Ryan Messer
Supervisor of Elections
2023-Current
More about Ryan
Bobby Beasley
Supervisor of Elections
2003-2023
Melissa Beasley
Supervisor of Elections
1999-2003
Nellie Thompson
Supervisor of Elections
1983-1999
Rosetta Bailey
Supervisor of Elections
1979-1983
Odell O. Thompson
Supervisor of Elections
1967-1979
Small Claims Court Judge
1967-1973 (abolished in 1973)
In 1963, the Florida Legislature passed Senate Bills 548 and 549 [PDF] making the Walton County Supervisor of Registration an elected position with added duties, serving also as the Small Claims Court Judge. The bills became Laws 63-2029 and 63-852.
In 1965, the Legislature changed the title of Supervisor of Registration to Supervisor of Elections. The first election for Walton County Supervisor of Elections and Small Claims Court Judge was in 1966 and the term began in 1967.
Odell O. Thompson served as both a Small Claims Court Judge and as Supervisor of Elections from 1967 until 1973, when the Small Claims Court Judge position was abolished. Odell O. Thompson continued serving solely as Supervisor of Elections beginning in 1973 and through 1979.
Prior to the new law in 1963, the duties of the Walton County Supervisor of Registration were sometimes performed by other officials in an ex-officio capacity. There were also periods when the position was vacant.
M.C. Burke
Small Claims Court Judge
Supervisor of Registration
(Appointed by Law 63-2029)
1963-1967
(ex-officio) 1959-1963
Emery Campbell
Small Claims Court Judge
Supervisor of Registration
(ex-officio)
approx. 1953-59
T.R. Spence
Supervisor of Registration
approx. 1948-1951
In 1945, the Florida Legislature passed House Bill 278 (Ch. 22759) establishing that beginning with the 1948 General Election and taking office in 1949, the position of Supervisor of Registration would be an elected position statewide.
Alton Renfroe
Tax Collector
Supervisor of Registration
(ex-officio)
approx. 1945-47
Lewis F. Cawthon
Tax Collector
Supervisor of Registration
(ex-officio)
approx. 1941-1945
W.T. Ray
Tax Collector
Supervisor of Registration
(ex-officio)
approx. 1929-1941
Norman Gillis
Supervisor of Registration
approx. 1924-1927
Ella Brannon
Supervisor of Registration
March – July 1924
John F. Grice
Supervisor of Registration
1922-1924
T.R. Spence
Supervisor of Registration
1918-1922
T.M. Trotman
Supervisor of Registration
1914-1918
J.C. Drake
Supervisor of Registration
approx. 1912-1914
R.N. Tarance
Supervisor of Registration
approx. 1911-1912
Howard L. Cawthon
Supervisor of Registration
1908-1910
Dan Trotman
Supervisor of Registration
1906-1908
Norman Gillis
Supervisor of Registration
1906-1908
A.R. Campbell
Supervisor of Registration
unknown – approx. 1903
(listed as Supervisor of Registration in the Secretary of State Report in 1895-96 and 1901-02.)
W.L. Cawthon
Supervisor of Registration
unknown
(listed as Supervisor of Registration in an 1894 DeFuniak Herald newspaper)
A.R. Campbell
Supervisor of Registration
unknown – approx. 1903
(listed as Supervisor of Registration in the Secretary of State Report in 1895-96 and 1901-02.)
W.L. Cawthon
Supervisor of Registration
unknown
(listed as Supervisor of Registration in an 1894 DeFuniak Herald newspaper)
More History
1887-1888
The 1887-88 Florida Secretary of State Report states that there were 51 commissioned Supervisors of Registration in the state, but does not specifically mention Walton County.
In 1887, the Florida Legislature, in Chapters 3681 and 3704, established the poll tax as a prerequisite to voting and the position of Supervisor of Registration for each county to be appointed by the Governor. It further provided duties and guidance on the administration of elections.
1867
Voter Registration rolls from September 14, 1867 mention a 3-person Board of Registry in Walton County.
The 3 people listed are:
D.L. Campbell
J.W. McKinnon
Willis Johnson
1845
Florida’s first state-wide election after becoming a state was held on May 26, 1845. The precinct clerks for Walton County were:
D.M. Jones
Duncan C. McCallum
Phillip M. Griffith
Alexander J. Howell
Thos. R. Besher
Richard W. Arman
1829
The following newspaper clipping is an account of an election for delegate to Congress held in the Euchee Valley area of Walton County on May 4th, 1829.
