Farrell seeks second term on county commission

Port St. Joe resident Patrick Farrell is running for a second term in the District 3 seat on the Gulf County Board of County Commissioners.

Farrell, 58, of 236 Balboa Street, is being challenged by Randy Pridgeon, 61, of 434 Windmark Way. Since both men are Republicans, and no other candidates, either Democrats or without party affiliation, are running, the election will be decided at the Aug. 20 primary, and is open to all voters, regardless of party affiliation. Early voting runs from Aug. 10 to 17.

The following statement has been provided by the Farrell campaign:

I am Patrick Farrell, Gulf County Commissioner District 3 and I am running for re-election to continue working hard for the citizens of our community. I registered as a Republican when I was 18 years old and have remained a Republican and staunch conservative for the 40 years since.

I graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Appalachian State University, in Boone, North Carolina in 1990. My wife Melissa and I married in 1998 and immediately moved to Port St. Joe the following year. We have been full time residents of Gulf County now for almost 25 years where we have raised our two children, Joseph and Mary Margaret, in our wonderful community, both now proud graduates of Port St. Joe High School.

Upon arriving in Gulf County I started my own landscape and property maintenance business, Gulf Coast Property Services with one customer and I have worked hard and proudly to maintain through the years while meeting weekly payrolls and employing hundreds of residents. Starting a small business in our community and working daily for over 24 years has given me the appreciation, humility, knowledge and understanding of the many issues that affect our county residents and visitors alike as well as small businesses in our county.

I have proudly served our community over this past quarter century in many volunteer roles that prepared me for the challenges and responsibilities of serving as your county commissioner.

Some of those volunteer duties have included:

● Career Source Workforce Board for 12 years

● Planning Development Review Board for 12 years

● Port Authority Board member appointed by Governor Scott for 5 years

● Founding member of 9/11 Memorial Scholarship for graduating seniors from our high schools

● Beaches Fire Department volunteer for over 10 years

It was in the immediate hours and days after Hurricane Michael came upon our small community that I realized I had both a personal obligation and higher duty to our residents to continue to work to improve and strengthen our special place here on the Florida Panhandle.

As I worked my way through our neighborhoods in the hours and weeks after the storm helping our community recover and respond, I learned the tremendous needs of our area for improved infrastructure and additional emergency responses and resources. Despite the evacuation mandates, right or wrong, I stayed during the storm to respond to the disaster and help our community. 

I have since continued that effort and worked tirelessly since you elected me 3 ½ years ago. In my first term as an elected official as your commissioner and lifetime Republican, I am proud of the many extraordinary strides made by our community and our commission to strengthen and improve Gulf County’s quality of life. Some of those tremendous strides and projects I have focused on have been to rebuild infrastructure, emergency responses and beach restoration while maintaining and seeking to meet the demands on the growth of our area.

Some of those many successful projects in my first three years include:

Road Systems – Paving and Drainage throughout all of District 3

Fiscal Management – Lowering our millage rate each of my first three years representing Gulf County

Emergency Response – Securing grants and funding for new Fire and EMS Trucks as well as securing stipends for our volunteer firefighters

Environment – Preserving and Protecting the beauty and natural resources of our unique place in Florida

Quality Water – Funding and development of an affordable and quality water product for all of our residents through a new water system

Economic Development – promoting and protecting local jobs and improved opportunities for our residents

Quality Healthcare – securing and establishing further healthcare improvements for our residents including a kidney care center and growth for our hospital

Workforce Housing – quality and affordable housing opportunities for our teachers, law enforcement and many hardworking citizens of Gulf County

Public Health and Safety – continued support of our local law enforcement through additional funding and continued strides in the safety and support provided to our local communities

Parks and Recreation – have acquired and improved the additional public parks, water access, boat ramps and local amenities for our residents living throughout our District 3

Restricted and Managed Growth – reducing height limits, increasing impervious coverage, restricting building and development to meet our growth but not exceed our infrastructure

I am honored and proud to have served the past four years and want to complete the many projects and hard work we have pledged to our community and my neighbors.

As a lifetime Republican and resident of Gulf County for the past 25 years working with and for our community, I would ask for your support and vote in this coming election.

Please call or email me if you have any questions or comments, or I can come by to discuss any of these or other issues you personally have in your community. patrickforgulfcounty@gmail.com or 850-527-6090