Crestview mayor named NWF League of Cities president
Brian Hughes | Special to the News Bulletin/USA TODAY NETWORK
CRESTVIEW The Northwest Florida League of Cities has a new president and it’s Crestview Mayor JB Whitten.
In a 1 p.m. May 3 ceremony, Whitten placed his hand on a family Bible held by his wife, Ann, as Okaloosa County Commissioner Mel Ponder administered the oath of office after offering the invocation.
Ponder, former Destin mayor and Florida state representative, was among local municipal leaders and officials attending the brief ceremony in the Crestview City Council chamber at City Hall. Also attending was outgoing NWFLC president and DeFuniak Springs Mayor Bob Campbell.
Gainer, Drake host delegation meetings
By Carol Kent Wyatt | Washington County News @CAROLKENTWYATT
HOLMES AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES – Senator George Gainer and Representative Brad Drake recently hosted a series of legislative delegation meetings to hear from constituents and government leaders in Holmes, Jackson, Walton, and Washington counties.
Holding steady on education funding was among topics raised in both Holmes and Washington counties, with Holmes County Superintendent of Schools Buddy Brown and Washington County Superintendent Joe Taylor each addressing the delegation.
“Education is the one thing I feel we cannot back up on,” said Superintendent Brown. “Florida has made great strides in the last few years; we’ve become a leader in education, and we can’t take the chance to back up on that now. We can sacrifice in other areas, but not for our future. We have to maintain.”