Kerry Smith, right, showed visible signs of frustration during today’s county commission meeting
Multiple citizens during today’s Santa Rosa County Commission meeting called out District 2 Commissioner Kerry Smith, accusing him of failing to adequately address Hwy. 90 traffic congestion during his four-year term and trying to do something months before his re-election.
Back in 2022, Smith ran for the seat on a campaign promise of “Roads Before Development.” However, since that time he’s lost key supporters, including local watchdogs Jerry Couey and Sherry Chapman, who are now fighting against his re-election during the upcoming August 18 primary.
Chapman this morning stated that for years she has attended Milton City Council meetings where Hwy. 90 traffic was discussed. “I was at every one of those meetings. I didn’t not see Commissioner Smith there…where were you?”
Commission Chairman Colten Wright attempted to defend Smith’s lack of participation in any city discussions, stating it’s not a commissioner’s job to attend other local government meetings.
Chapman argued that Wright was “trying to twist” what she way saying. “I’m saying District 2 has a major traffic problem,” she said, stating Smith was trying to “come in at the last minute during an election year” by adding an agenda discussion about the matter to this week’s agenda.
There was no supporting documentation for the discussion to “accelerate” acquisition of right of way between Ward Basin Road and Stewart Street.
R.C. Pittman, one of Smith’s four active challengers for the District 2 seat, spoke out against the county spending money on studies for public pools and a Navarre Beach Toll System – both of which were strongly opposed by the community. “I don’t normally do this, but I was asked by numerous people to come up and voice their displeasure. We’ve got problems that need to be fixed that aren’t being addressed.”
Smith apologized to his fellow board members. “One of the things I didn’t want this to do was become a political firestorm,” he said of adding the issue to the agenda. “We’re always working on fulfilling our campaign promises…it hurts me to see we are making this political.”
Cindy Smith of Pace told the board citizens have been repeatedly bringing up the issue with congestion on Hwy. 90. “We’ve been saying we need to fix this traffic problem…we get belittled by you for coming up here and preaching it to you guys.”
The board will proceed with right-of-way acquisition efforts; however, it will be years before
