Retired longtime Santa Rosa County Sheriff Wendell Hall wants to replace the incumbent county commissioners and subsequently announced his support for Dean Light of Navarre to serve in the District 4 seat, representing Holley-Navarre.
“I have talked with Dean, and he assured me that his top priority will be to improve our infrastructure needs,” Hall stated. “He agrees with me that development should only be allowed if there is adequate roads and infrastructure to support the increase in traffic.”
Santa Rosa voters have three opportunities this week to meet Dean, who qualfied in June for the race:
- Grab-A-Bite Bar & Grille in Midway is hosting a Meet & Greet for Light from 6-9 p.m., Tuesday, July 14. “Come enjoy great food, meet Dean in person, and hear his vision for the future of our community,” said Owner Euby Black.
- Andy D’s is hosting Meet the Candidate events for Dean at their Milton and Navarre Beach locations. From 4:30-5:30 p.m., Monday July 13 at 5887 U.S. 90 in Milton and 5-6 p.m., Wednesday, July 15 at 8649 Gulf Boulevard on Navarre Beach.
Dean served 26 years in the U.S. Air Force and now co-owns Pik-Itz Antiques in Navarre with his wife, Terry. The couple moved from nearby Niceville to Navarre in 2004 and now host weekly outdoor markets at the business, which is located on Hwy. 87 South.
Dean is also a volunteer for the Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, and his wife serves on the chamber’s board of directors.
“I feel that I can do a better job working to improve our community,” Light said. “I love this county, I love Navarre, I love the beach.”
Dean says he will focus on infrastructure needs, including replacing the outdated Navarre Beach Bridge.
Dean wants to bring a results-oriented approach to county goverment, emphasizing:
- Better planning for infrastructure and growth, managing growth responsibly;
- Fiscal Responsibility with stronger oversight of county spending;
- Listenting to residents before approving proposed developments.
“Infrastructure should keep pace with development, not lag behind it,” Dean said, pointing out that residents should have a greater voice in county decisions and not be ignored. Toward that end, he’s pledged to make county government more responsive and accessible. “My goal is to represent the citizens in this District, and I will listen and respond to everyone, making myself more available to the people.”
To learn more about Dean visit https://www.deanlight2026.com/
From Dean’s webpage:
As your County Commissioner, I will be your voice — and I will fight for your needs.
After 26 years serving this country in uniform, I learned that every decision has consequences — and that resources entrusted to you must never be wasted. As a small business owner, I live that same principle every day: you separate needs from wants, you spend wisely, and you answer to the people counting on you.
That’s why I’m running for County Commissioner. Our residents are showing up, raising legitimate concerns about infrastructure and growth, and they’re not being heard. Meanwhile, tax dollars are being spent without the discipline and accountability that citizens deserve.I’m not a career politician. I’m someone who has spent a lifetime being responsible for missions, for people, and for results. I’ll bring that same standard to county government — listening to residents first, spending your tax dollars responsibly and making sure growth serves our community, rather than straining it.
Pd pol. adv. by Dean Light, Republican, for Santa Rosa County Commission District 4
