Politics

Discussions over local politics.

Gingrich leads in local Presidential Primary

February 3, 2012

Newt Gingrich led the pack of presidential hopefuls among Liberty County’s 474 registered Republicans in Tuesday’s Presidential Preference Primary with just over 43% of the vote. Gingrich received 74 votes, followed by Mitt Romney with 43 and Rick Santorum with 39. Ron Paul garnered just over eight percent of the vote with 14 ballots. A single ballot each was also cast for Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann, who have already withdrawn from the race. Gingrich took just over 41% of the Calhoun County vote with 286 ballots. Romney followed with 180 votes, Santorum had 153 and Ron Paul pulled...

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Bristol City Council begins new year with a new mayor

January 13, 2012
Bristol City Council begins new year with a new mayor

New mayor Paul Kern, City Clerk Robin Hatcher and three returning board members were sworn in for a new term at Monday night’s regular meeting of the Bristol City Council. Councilman Mitch Willis was elected chairman and Councilman Steve Cutshaw was elected vice-chairman for the new year. Cutshaw was also appointed as the City’s representative on the Apalachee Regional Planning Council, with Councilman Brigham Shuler selected as alternate. Attorney David House told the board that he is working with Buddy Shelley of Florida Public Utilities to create an acceptable 5-year Electric Franchise Agreement for presentation to the council at...

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Coley, Montford hold legislative delegation meeting

November 4, 2011
Coley, Montford hold legislative delegation meeting

Rep. Marti Coley and State Senator Bill Montford came to Blountstown to discuss issues with the citizens of Calhoun County on Oct. 25. Due to redistricting, the legislative delegation meeting was moved up from its usual time in February. This scheduling difference is believed to be the reason no one asked to be put on the agenda and accounted for the low attendance, a common occurrence across the panhandle, according to Rep. Coley. Attendance may have been down but at least four people spoke up about issues of concern, including lobbyist Patrick Bell and Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce...

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THE METH CRISIS: Senator Montford looking for answers & ideas from sheriffs

October 7, 2011
THE METH CRISIS: Senator Montford looking for answers & ideas from sheriffs

State Senator Bill Montford, left, met with area sheriffs and judges in Marianna Monday afternoon to discuss the panhandle’s growing methamphetamine crisis and asked for ideas on what he, as a legislator, could do. The meeting was the first step in an effort to seek ways to deal with a problem that has devastated many families in the panhandle. Conducting a cleanup of the growing number of homes used to cook meth is also becoming a financial issue for local law enforcement agencies.  Calhoun County Sheriff David Tatum, shown above with Montford, said it cost about $5,000 each time...

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Magistrate makes recommendation to dismiss voting case filed against Calhoun County

September 2, 2011

by Teresa Eubanks, Journal Editor A U.S. Magistrate in Gainesville has recommended the dismissal of a case filed against Calhoun County to reinstate at-large elections. In his Aug. 23 report, Judge Gary R. Jones said a suit filed by James. C. Pruette Jr. of Blountstown “presented only generalized grievances” and had no standing because he was not involved in the original case several years earlier. Pruette’s complaint, filed Oct. 25, 2010, sought to have the county show why no action was taken on a 1996 referendum when citizens voted in favor of reinstating at-large elections. The suit also asked...

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Liberty County election results

August 30, 2011

Liberty County’s half cent sales tax passed Tuesday night with 351 votes for and 172 votes against. Only 523 people out of 4,218 registered voters cast a ballot today.  

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Former Brooksville Public Works Director hired as new Blountstown City Manager

July 22, 2011
Former Brooksville Public Works Director hired as new Blountstown City Manager

by Teresa Eubanks, Journal Editor An engineer from Brooksville was hired as the new Blountstown City Manager following a round of candidate interviews on Friday. Emory Pierce, 64, spoke with the council that afternoon. Two other candidates were interviewed after him. Two others who were scheduled to meet with the board that day dropped out of the running; one that very morning, the other, just a couple of days earlier after learning he had gotten another job. Once the interviews were completed, the council tallied up their score sheets. Pierce received 430 points of a possible 450, while local...

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Election won’t be needed for Blountstown Council; Altha Council election will be held

July 2, 2011

The two incumbents whose terms were up on the Blountstown City Council will return to office unchallenged after no one came forward during qualifying week to file paperwork to run in this year’s election, according to Calhoun County Elections Supervisor Margie Laramore. Janie Boyd and Clifford Jackson will continue for another term on the council. Three people will be running for two spots on the Altha Town Council. Challenger Charolette A. Januse joined incumbents Lee Allen Alday and Joseph T. Amason in qualifying for the race. Although information given to The Journal last week indicated a different date, the...

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Interviews set for final 5 candidates for Btown City Mgr.

June 24, 2011
Interviews set for final 5 candidates for Btown City Mgr.

by Teresa Eubanks, Journal Editor The Blountstown City Council has set a date of Friday, July 15 to conduct interviews with the final five candidates seeking the job of city manager. All five men are from Florida. The list includes: •Richardo Mendez-Saldivia of Miami •Nathan Goodman of Blountstown •Don Hart of Tallahassee •Emory Pierce of Brooksville •Patrick Miller of Palm Coast A sixth candidate who was on the list indicated he was no longer interested in seeking the position. “We expect the council to ask some good hard questions. I don’t think it’s going to be a quick and...

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Qualifying week under way for two positions on Blountstown City Council

June 24, 2011

Qualifying week began Monday for two seats on the Blountstown City Council. The positions are those currently held by Clifford Jackson in Ward 1 and Janie Boyd in Ward 2. Candidates interested in serving the City of Blountstown have until noon Friday to file their intent with the Calhoun County Elections Office. Councilmembers serve two-year terms. They are paid $25 per meeting. The remaining board members currently serving include James Griffin in Ward 3, Tony Shoemake in Ward 4 and Mayor Winston Deason. The city election will be held August 30. The City Council holds regular meetings on the...

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