With the year-end approaching comes the “passing of the gavel” for the Chair of the Walton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC). During 2025, Donna Johns served as the Chairwoman for the County Commission. The BCC meets twice per month, with one meeting taking place in the County Courthouse in DeFuniak Springs and the other in the South Walton Annex Building.
The Board is elected by the people and “serves as the legislative branch of county government.” Each of the five Commissioners representing the county must reside in the district they represent. Every year, the commissioners elect a chair and vice chair to serve for a full year term. This year, Chair Donna Johns (District 4) said that “the year flew by very quickly.” Johns is a veteran who served for two decades in the U.S. Air Force. She is recognized as having attended and graduated from the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI). She was presented with a gavel in appreciation for her service to the County as Chair for the BCC by the Vice Chair, Dan Curry (District 1). At the conclusion of the BCC, November 24 meeting, the Commissioners elected the new Chair and Vice Chair for 2026. Commissioner Brad Drake (District 3) was nominated to serve as the Chair. He was unanimously supported by his fellow commissioners. Nominated for Vice-Chair was Commissioner Tony Anderson (District 5). He, too, was unanimously confirmed.
The Commissioners, in addition to serving at the dias, give oversight to various Committees including: Defense support Initiatives (DSI), Economic Development Alliance (EDA), EDA Business Leadership Council, Career Source Okaloosa-Walton, Canvassing Board, Gulf Consortium, Okaloosa-Walton Transportation Planning Organization (TPO), Public Safety Coordinating Council, Regional Utility Authority, Tourist Development Council (TDC), Transportation Disadvantaged Local Coordinating Board, Tri-County Community Council, and Value Adjustment Board.
The Commissioners serve four-year terms.
Pro Communi Bono
St. Francis De Sales, Ora Pro Nobis!
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