Navarre residents and community leaders who oppose the incorporation of Navarre are hosting a roundtable discussion about the issue at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 1. The event will be live streamed via South Santa Rosa News.
“(Florida House District 3) Rep. Joel Rudman has been hosting pro-incorporation roundtables but excluding those of us who strongly oppose incorporation, so we want to host a discussion so that our concerns are heard,” said Debbie Gunnoe, leader of a grassroots anti-incorporation group consisting of more than 300 members and formerly known as Protect Navarre. That group recently rebranded itself as No Inc Navarre.
Florida House District 2 Rep. Alex Andrade, who represents all of Navarre Beach and portions of Navarre, says a legislator’s official role in incorporation is limited to the question of whether or not a referendum should be placed on the ballot.
“I don’t want to prejudice or inappropriately weigh in on a question the voters alone have the right to decide,” Andrade said. “While I support limited government in all respects, I don’t want to be seen as inappropriately pushing for or against incorporation. That decision should be left up to the citizens of any given area.”
Panelists will include:
Tamara Fountain, former CEO of the Navarre Chamber and local business owner
Retired USAF Colonel and former Santa Rosa County District 4 Commissioner Dave Piech
Debbie Gunnoe, leader of No Inc Navarre
David Smith, a local retired veteran, will also be a panelist. Smith says he would have to move out of Navarre if it’s incorporated because he cannot afford the additional taxes and fees which would be added by creating a new layer of local government.
“We plan to discuss a range of issues, such as integrity concerns with the Oct. 12 straw poll being funded by the pro-incorporation group and allegations that Preserve Navarre volunteers may have overestimated annual revenues by millions of dollars,” Gunnoe said.
Community members are encouraged to email questions they would like addressed to protectnavarre@gmail.com.
Special guests at the event will include former Florida Senate President Don Gaetz.
