Former Santa Rosa County Commissioner James Calkins has officially filed to run for Walton County Commissioner, District 4 in the 2026 election. Calkins, a constitutional conservative, says his campaign is built on three pillars—God, Family, Country. As an outsider and taxpayer advocate, Calkins pledges to end insider deals, stop favoritism, and restore fairness, integrity, and common sense to county government.
“God, Family, Country’ isn’t a slogan, it’s my compass,” Calkins said. “My promise is stewardship and service: we’ll prioritize what matters most to families – traffic, storm resilience, public safety, and lower taxes, while protecting taxpayers from wasteful spending.”
Calkins brings proven conservative leadership, with a strong record of cutting government waste, fighting against tax increases and unnecessary fees, protecting family values, and delivering real results for local residents. During his tenure, he championed land conservation, expanded parks for families, and consistently supported public safety, backing the Sheriff’s Office, Fire Department, EMS, and all first responders.
“My goal is simple,” he said. “Put more money back in taxpayers’ pockets, build the roads we need, fix flooding problems, and grow our economy with high-paying jobs. I’ll never back down from defending our Christian values, backing the blue, and protecting the rights and freedoms that make America great.”
Calkins’ platform is clear and unwavering: Pro-Trump, Pro-Life, Pro-Second Amendment, and Pro-Taxpayer.
Priorities James Calkins is bringing to District 4
- Keep Taxes Low & Spending Honest: Use performance-based budgeting, and require competitive bidding on major contracts.
- Fix Roads & Infrastructure First: Target high-impact bottlenecks, harden evacuation routes, and coordinate drainage/utility projects so we don’t dig up the same street twice.
- Transparent & Tough Government: End no-bid shortcuts, publish contracts and change orders online, and tie vendor payments to measurable milestones.
- Pro-Life, Pro-Second Amendment, Pro-Law Enforcement: Defend life, protect the rights of law-abiding gun owners, and fully back the men and women who keep our neighborhoods safe.
- Parents’ Rights & Strong Communities: Keep schools focused on academics and respect parents as the primary decision-makers for their children.
- Pro-Business, Pro-Jobs: Cut red tape, and align workforce pipelines with real local employers so small businesses can grow here, not elsewhere.
“Walton County families deserve a commissioner who treats every tax dollar like it came from their kitchen table,” Calkins said. “My focus is simple: safe communities, honest budgets, and roads that work, without the backroom deals.”
About James Calkins
James Calkins is a former Santa Rosa County Commissioner known for fiscal conservatism, government transparency, and standing up for conservative values. His foundation is God, Family, Country—and his approach is to put residents first, protect taxpayers, and deliver measurable results.
