politics Archive

The sheriffs of four counties in Florida’s 1st Congressional District have endorsed Jimmy Patronis in his run for Congress. Sheriff Chip Simmons of Escambia, Sheriff Bob Johnson of Santa Rosa, Sheriff Eric Aden of Okaloosa, and Sheriff Michael Adkinson Jr. of Walton County announced their support for the Florida Chief Financial Officer’s campaign on Dec. 20.

With the resignation of Matt Gaetz, there is a special election on the horizon to decide who will represent northwest Florida in the U.S. House of Representatives. As of Dec. 5, there are 13 candidates vying for the seat, including State Rep. Dr. Joel Rudman, Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis, and 2024 Democratic candidate for U.S. House district 1, Jennifer Gay Valimont. 

Over 111,500 voters came out to cast ballots in Santa Rosa County this election. With a voter turnout of 77.97%, Santa Rosa residents made their voices heard on several issues and in a litany of races across the region and state.

Politics can be a vicious sport, causing frustration and a desire to give it up. According to State Rep. Dr. Joel Rudman (R-Navarre), this past session has been one frustration after another. Despite this, he said he isn’t ready to step aside.

Earlier today, former President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records after being indicted last week by a Manhattan grand jury.

Parental rights in education have become a massive issue politically, not just in Florida, but across the country. One group is helping lead that charge. Moms for Liberty, a nonprofit advocacy group based in Melbourne, Florida, has campaigned against COVID-19 restrictions in schools, school curriculums that mention critical race theory or gender ideology and some chapters have campaigned to remove certain books that address gender or sexuality from school libraries.

Sam Parker apologized Thursday for using an ethnic slur attracting international attention while critics continue calling for his resignation from the Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners.

The Santa Rosa County Commission on Thursday will decide whether to approve transferring 100 acres to the City of Milton for its $70-million wastewater project. On Monday, it listened for almost three hours to speaker after speaker argue why it shouldn’t.

Rebekah Jones is now in the clear for the Aug. 23 primary thanks to a judgement handed down from the Florida Court of Appeals, First District on Aug. 22.

As Navarre Press reported last week, Jones had been involved in a court fight with Peggy Schiller, who is running against her for the Democratic nomination for Congressional district one. The winner of the primary will face incumbent Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL).

Milton Mayor Heather Lindsay vetoed a proposal to lower residency requirements for her office after the city council’s July 12 regular meeting.

The Milton City Charter currently requires candidates for mayor to have lived in the city for at least three years. But, despite the mayor’s veto threat, the city council voted 6-2 for a ballot referendum asking voters to change the requirement to just one year, the same residency requirement for city council candidates.