Opinion Archive

This week is Sunshine Week, which makes it an ideal time to reiterate the importance of open government and why my office is diligently working to improve government transparency and accountability. Since taking office, I have been committed to building upon Florida’s Sunshine Law and seeking new ways to promote openness.

The Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and Navarre Press are reviving a popular workshop series called “Jump Start Your Business.” It will be held Tuesday, March 18 at 11:30 a.m. at the chamber. The ad in this week’s paper has all the great information you need to RSVP. The Marine Sanctuary, The Sea Turtle Conservation Center, The Marine Science Station, The Butterfly House and the Navarre Chamber Foundation are all groups of volunteers that make ecological tourism happen in and around Navarre. They fund and facilitate children’s camps, artificial reefs, educational programs and fundraising for many nonprofits including their own. If you have read other news accounts, you would think that our ecotourism theme just happened by accident, but that is not the case. It has been the vision of many leaders including Brenda Stokes of Holley Hill Pottery fame. She isn’t as active with all of the groups but her vision and leadership has been carried with us. The artificial reefs are growing faster than our neighbor’s reefs and have been the theme of many articles in Navarre Press. If you have an “All Access” subscription – you can go back and read about how all of our ecotourism came into being. We have beautiful beaches and beautiful sunrises and sunsets and it draws people of all walks of life to our area. Please help our tourists and locals alike remember that it is bad form to leave cans, plastic bottles and trash on the beach when they are heading back to their cars. I had pictures sent to me Tuesday of a terrible disgrace of trash left on the beach from Monday. If you think it is none of your business that someone else left trash – you are wrong. If you come across it, please pick it up. There is a Great American Cleanup next month – but we shouldn’t need a date on the calendar to clean up after ourselves or remind others to do the same.

The Navarre Krewe of Jesters would like to thank everyone who worked with us to make the 28th annual Navarre Beach Mardi Gras Parade a huge success. This was the largest parade we have ever presented, and it promises to be even bigger – and earlier – next year.  We have been contacted by additional krewes in the area who have expressed interest in entering floats in the 2015 parade already.

Take a long-range view of the new courthouse location

As a 15 year returning Snowbird, I thought I had pretty much seen it all, but it appears that I am mistaken.

Just a couple of years ago, the Santa Rosa County Commissioners spent many meetings trying to come to grips with the best way to encourage investment and job creation for local residents. At the time, TEAM Santa Rosa, a public-private partnership was the local economic development office. Some members of the public were not satisfied by the group’s efforts, operational methods or the fact that it lacked direct oversight from the county, its primary funding source.

Open letter to the administration of the homeowners association of Holley by the Sea:

Just when you thought it wouldn’t happen…foundation plans for the new hotel to be constructed on Navarre Beach have been submitted to the county. Doster Construction Company is the contractor of record.

Like Jerry Clower, I say “Ain’t God Good?” Because God loves the world so much, He “engineered” the release of the movie “Son of God” Feb. 28, blessing many to become aware of Jesus Christ.

The Citizens to Incorporate Navarre Political Action Committee is collecting signatures in an effort to convince Santa Rosa County Commissioners to place a nonbinding straw poll on the August primary election ballot. This is the second go-around for the group. The commissioners in 2012 rejected their request.