Five vie for Niceville City Council seat
NICEVILLE — Thursday’s contest for the late Terry Tislow’s City Council seat pits five candidates against one another in a crowded election — at least by the city’s standards.
Just six months ago the city held uncontested elections for the mayor’s job and two council seats.
Now, five people have emerged for one seat that runs through July 2009, when Tislow’s term would have ended.
Unless one candidate captures more than 50 percent of the vote Thursday, a runoff is set for Jan. 17.
David Branscome said he decided to throw his hat in the ring because of increasing taxes.
“I know it’s a hot topic in my office and with a lot of the folks I’ve talked to,” said Branscome, 43.
A defense contractor at Eglin, he’s lived in Niceville for four years.
“Niceville’s my home and I feel like I can give back to the community and make a difference,” he said.
Daniel Henkel, 51, has lived in the city since 1995 and, since leaving active duty with the Air Force, has worked on base as a support contractor.
“I’ve always said if there’s things going on and you feel like you can either be part of the problem or part of the solution, you need to get involved,” Henkel said.
He pointed to the influx of people expected as a result of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure law as one reason he wants to get involved.
Fred Jones has been on the planning commission for three years, and now the 67-year-old civil service employee said he wants to keep serving Niceville.
“I really enjoy the way the City Council operates, how they get along with each other, how they get along with city staff,” he said. “We seem to work out things in a real cooperative effort in Niceville and I want to be part of that.”
For Roger Noel, a retired soldier and small-business owner, the chance to serve on the council is another opportunity to help Niceville.
“My philosophy is that you get out of the community what you put in,” he said.
Noel served on the Niceville-Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce board of directors for eight years. He’s still a Northwest Florida Heritage Museum board member.
Among Noel’s concerns is the availability of affordable housing in the Twin Cities and beyond. He considers that a pressing issue because of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure law, which is bringing the Army 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) to Eglin Air Force Base.
Lynne Waltz says she hasn’t been a stranger to volunteering for the city and is ready to make the jump to the council.
“I’ve been involved in our city for over two decades in different types of volunteer programs,” she said. “For me, this is just a continuation of that.”
Most recently, the 56-year-old homemaker has been an organizer with the Niceville Community Christmas. She has called the city home for 25 years and said she’s not going anywhere.
“What happens in this city is important to me; what happens to our residents is important,” Waltz said. “I’m not here for the short haul. I’m here for the long haul.”