⚖️ Commissioners to vote Aug. 12 on $50,000-per-month retainer for county attorney
📄 Records show five other attorneys applied for the job
🏛️ Concerns raised over potential conflicts from representing multiple local governments
DEFUNIAK SPRINGS — On Aug. 12, the Walton County Commission will vote on a contract with the Adkinson Law Firm that would make Clay Adkinson the county attorney at a salary of $50,000 per month.
Adkinson, who also serves as the attorney for the cities of DeFuniak Springs, Freeport, and Paxton, has held the position on an acting basis since 2021 under a previous retainer agreement.
Under the new agreement, which takes effect Sept. 1, the firm will receive a non-refundable monthly retainer covering all standard and customary legal services for the board and county staff. No itemized hourly billing will be required for work included in the retainer.
For inevitable litigation not covered by the County’s insurance, the firm may bill an additional $400 per hour. Each case would be invoiced separately with itemized time entries.
The agreement also allows the firm to earn between 1% and 2% of the total obligation amount on county financing or debt issuances, to be split with bond counsel if applicable. County officials noted such work is infrequent but can involve substantial sums.
For real estate transactions, the firm will not charge legal fees or closing costs but will collect title insurance premiums at state-promulgated rates and be reimbursed for related expenses.
Either party could terminate the contract with 90 days’ written notice, but firing the county attorney would require four affirmative votes from commissioners in a public meeting after an initial nine-month period — a change from previous agreements that provides greater job security.
At a July county commission meeting, Commissioner Danny Glidewell argued the County had no viable alternative candidate for the position. “If Clay told us today he was not going to stay here anymore … we don’t have an alternative. So, we need to move,” Glidewell said.
Glidewell also noted that county staff have explored alternative options but have found no applicants for the position.
However, records obtained by Mid Bay News show that five other attorneys — Grady McCool, Jelani Berry, Michelle Blankenship Jordan, Stephen Todd, and William Price — also applied for the role over the last two years on the County’s advertisement for the role on their website, which has been since taken down.
In an email, Blankenship Jordan said she has not been contacted for an interview but remains confident in her qualifications.
She requested to be placed on Tuesday’s meeting agenda to present her case to commissioners.
Invoices obtained by Mid Bay News also reveal differences in how Adkinson bills Walton County versus the municipalities he represents. For the County, the firm submits monthly invoices for the $50,000 retainer and any applicable hourly litigation charges, with itemized case entries.
By contrast, billing records from DeFuniak Springs and Freeport show only transaction-specific charges tied to real estate matters, such as property closings, earnest deposits, and title insurance premiums. No invoices were found for ongoing legal counsel or general representation for those municipalities.
The billing pattern came to light as commissioners and residents questioned how potential conflicts of interest would be addressed if disputes arose between the County and the cities Adkinson also represents. At the July meeting, Commissioner Dan Curry and resident John “Jazz” Jannazo voiced concerns over the arrangement.
Adkinson countered that representing multiple local governments is not unusual in Florida and does not constitute an actual conflict under state bar rules.
Collin Bestor is a reporter for Mid Bay News. You can reach him by email at collin@midbaynews.com.
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