Bay County Commission District 5 Stump Speeches - WMBB News 13 - The Panhandle's News Leader

Bay County Commission District 5 Stump Speeches

Candidates for bay county commission district five also spoke to the chamber this morning. This race got a little more heated over the incumbents decision to vote on a 2.9 million dollars to purchase a piece of property on the beach to help the navy base. Incumbent Commissioner Mike Thomas defends that vote...while his challenger...Jim Lawson says it was a bad deal.

Republican Mike Thomas: "If you tell the same lie enough, somebody will believe you. And that's scary because you people know what a good deal happened out at the beach for the navy. You know that and your friends don't. They believe that if you tell it over and over again it may be true to some people. But it does not make you a honest person by telling it that way. This has been a good commission that has done a good job for you. Our infrastructure is ready for growth in bay county, this county commission is ready to lead you into the future with this and I would really appreciate your vote and tell your friends."

Republican Jim Lawson: "The main difference between myself and the incumbent is leadership. I want you to know that I care about all of bay county - the hard working men and women of bay county, not just the beach. I am going to close with these three statements: using tax payer dollars to bail out a beach millionaire, using tax payer dollars, is not right. It was bad for bay county. Using tax payer dollars to bring a company, redpine, to bay county...using tax payer dollars was bad for bay county. On august 14th, I ask for your vote."