OKALOOSA COUNTY SPECIAL ELECTION

The results of yesterday’s special elections in Okaloosa County are in and the overall voter turnout was less than 10-percent percent of the registered voters. In Crestview, Cynthia Brown will continue on the City Council, defeating incumbent Bill Cox by winning almost 59 percent of the vote for the four-year Group 1 seat. In Destin’s special election, Steven Menchel received more than 60 percent of the vote while defeating Teresa Hebert for a one-year seat. Menchel replaces former Councilman Tuffy Dixon. Dixon who resigned last December after saying he was tired of the city’s contentious politics. Starting Monday, Menchel will begin serving the final year of Dixon’s unexpired, second four-year term. In Fort Walton Beach City Council race Kirby Locklear led all candidates with almost 21 percent of the votes while Mike Holmes and M.G. Moran each were slightly above 20 percent.  In Crestview, current Councilman J.B. Whitten who had no opposition, will replace David Cadle as mayor.