Incumbent Commissioners Johns and Glidewell Ousted in Walton County Primary
Walton County voters delivered two decisive upsets in the August 18 primary, unseating incumbent Commissioners Donna Johns and Danny Glidewell from their seats on the Board of County Commissioners.
Warren Whitaker defeated Glidewell for the District 2 seat with 60% of the vote, marking the first time someone new will hold that position in eight years. Glidewell first won the District 2 seat in 2018 and was re-elected in 2022. In the District 4 race, Jim Bagby claimed victory over Johns, who finished with 27.21% of the vote. James Calkins, a former Santa Rosa County commissioner, finished second in the District 4 contest but fell short of Bagby’s lead.
Both races were on the Republican primary ballot, and because all Walton County commissioners are elected countywide, every Freeport voter had a say in both contests. The results carry direct implications for Freeport, which falls under the jurisdiction of the five-member Board of County Commissioners. The BCC oversees county infrastructure, growth management, public safety budgets, and tax rates that affect every Freeport resident.
The candidate forum leading up to the election was held at the Freeport City Community Center on July 21, moderated by Freeport Councilman Doug Stauffer. All five candidates — Glidewell, Whitaker, Bagby, Calkins, and Johns — fielded questions on infrastructure, government transparency, and the future of Walton County. District 1 Commissioner Dan Curry, whose district office is located at 902 FL-20 in Freeport, was not up for re-election this cycle.
Whitaker, a lifelong Florida native from DeFuniak Springs, campaigned on an infrastructure-first platform and a pledge of radical government transparency. His District 2 seat covers DeFuniak Springs and northern Walton County, an area that includes portions of the US 331 corridor connecting the county seat to Freeport and I-10. The District 4 seat held by Johns covers South Walton, including Miramar Beach and Santa Rosa Beach, but the commission’s decisions on road projects, budget allocations, and development standards shape policy that reaches across the entire county — including Freeport.
The winners will face any general election challengers in November, though in heavily Republican Walton County, the primary often determines the ultimate winner. The new commission will be seated later this year, bringing fresh perspectives — and fresh accountability — to a board that governs everything from Freeport’s road maintenance contracts to its emergency services funding.
Originally reported by MyPanhandle (WMBB). Official results: Walton County Supervisor of Elections.
Image: MyPanhandle (WMBB)
