Walton County Election Wrap

Election Results
by WZEP AM 1460

The election is over and here are the results for Walton County.

Walton Sheriff elect Mike Adkinson was asked by WZEP’s Art Dees what the public could expect with the change in sheriff. Adkinson said he will work with current Sheriff Ralph Johnson to help with a smooth transition. Adkinson says the general public will see restructuring at the top and in the financial operations, but said the rank and file deputies know how to do their job. Adkinson thanked opponent Danny Griffith, saying he ran a clean race and calling him a friend. Adkinson won the race by an almost 2/3rds margin.

Jackson County Sheriff John McDaniel ran against Brad Drake for the State Representative District 5 seat. WZEP First News met up with Johnny Mac earlier in the day and asked him what he was doing as the election results arrived. Like many past elections, he spent the evening with his deputies over dinner. McDaniel said the dinner is his retirement dinner. Johnny McDaniel lost to Brad Drake. Drake is the former aid to Representative Don Brown.

Mildred Wilkerson has taught many of the voters in Walton County. She has been a school board member. After a tight race against Robert Nelson, Wilkerson came out ahead and won her reelection bid for School Board District 1. Wilkerson won with 53% of the vote.

Here are some of the results in Walton County:

While the nation turned to Obama, Walton County voted 72% in favor of John McCain. Barack Obama got 26% of the Walton vote. Ralph Nader received half a percent. Walton also gave Republican U.S. Congressman Jeff miller 72% of the vote. Republican Congressman Mark Mulligan got 68% of the vote to Allen Boyd’s 32%. Republican Public Defender James Owens got 68% in Walton. Walton also returned all the judges.

In some local races, Cathy Johnson beat Rodney Ryals for the Choctawhatchee River Soil Water Conservation District. Liberty Fire District 2 went to Michael Graley and District 4 went to John Bottoms. South Walton Mosquito Control Seat 1 went to John Magee, Seat 2 to Jim Crawford. South Walton Fire District Seat 3 went to Jack Abbit and Seat 5 apparently went to Ed Wright in a very close race against Jon Kazek.

And Walton voters favored amendment 2, the marriage amendment with 73% of the vote.

Here are the results for Walton County:

Walton Sheriff: Mike Adkinson 63%
State Representative District 5 seat: Brad Drake 68%
School Board District 1: Mildred Wilkerson 53%

Choctawhatchee River Soil Water Conservation District: Cathy Johnson
Liberty Fire District 2: Michael Graley
Liberty Fire District 4: John Bottoms
South Walton Mosquito Control Seat 1: John Magee
South Walton Mosquito Control Seat 2: Jim Crawford
South Walton Fire District Seat 3: Jack Abbit
South Walton Fire District Seat 5: Ed Wright