Walton County commissioners fire County Administrator Stan Sunday
WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Walton County is in the market for a new county administrator. On Tuesday, June 10, commissioners voted 3-2 to fire County Adminsitrator Stan Sunday for a multitude of reasons.
Commissioner Dan Curry made the motion, citing inconsistent hiring and firing practices and outdated ordinances.
Sunday had worked in the Walton County government most of his adult life. He was the assistant county administrator for nine years before stepping into the administrator's job in March 2024.
His last few years have been turbulent. In 2021, he was forced to resign, filed a lawsuit under whistleblower status and was later rehired. Last year, he was in the middle of two outside investigations for the way he disciplined former HR Director Nathan Kervin.
Walton County commissioners discuss HR controversy
Then this year, commissioners criticized him for hiring a new HR director without their confirmation. But commissioners say it is Sunday's lack of action on several issues, some dating back decades.
'This county has grown by leaps and bounds. And we're still trying to play the way we did 30, 40, 50 years ago. We just can't do that anymore. We have got to wake up and smell the coffee, and we need good people in good positions that are going to do the job, that are qualified, and by golly, it's time we do the right thing,' said Commission Chair Donna Johns.
Commissioner Brad Drake came to Sunday's defense. Drake said the current commission, while imperfect, fares far better than their predecessors. But he says too often, commissioners are treating county business like a performance.
Commissioners Donna Johns, Dan Curry and Danny Glidewell voted in favor of Sunday's termination.
In Curry's motion, he proposed that the Director of Beach Operations Brian Kellenberger replace Sunday. It's not clear whether that would be an interim appointment or a permanent role if Kellenberger accepts.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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