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Okaloosa School Board member Dr. Lamar White will not seek reelection

Dr. Lamar White, who has served on the Okaloosa County School Board since 2014, announced Thursday he will not run for a fourth term.
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Dr. Lamar White, who has served on the Okaloosa County School Board since 2014, announced Thursday he will not run for a fourth term.

  • White, the District 1 representative, was first elected in 2014 and reelected in 2018 and 2022. His current term ends in 2026.

“After twelve years of serving the citizens of Okaloosa County on the School Board, I have decided that I will not seek reelection for a fourth term,” White said in a statement.

White retired from the Okaloosa school system in 2012 after 35 years as a teacher, coach, administrator and principal. During his career, he worked at every level of the district, serving as a high school teacher and coach, elementary school principal, district staff member, adjunct college professor and middle school principal.

He spent his final 11 years as principal of Meigs Middle School, where the school earned Florida “A” grades every year for student academic performance.

  • “It has been an incredible honor to serve our students, families, educators, and community,” White said. “I am deeply grateful for the trust placed in me and for the opportunity to work alongside dedicated colleagues who share a commitment to public education.”

White thanked his family for their support throughout his tenure on the board.

“I am especially thankful to my family for their patience, sacrifice, and unwavering support,” he said. “Their belief in public service made this journey possible.”

White said his announcement was made to give citizens time to select their next school board representative.

“This announcement is made with great respect for our community and is intended to honor the citizens of Okaloosa County by allowing them the time and opportunity to thoughtfully select their next School Board representative,” he said.

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Community Comments

“Good Job! We live in Fort Walton and have been spending time in Fredericksburg, Virginia...the data center capital of the world. You have made a very good decision.”
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“At minimum, reduce property tax for senior citizens. Property taxes normally increase yearly but senior's income doesn't. Every time we get a social security raise, our Medicare premiums go up....”
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Scott Schaeffler commented on WordroW: August 12, 2026
“1:17, 4 attempts”
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“Crab Island is being ruined by the massive traffic. We should not be proud of, or promote this.”
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“Wonderful gesture toward honoring a part of the towns history especially an enslaved man that many would not know about,,,,,,wlsh was possible for me to attend, but hope for a...”
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“Story states that total general fund revenue is $118.7 million. Earlier story in Get the Coast (Jul 8th) put the proposed 2027 Budget general fund at $191.1 million. So, it's...”
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Scott Schaeffler commented on WordroW: August 11, 2026
“1:04, 4 attempts”
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“I would like to see the 2019 budget, and what amount of that budget came from property taxes, the Okaloosa County population in 2019, and the number of properties taxed...”
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