Rollar Ayers (Republican) is seeking political office for the first time. He has worked at Papa John’s for more than 15 years and does seasonal farm work.
Q: Give us your elevator speech – what are your campaign’s top priorities and why?
A: I am running because our county is growing too fast and we need to improve our roads. We also need more affordable housing options for young families.
Q: Santa Rosa County is experiencing enormous growth, now totaling over 200,000 residents. With growth comes opportunities and problems. How do you balance growth to ensure it is measured and that the infrastructure is in place to support it?
A: We need restrictions in place that require more affordable housing options for average working families. We need to cut wasteful government spending and redirect the money to fix our roads.
Q: The county has nearly a $250 million annual budget. What makes you qualified to handle a budget that large, and how do you ensure transparency so that taxpayers have trust in how the government is spending its money?
A: Managing an efficient budget requires the same basic steps regardless of what amount of money you are dealing with. I will have an open-door policy and listen to all the citizens. We don’t need any more backdoor deals.
Q: In your opinion, what’s the biggest problem currently facing Santa Rosa County? And how do you solve that problem?
A: We have too much traffic for our roads. We need to cut wasteful government spending and redirect the money to fix our roads.
Q: Voters are looking for a reason to pick you over your opponents. Every candidate will say they are a good person, who works hard, etc. Don’t waste the chance: What separates you from your opponents in this race? Why should someone vote for you?
A: I am asking for your vote to be a county commissioner because I know what it’s like to work two jobs to support my family. I understand the struggles that many young families are dealing with right now. I am not a politician, and I am not a retired government employee. I am a regular working man, and I am ready to start using common sense to solve the problems that the politicians should have already fixed. I will be a voice for all the citizens of our county, not just the developers, the mega-rich, and the special interest groups.
Bobby Burkett (Republican) retired from Santa Rosa County after 25 years of service in the inspection department and code enforcement. He was head of code enforcement upon his retirement. This is his first time running for political office.
Q: Give us your elevator speech – what are your campaign’s top priorities and why?
A: One of my top concerns is the common practice of clear-cutting trees when a new development is going in. Another concern is the lack of infrastructure compared to the amount of growth our county is experiencing. I am also passionate about preserving our agricultural lands.
Q: Santa Rosa County is experiencing enormous growth, now totaling over 200,000 residents. With growth comes opportunities and problems. How do you balance growth to ensure it is measured and that the infrastructure is in place to support it?
A: I would like to revive the traffic concurrency laws to ensure that the infrastructure can support new growth and development.
Q: The county has nearly a $250 million annual budget. What makes you qualified to handle a budget that large, and how do you ensure transparency so that taxpayers have trust in how the government is spending its money?
A: I was the district manager of a propane company for a number of years and was responsible for preparing the budget, controlling accounts receivable and payable, along with payroll and inventory control. When I was head of code enforcement for the county, I prepared my department’s annual budget.
Q: In your opinion, what’s the biggest problem currently facing Santa Rosa County? And how do you solve that problem?
A: The lack of upgraded infrastructure is the biggest problem we are facing. For too long, the county has focused on its current needs rather than planning for future growth. Bringing back the traffic concurrency laws will help. We should place more emphasis on road construction and widening existing roads and adding turn lanes as needed.
Q: Voters are looking for a reason to pick you over your opponents. Every candidate will say they are a good person, who works hard, etc. Don’t waste the chance: What separates you from your opponents in this race? Why should someone vote for you?
A: With all my years’ experience in management, as well as 25 years working for Santa Rosa County, I feel that I am well qualified for the position of county commissioner. I currently hold numerous licenses in building inspection, including a building official license and a storm water inspection license. Working as an officer and later head of code enforcement gave me a working knowledge of the land development codes and other county ordinances. I am now retired. I have no other business interests, so I will be your full-time commissioner. I want to be a voice for all citizens.
Sam Parker (Republican) has been a Santa Rosa County commissioner since 2016. He is still involved in the decision-making process in three businesses that he and his wife started. He possesses a federal firearms license, a Florida real estate broker license and a residential contractor license.
Q: Give us your elevator speech – what are your campaign’s top priorities and why?
A: The number one goal I have as a county commissioner is to improve the quality of life for others in the community. Simply put, I focus my time and energy toward supporting our first responders that protect our citizens and improving the county’s infrastructure. I also have a deep-rooted passion to help our community’s small businesses, attract new companies to our area that create high-paying jobs, and advocate for our military bases and our military veterans.
Q: Santa Rosa County is experiencing enormous growth, now totaling over 200,000 residents. With growth comes opportunities and problems. How do you balance growth to ensure it is measured and that the infrastructure is in place to support it?
A: As we attract world-class companies to our industrial parks that will provide high-paying jobs, we must also ensure that there is an adequate supply of workforce housing. However, we must also protect our natural resources. I have consistently voted to support programs aimed at protecting farmland, protecting our waterways and wetlands, protecting our heritage trees and trying to reduce the amount of clear-cutting we have seen. Plus, during my time as a county commissioner, we have more than doubled the amount of tax dollars that we are investing annually to improve roads and upgrade stormwater infrastructure to prevent flooding.
Q: The county has nearly a $250 million annual budget. What makes you qualified to handle a budget that large, and how do you ensure transparency so that taxpayers have trust in how the government is spending its money?
A: I am currently chairman of the Board of Santa Rosa County Commissioners. I also served as chairman during 2018-2019. I have also previously served as chairman of the budget committee. I have been involved with creating the county’s budget for the past eight years. I have worked with the county’s staff to increase the amount of funding we spend each year to improve infrastructure. We have greatly increased the transparency of our budget process and hold multiple budget workshops each year. The workshops are open to the public, and they are video recorded and archived on the county’s website.
Q: In your opinion, what’s the biggest problem currently facing Santa Rosa County? And how do you solve that problem?
A: Traffic congestion is probably the biggest problem affecting citizens in Santa Rosa County. I think we need to continue to increase the amount of funding that we are spending on improving our current roadways as well as building new roads. I am currently involved with the process of trying to build an alternate road to Highway 98 that will utilize property owned by Eglin Air Force Base. I frequently communicate with members of our state legislature and FDOT officials about increasing the level of funding that comes to Santa Rosa County to improve roads.
Q: Voters are looking for a reason to pick you over your opponents. Every candidate will say they are a good person, who works hard, etc. Don’t waste the chance: What separates you from your opponents in this race? Why should someone vote for you?
A: I am the most qualified candidate in my race. When choosing someone to manage an organization with hundreds of employees, experience and education both matter. I have a master’s degree in public administration, and I have eight years of experience as a county commissioner. I also have years of experience as a small business owner. I understand that leadership requires making tough decisions not everyone will agree with, but I have always made an effort to be accessible and hear from citizens. I weigh all the facts and citizens’ opinions about issues before making decisions that affect our community.
Aaron Williams (Republican) is a retired Army major with 24 years of service, with 12 as an enlisted soldier and 12 as an officer. His professional background is in human resources management and logistics, and he has a Bachelor of Science in History from Campbell University. Originally from Osceola, Arkansas, he’s lived in Santa Rosa County for three years.
Q: Give us your elevator speech – what are your campaign’s top priorities and why?
A: I am seeking the office of County Commissioner in District 1 because our county needs fresh perspectives on managing our affairs. As a servant leader, I am committed to raising the professionalism of our elected officials both on and off the dais. My top priority is amending the land development code to conserve our farmlands and natural wildlife for future generations. Additionally, I aim to keep Santa Rosa County open for business by creating a better business model that maximizes profits for stakeholders and yields maximum returns for our community.
Q: Santa Rosa County is experiencing enormous growth, now totaling over 200,000 residents. With growth comes opportunities and problems. How do you balance growth to ensure it is measured and that the infrastructure is in place to support it?
A: We have an estimated $360 million in infrastructure needs and approximately $20 million in reserves. To move forward, I propose allocating $10 million toward tourist development. Let’s build an indoor stadium and outdoor complex, creating partnerships with sports organizers to make Santa Rosa County the preferred competition location. Hosting multiple events throughout the year will generate revenue to improve our infrastructure. This income, created by Santa Rosa County for Santa Rosa County, will help us operate without taking out loans. Let’s invest in ourselves and become the number one youth sports destination in the United States.
Q: The county has nearly a $250 million annual budget. What makes you qualified to handle a budget that large, and how do you ensure transparency so that taxpayers have trust in how the government is spending its money?
A: During my military tenure, I managed large budgets from various sources, sometimes exceeding millions of dollars. As a Support Officer with the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, I oversaw expenses using both local budgets and the global war on terror budget. I ensured adherence to proper financial procedures, maintaining accountability for all funds spent. To ensure transparency in managing the county’s $250 million annual budget, I would implement rigorous financial oversight, regular public reporting, and open access to budgetary information, fostering trust and accountability among taxpayers.
Q: In your opinion, what’s the biggest problem currently facing Santa Rosa County? And how do you solve that problem?
A: The biggest problem in Santa Rosa County is a significant infrastructure deficit, worsened by a lack of diversified revenue streams and repetitive developments. To solve this, we need a comprehensive infrastructure plan, enforce impact fees, and explore additional funding mechanisms. Promoting diversified economic development and attracting innovative industries are crucial. Engaging stakeholders in community-focused projects and enhancing transparency in governance will ensure sustainable growth. These steps will create a balanced, prosperous future for Santa Rosa County, benefiting residents and providing sustainable profits for investors.
Q: Voters are looking for a reason to pick you over your opponents. Every candidate will say they are a good person, who works hard, etc. Don’t waste the chance: What separates you from your opponents in this race? Why should someone vote for you?
A: What sets me apart from my opponents is my proven track record of delivering results and my commitment to innovative solutions. I have led our nation’s heroes in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, and over the past three years, I have volunteered on the county’s zoning board to prepare for leadership. As part of the team that rewrote the land development code, I demonstrated my ability to work with others to create meaningful change. This county deserves outstanding leadership, and I am committed to providing it. I will lead by example, just as I did in the military.
Jason Hatfield and Zachary Reinhart are write-ins in this race and did not return their questionnaires.