned citizen to candidate. “I’ve been to council meetings, I’ve been to commission meetings and sometimes I saw a hundred people show up and I saw a change, and sometimes I saw a hundred people show up and things voted, they were already decided,” he said.
- On preserving the city’s character while promoting growth, he added, “We don’t want to be Destin Jr…. but I also don’t want to be the empty city that you drive through. So to balance that is what I’m looking forward to do.”
Smith drew on his council experience to emphasize the gravity of upcoming decisions. “Initially when you get into this, there’s this spark that gets you involved. And then when you get into it deeper, you realize that was 5 percent of the whole thing,” he said.
- He particularly emphasized the importance of experienced leadership in handling the charter amendments: “We’re about to do something that to my knowledge, no other city in this country has done. And it is a serious thing.”
Bishop emphasized his community connections and commitment to public safety. “I love our public safety, our police department. I’ve rode with them several times, seen how they worked, and we got very professional guys up there, professional firefighters,” he said, stressing the importance of retaining city employees and creating a trustworthy environment.
Riley positioned herself as a community advocate. “I’m a fighter and I believe in fighting for the people. And if I am elected on March the 11th, my goal is to fight as hard as I can for the citizens of Fort Walton Beach,” she said, emphasizing her desire to prevent Fort Walton Beach from becoming “a desert town.”
Browning highlighted his understanding of city operations. “I fully understand the inner workings of the city and responsibilities of council, gained through knowledge of working for the city clerk and the city manager,” he said, noting his existing relationships with city staff.
Harwell presented himself as a voice for working-class residents. “My worries aren’t your typical worries of most of your councilman or politicians. I’m not worried about where I’m vacationing. I’m worrying about what bill I got to pay,” he said, adding, “I came from the bottom, I’m working my way up, and I want to bring the city of Fort Walton Beach with me.”
Faison-Vazquez, who had arrived late to the forum, emphasized her hands-on approach to community service. “I don’t just talk the talk. I’m going to be out there doing the work,” she said.
The municipal election is scheduled for March 11, with early voting beginning March 3. Three council seats will be decided.
