The surprises continue.
Chris Jones has decided not to seek re-election as Escambia County Property Appraiser. Jones has served the citizens of Escambia County with dedication and integrity since his appointment in 1995.
“After serving the people of this community for nearly 30 years, it is with a heavy heart that I announce I will not seek re-election. This decision was not made easily. After much thought and prayer, I have decided it is time to step back due to personal reasons that require my full attention,” said Jones. “It has been my honor and privilege to serve the citizens of Escambia County as their Property Appraiser.”
Through his “11 Commandments for the Public Servant” mission statement – Jones has always championed the belief that taxpayers are the most important people in the community and providing them with professional and quality service was his job.
“I fully support the candidacy of Escambia County Property Appraiser Chief Deputy Gary ‘Bubba’ Peters. Bubba has been with the office for over 20 years, starting as a student and earning his way to the chief deputy position,” Jones said. Peters is an Inweekly Rising Star.
“Bubba will continue providing quality public service, as well as proven leadership and professionalism that our citizens deserve. I urge my fellow Escambia County residents to support him,” he added.
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And Jesse Casey has qualified to run against his boss, Jeff Bergosh, for the Escambia County Commission D1 seat.
Other races:
Escambia County Commissioner – (Partisan
District 4 – Earle McAuley
Town of Century – (Nonpartisan)
Seat 2 – Henry Cunningham
The following candidates pre-filed for office today:
Santa Rosa Island Authority – (Nonpartisan)
Thomas Campanella
Escambia Soil & Water Conservation District – (Nonpartisan)
District 2 – Johnnie L. Odom
The following candidate has withdrawn as of today, June 13, 2024:
Supervisor of Elections – (Partisan)
Carrie Young – (DEM)
Qualifying for the 2024 Primary and General Elections will run until Noon, Friday, June 14, 2024.
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It’s official – Mike Burns get SRIA job
The Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA) Board finalized the contract to hire local attorney Mike Burns as its new Executive Director during a special Board meeting Wednesday night, June 12.
Burns was chosen from a field of 38 candidates and was selected by the Board after public presentations on May 22.
Burns brings a wealth of experience to the SRIA, as he was previously a leaseholder on Pensacola Beach for three decades.
Burns has served in multiple legal roles in local and state levels, including working under Charlie Crist, both during Crist’s tenure as Attorney General and Governor of Florida. During his time in Tallahassee, Burns worked on disaster recovery efforts following Hurricane Ivan and the BP Oil Spill.
Burns emphasized the significance of strategic planning, teamwork, and resilience in overcoming obstacles during his interview presentation.
“Mike brings a unique perspective to the role, and I think he is the right person at the right time,” said outgoing SRIA Executive Director Leigh Davis. “His deep understanding of the community makes him an excellent fit for addressing pressing issues like funding for beach nourishment.”
Burns will begin working directly with Davis for the next two weeks while he settles into his new role, which officially starts June 17.
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