25-03-2025
Lynn Haven Municipal Candidates forum
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Topics like the city's current budget warranted some passionate responses from candidates at Monday's forum.
A hearty discussion between the candidates for city commission seat three kicked off the forum with the city's debt being frequently referenced by both Johnnie Beshearse and Jamie Warrick.
When asked about funding mismanagement after Hurricane Michael both candidates got a chance to explain how they would improve financial transparency. Warrick says the process could be improved by implementing more budgetary workshops and adding a new position.
'I want to change that process. As far as transparency I actually brought this up to the commission. I was voted down for it. I want to add a city clerk, right now our city clerk is the city manager, and it's important to have that balanced triangle like they do in the federal government. There's an executive branch, legislative branch and judicial branch. The executive is like the city manager. The legislator is like the commission we set the policy. But we're missing a third piece over here,' Warrick said.
Both candidates agreed the budget could be more transparent, but Beshearse added that he felt Warrick's city clerk plan was disingenuous.
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'He called back saying that he wanted the city manager to do his bidding instead of what the city commission directed him to do. And then after that, he came back wanting a new city clerk position that would report to the commission instead of reporting to the city manager. So I think it may be a little disingenuous there, maybe not. But as far as transparency, I think you should as citizens, you should see everything we do,' Beshearse said.
With federal and state budget cuts weighing on local governments, priorities are of those priorities for Lynn Haven will be the wastewater treatment plant expansion.
Both candidates agreed the facility is in dire need of updates, regardless if it's state-mandated or not. Non-binding referendums regarding the rebuilding of the city library, a potential partnership with the Northwest Florida Regional Library System, and zoning maps also led back to the discussion of the availability of funds.
'When we first started the debt review committee when i first came in we were told it would project to be $5.2 million out of pocket. Now we're up to $18 million and I've asked the city manager time and time again. How do we go from 5.2 to 18 million? And I still don't have the answer to that,' Warrick said.
'Now I'm gonna go back to Commissioner Warricks thing about the debt difference, between the $5.2 million to the $18 million debt, you can believe if there was a $12 million difference in what I was being told one day to the next day. It wouldn't take me a year and a half to figure out what it was. I talked to the city manager about this and I can tell you where those funds were spent. It may be that the communication was poor or whatever but the information is there,' Beshearse said.
Candidates running for city commission seat four Judy Tinder, Jeff Snyder, and Jamie Marler were also asked questions about the city's budget in regard to upcoming funding reduction.
To watch their responses and the entire forum, click here. Mexico Beach's candidate forum for council member two will be next Monday at their public works building.
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