Fort Walton BeachNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Fort Walton Beach City Council Election 2026

4 of 7 council seats are on the ballot, with 11 candidates running. Updated Oct 5, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

Not sure who to vote for? Answer 6 questions and see which candidates agree with you, and why.

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Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 11 days left

Find where to voteCheck your registration
Early voting period begins (Oct 24): the election office's notice

These links go to official state and county election sites. Hours and rules differ by state; your election office has the final word.

Your houseWhat does your Fort Walton Beach house pay?A Fort Walton Beach house at the typical market value ($321,800) pays about $11,100 a year. Enter your address for your own number: property tax from the county's record, water, trash and energy, and the money dates ahead.

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

Four of the seven council seats (seats one through four) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot; ten candidates are active and one withdrawn candidate remains on the county list. Every voter in the city votes in the race.

Early voting period begins · Oct 24

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Also on your Nov 3 ballot

We research city races only. For these races, go to the state's official guide or a nonpartisan one.

  • Governor
    8 candidates on the ballot
    • Byron Donalds · Republican
    • David Jolly · Democratic
    • Scott Eckhard Jewett · Libertarian
    • Charles Burkett · No Party Affiliation
    • Frank J. Russo · No Party Affiliation
    • Moliere "Moe" Dimanche · No Party Affiliation
    • Dean Ocean Abrams · No Party Affiliation
    • Jeffrey Peter "Dr. Jeff" Datto · No Party Affiliation
    Official candidate list, in its order
  • U.S. Senate (special election)
    • Ashley Moody · Republican
    • Angie Nixon · Democratic
    • Neil J. Gillespie · No Party Affiliation
    Official candidate list, in its order
  • Also statewideAttorney General · Chief Financial Officer · Commissioner of Agriculture
  • U.S. HouseDistrict 1
  • State SenateDistrict 2
  • State House of RepresentativesDistrict 4
  • Statewide measures3 on the ballot: the state's official explanations
Official voter lookupState voter guideVote411 (League of Women Voters)

Districts come from 2020 Census blocks and the district maps for this election. Your address decides your districts.

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

What the next council decides

01The 3% spending cap4 sourced facts

Where it standsVoters approved a 3% cap on annual spending increases in November 2024; a March 2026 question to repeal it received about 43 percent in unofficial results.

What's on the tableThe next council will budget under the cap while a lawsuit over the March 2026 ballot language remains unresolved.

02Property taxes and the 2026-27 budget3 sourced facts

Where it standsIn June 2026 the council set a 5.69-mill maximum tentative rate by a 4-3 vote with the mayor breaking the tie; the current rate is 4.3282 mills.

What's on the tableThe next council will set millage rates and capital project funding in coming budgets.

03City services and outsourcing3 sourced facts

Where it standsIn June 2026 the council moved daycare and senior programming to outside operators and cut funding for fireworks, concerts and parades; a youth sports outsourcing motion failed 2-4.

What's on the tableThe next council will decide which city programs to keep, outsource or fund.

04Pay for elected officials3 sourced facts

Where it standsVoters banned compensation for elected officials in November 2024; a March 2026 question to authorize it received about 40 percent in unofficial results.

What's on the tableThe next council serves under the pay ban unless the March 2026 result takes effect after the court case.

05City Hall, infrastructure and the sales tax3 sourced facts

Where it standsCandidates at the September 2026 forum discussed the aging City Hall, infrastructure needs and the half-cent infrastructure surtax.

What's on the tableThe next council will decide how to fund City Hall and infrastructure maintenance.

2 notes on these statements

Bryce Jeter and David Schmidt hold seats that are on the 2026 ballot and are not among the qualified candidates. The Destin Log · Jun 15, 2026

Brandon Bishop joined the September 14, 2026 forum by phone; all ten active candidates took part. Get The Coast · Sep 16, 2026

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Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

  1. 1. What should the city do about the 3% spending cap?

  2. 2. What property tax rate should the city set?

  3. 3. What should the city do with programs like youth sports and daycare?

  4. 4. How should the city handle fire and police services?

  5. 5. Should elected officials be paid?

  6. 6. Should the half-cent infrastructure surtax be renewed?

Seat the councilSeat the Council →Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.On the recordHow the council voted3 council decisions, each member's vote side by side, with a link to the minutes.New · How Fort Walton Beach is runWho runs Fort Walton Beach, and what it costsThe city manager earns $220,000. See council pay, whether the city is in the red, and where your property tax goes.Your houseA Fort Walton Beach house at the typical market value ($321,800) pays about $11,100 a yearProperty tax, water, trash and energy, line by line for your address, plus the savings most owners miss.

Key dates

The seat math

4 stay (not up this year): Nic Allegretto, Logan Browning, Ben Merrell, Debi Riley4 on this ballot

7 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.

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