How Escambia’s district system shapes decisions (and what a countywide model could change)
I believe informed citizens make better decisions. My goal is to help Escambia County residents understand our local government, how decisions get made, and what’s at stake in the issues of the day.
Escambia County is governed by a five-member Board of County Commissioners, and the county is divided into five single-member districts—one commissioner elected from each district by the voters who live there.
That structure was created to ensure local representation—and local representation matters. But it also creates an incentive we should talk about honestly:
When a commissioner has to be elected and reelected by one district, the political reward can become “what benefits my district right now” instead of “what benefits Escambia County long-term.” Even good people can get pulled into district-first politics because that’s how the system pressures them to survive.
Here’s the question I want all of us to consider:
What could Escambia County look like if we elected five commissioners to represent all citizens countywide, instead of electing one commissioner from each special district?
A countywide election model could change the incentives in a way that helps us get bigger things done:
• Roads and infrastructure: Imagine five commissioners who all benefit politically when the county fixes the worst road bottlenecks—because every voter in Escambia is watching, not just one district. That kind of incentive encourages teamwork on the projects that move traffic, support commerce, and reduce flooding across the county.
• Economic development: Instead of competing district-by-district for “wins,” a countywide mindset rewards commissioners for landing job-creating projects that raise incomes and expand the tax base for everyone—because everyone gets to judge the results.
• Long-range planning: Countywide accountability encourages decisions that make sense 10 and 20 years from now—zoning, growth, drainage, parks—because the commissioner can’t simply say, “That’s not my district.” The whole county becomes the responsibility.
To be clear: this isn’t about attacking any one commissioner or erasing local voices. It’s about recognizing that systems shape behavior, and the incentives we build into our elections affect the way government performs.
I believe informed citizens make better decisions. My goal is to help Escambia County residents understand our local government, how decisions get made, and what’s at stake in the issues of the day.
What the issue is (plain English)
There are parts of Perdido Key where some condos and private properties have deeds that reach far enough into the beach area that people can be told they’re trespassing if they walk the dry sand behind those buildings.
That creates a real-world problem for everyday residents:
• A family wants to take a long walk.
• A veteran is exercising on the sand.
• A mom is pushing a stroller.
• A senior is walking for health.
And suddenly, you hit a stretch where you’re told you have to turn around—or squeeze down into the wet sand—because the dry sand is being treated like private land.
Side 1: The public-access position (“Let people walk the beach”)
A lot of county residents believe beach walking is a basic, long-standing recreational use—part of what it means to live in Northwest Florida.
Their core point is simple: People should be able to walk the beach continuously, including on the dry sand when the wet sand is narrow, uneven, or crowded.
What I hear most often is:
• “I’m not trying to set up chairs behind condos. I’m just trying to walk.”
• “It shouldn’t feel like I’m doing something wrong by enjoying a public shoreline.”
• “Perdido Key is part of Escambia County, and public access matters for quality of life and tourism.”
I’m going to be clear: I support common use. I believe long-standing public recreational use should be protected in a way that is lawful, clearly defined, and workable.
Side 2: The property-rights position (“Boundaries mean boundaries”)
Property owners and condo owners also have legitimate concerns. Many believe:
• Their deeds and surveys define private property, and government shouldn’t ignore those rights.
• Broad “common use” zones can feel like government taking something by politics rather than following the law.
• Vague rules lead to constant conflict—noise, litter, confrontations, and pressure on law enforcement to referee beach disputes.
Even when we disagree on where the line should be drawn, the principle still matters: private property rights are fundamental.
Why Commissioner Steve Stroberger matters here (and why this isn’t an attack)
This is not a personal attack on Commissioner Steve Stroberger. I believe he’s a good man and well-intentioned.
But naming him matters because it helps residents understand the political pressure created by district government.
Commissioner Stroberger represents the district where this issue is most concentrated—where many of the most intense voices, organized groups, and donors are closest to those condo frontages. That can create strong pressure to support strict enforcement of private property boundaries, especially the dry sand behind condos.
Meanwhile, commissioners from other districts hear more from countywide residents who simply want to “walk the beach” without conflict.
That doesn’t make anyone a villain. It shows how incentives and geography can pull good people into opposing corners.
Where I stand and what I would push for
I support common use, and I also believe the county must govern in a way that is fair, lawful, and reduces conflict—not inflames it.
Here’s what that means in practice:
1. Clear, defined access standards so regular people aren’t guessing where they can walk and property owners aren’t guessing what they can enforce.
2. Transparency and evidence—deeds, surveys, history of use, and enforceability should be in the open before decisions are made.
3. Practical rules that prevent confrontation so the beach isn’t policed by arguments and intimidation.
4. A countywide standard—because this affects tourism, legal risk, and quality of life for all of Escambia, not just one district.
Bottom line: I support common use and the public’s ability to walk the beach. And I will always push for solutions that protect both public access and lawful property rights—with clarity, fairness, and transparency.