Meet the 2010 Walton County School Board candidates (VIDEO)

This year, three of the five Walton County School Board seats are in play. There are six candidates vying for the nonpartisan school board positions that will be decided by voters on Aug. 24. School board members serve four-year terms.

The proposed budget for Walton County School Board for 2010-2011 is $61.2 million, a reduction of approximately $4 million from last year. 

Here are some excerpts from the “Meet the Candidates Forum” hosted by the Sandestin Voters and Walton County Tax Payers Association last Thursday. 

District 2

•Faye Leddon has worked in the banking field for more than 25 years and owned a business for three years.

“I was instrumental in the growth of two financial institutions in Walton County,” Leddon said. “I think I have a lot to bring to the table, because of my background in banking.” 

•Zane Sunday has worked in the school system for more than 38 years, as a teacher, principal, district level staff member, superintendent from 1998 to 1992 and personnel director for seven years.

“I would love to serve on the school board,” Sunday said. “You never retire from education, it’s in your blood.”

District 3

•Bill Eddins, Jr., has worked as a classroom teacher and as Principal for Walton Academy Charter School for the past five years. He was the owner of an insulation business for 12 years and has worked in a financial system.

“I feel like I bring a number of strengths to the school board that would include experience, of course, as a teacher, an administrator and business, and have been successful with those things, so I think it is a good thing to bring to the board,” Eddins said.

•Sharon Byrd Roberts (incumbent) was elected to the board in 2006, prior to that she worked in bookkeeping within the school system.

I was given a grade of an “A” by the Walton County Tax Payers Association, Roberts said. “I have a vested interest in Walton County School District and would like to see it flourish to its fullest potential.”

District 5

•Darrell Barnhill (incumbent) was elected to the board in 1998 and is the owner of an engineering firm, Barnhill, Barnhill and Barnhill.

“I’ve never made a political promise in my 12 years on the school board, but I will make you this promise…,” Barnhill said. “I will not vote to raise your taxes, because Walton County can not stand a tax increase.”

•Dennis Wallace was owner of South Bay Ace Hardware from 1987 to 2000. Wallace served on the Board of Directors for Bank Trust, for 16 years and served as chairman of the Florida Bank for 14 years of those as well as Bank Trust Financial Group chairman for the Compensation Committee, where he also sits on the Executive and Asset Liability Committees. 

“I’m not an ex-educator or an incumbent, but I think I bring a skill set that can really be helpful to a school board in Walton County,” Wallace said. “I’ve worked on budgets through banks for many years and I think I bring a perspective that is needed on the school board.”