For the first time in two decades, voters in the City of Milton decided they wanted a change in the person who holds the mayor’s office.

Freshman Milton City Councilman Wesley Meiss unseated 20-year incumbent Mayor Guy Thompson with 59 percent of the vote in the Aug. 26 primary. Meiss will be sworn in on Oct. 14.

Meiss, 30, and engaged to marry Lauren Basford on Dec. 20, said he decided to run because he wanted the Milton he recalled as a child to exist for his children.

“When I was growing up in the ‘80s and early ‘90s, Milton was the economic center of Santa Rosa County. Everything was in Milton,” Meiss said. “Over the past 20 years, the citizens and investors of Milton have witnessed the meteoric rise of Pace and surrounding areas and the fall of Milton…. I will raise my family in Milton.

“I want my children to experience a Milton that is vibrant and alive.”

Meiss was first elected to the Ward 1 seat on the council in 2012. He is a history teacher at Hobbs Middle School. He graduated from Milton High School in 2002. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of West Florida in 2007 and is pursuing a master’s degree in public history at UWF.

Meiss is the former president of the Santa Rosa Historical Society, the former chairman of the Ghost of Milton Walking Tour and a charter board member of the Santa Rosa Young Professionals Association. He is also a member of the West Florida Railroad Association and the National Council of Public History.

Meiss recently agreed to answer some questions for Progress+Promise about the campaign and his plans for the city.

Q: Would you have run for mayor no matter who was the incumbent or did you specifically want to unseat Guy Thompson?

A: My motivation and focus is on the situation, not the person. It is time for Milton to begin moving forward again. Whether or not it was Guy Thompson seemed irrelevant. The citizens of Milton deserve better results and that theme was confirmed as I sat on hundreds of porches and in living rooms throughout summer.

Q: What do you think made it possible for you to defeat someone with such a long history of being re-elected?

A: The citizens were ready for a change. Across the city, the citizens held an anti-incumbent perception. They are not happy with Milton’s current situation. As a historian, I was quick to remind locals of George Washington’s decision to step down from the presidency in 1796. He was extremely popular and could have been president for life. Washington understood that there was no positive correlation between a healthy republic and career politicians.

Q: Looking back at Thompson’s time in office, how do you think he did as mayor?

A: Thompson had a good run. Under Thompson’s watch, the city gained a new City Hall, fire station, police station and several park upgrades. The city budget is tight, but debt free. He had the longest tenure of any Milton mayor from the modern era.

Q: What will be your top priority as mayor?

A: Well, I have three…

1.     Transparency and public collaboration: Set council meeting times that are appropriate for the working man and woman. Record all meetings digitally for the city website. Constantly hold public collaboration workshops and discussions about important topics.

2.     Business development: Review the process and focus energy on business development for all areas of Milton.

3.     Protect historic Milton’s core and persuade county voters to keep the Santa Rosa County Courthouse in Milton.

Q: What infrastructure or capital projects do you think the city needs to address most urgently and what will you seek to do about them?

A: Roads, roads, roads! Some of Milton’s roads are in rough condition. I plan to conduct a survey of Milton’s roads and compile a ranked list based on need.

Q: What is your opinion on the courthouse vote that will be on the Santa Rosa County ballot in November?  Do you think the courthouse needs to be replaced using a sales tax?

A:  Yes, a sales tax is the best route.

Q: Where do you think a new courthouse should be located and why?

A:  As mayor, my focus is to always promote policy that is best for the people of Milton. Putting the courthouse in Pea Ridge or East Milton does not help the city of Milton. Currently, the courthouse is keeping our downtown alive. I have dreams and plans for a revitalized downtown filled with vibrant restaurants and shops. I envision a downtown that includes a daytime legal crowd and a nighttime dining crowd. We can have our cake and eat it, too!

Q: What do you think the best solution is to U.S. 90/downtown issue – bypass, widen, etc. –  and why?

A: The Florida Department of Transportation is currently conducting a … study for finding a solution to the Highway 90 issue. I look forward to viewing the results of the study. I am especially interested in looking at the potential for a true southern alternate bypass. I am concerned with preserving Milton’s historic core – the Fisher Hamilton building, Milton’s Corner Drug Store, the Imogene, the 1927 Santa Rosa Courthouse and the Exchange Hotel. One of Milton’s greatest distinctions and assets are found within the historic district. There is a direct correlation between Milton’s culture/heritage and our turn of the century brick and mortar architecture.

Q: What should the city be doing to encourage business development and job growth?

A: As mayor, I plan to review how the city attracts and retains business. The city should have a welcoming, business-friendly approach. Business growth and job growth will come from providing incentives and less red tape. A mixture of impact fee reductions and tax breaks will provide a good start. In addition, the city is surrounded by three industrial parks that are nowhere near capacity. As mayor, I will work with county and state officials to promote these industrial parks.

Q: You are the youngest member of the City Council by a long shot. What would you tell young people to motivate them to become more civically involved?

A: In 1950, Cotton Byrom was elected mayor of Milton at 22-years old. Bill Clinton was elected governor of Arkansas at 30. The young people of Milton are never too young to get involved in their community. When I became a councilman in 2012, I was 28 years old. Just two years later, take a look at the people who filed for Milton City Council – Ashley Lay, Brian Kea, Spencer Andrade, Gary Pruitt, Vernon Compton – all under 55. There has been a recent surge of young people asking questions and wanting to participate. That is awesome!

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