Commissioner Meadows not to seek re-election

After nearly four years as District 5 Commissioner in Walton County, Cindy Meadows (R) has decided she will not seek re-election this November.
“I’d really just like to do some other things,” she said. “Personally and career wise I’ve chosen not to run.”
Meadows was elected in 2004 as the first woman elected to the Board of County Commissioners in Walton County and the second to hold a commission seat – Virginia Pridgen held a commission seat briefly after her husband, Sam Pridgen, passed away.
“When I ran I was told a woman could never be elected (in Walton County),” she said. “It was somewhat of a challenge and I thought I had the background and the patience to deal with the issues.”
Meadows, who grew up in Tallahassee, moved to Seagrove Beach in 1997 after working with the state senate and holding various project management positions in the central part of the state. She founded the Community Planning Associates in Walton County and served as the Planning Commissioner for three years before serving on the BCC.
With Meadows withdrawal from the race, there are currently three candidates running for the District 5 seat – Charles Burke (R), George Wallace Smith (R) and Bob Hudson (R).
Meadows said she didn’t know if she would get back into politics, but not to count her out.
“Never say never,” she said. “I always like to keep my options open. You just never know. I may be interested in running for a state office or getting involved in that level. I’ve always been interested in that.”