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There's a new sheriff in town, Liberty County. Nick Finch captured the post tonight, earning nearly 53 percent of the votes in a tight race with incumbent Donnie Conyers. In the Liberty County Tax Collector's race, incumbent Marie Goodman won with over 85 percent of the vote over opponent Teddy Eubanks. For more on Liberty County election results, go to www.libertyelections.com

Calhoun County election results...here is a quick list of winners:

Sheriff - Glenn Kimbrel
School Superintendent - Ralph Yoder
Supervisor of Elections - Margie Laramore
Tax Collector - Becky Trickey Smith
Clerk of Court - Carla Hand
County Commissioner District 1 - Lee Lee Brown
County Commissioner District 2 - Lee Shelton

As early voting continues and election day approaches, The County Record continues the interview series with Calhoun County candidates. Here are the questions and answers with school superintendent candidates:

LOGAN BARBEE
1. The School Board pulled $1 million this year from the reserve fund to balance the budget. If this continues, the reserves will soon be depleted. What is your plan to deal with this budget concern?
First of all, I’m a fiscal conservative. I don’t plan on pulling any money out. I’m for saving money, not spending money. We’re going to face economic hard times in the future I know, it’s best to keep that money in reserves for the future when we’re sure going to need it. I understand it’s there if we need it, but only if we need it.

2. As you have been out campaigning, what is the biggest concern you have heard from voters about the Calhoun County school system?
Lack of leadership. Only 10 percent of our children go to college. The vocational programming needs to be addressed. I’m an advocate for building a strong vocational program with a certification program. I want students to leave high school with a resume, not just a diploma, and with certifications on that resume.

3. What sets you apart from your opponents?
Energy and experience. I have a passion for the education of our children. I’ve been a successful educator, administrator and business person. I’ve worked with large and small groups of people and worked with successful budgets. I have the ability to work through difficult situations without incurring resentment. I’m a problem solver. I like creative solutions, thinking out of the box with solutions and coming up with successful conclusions. Also, I won’t blame Tallahassee or put it off on other people when I’m addressing a problem - it’s my problem.

TOMMY McCLELLAN
1. The School Board pulled $1 million this year from the reserve fund to balance the budget. If this continues, the reserves will soon be depleted. What is your plan to deal with this budget concern?
State employees, including school employees, now have to pay 3 percent toward their own retirement. However, if the state changes this requirement and puts it back on the school system, we will have to refund that. Otherwise, that will be extra money we have in our budget. There are some question marks. We had four years to pay back $2 million at about a half million per year. That was for Blountstown High School - the 1.125 mills collected for that project over a four year period. We have also lost maintenance money to maintain our facilities, such as if the roof is bad or a pipe breaks.

2. As you have been out campaigning, what is the biggest concern you have heard from voters about the Calhoun County school system?
The biggest concern I’ve had is to assure the Altha community that they are not losing their school.

3. What sets you apart from your opponents?
I’ve got 23 years of experience - six years as principal, nine years as a teacher and eight years as superintendent. I’ve been through the superintendent certification program and the chief executive officer leadership program. I’ve built up a strong relationship with all the superintendents in the state and many legislators. We meet with them every year, go over issues and express concerns. I think the experience and connections I’ve made would set me apart. Others haven’t had that opportunity. For example, we would have lost our second year funding on Blountstown High School if Marti, Al and Bill had not helped us change that proviso language to get that passed.


RALPH YODER
1. The School Board pulled $1 million this year from the reserve fund to balance the budget. If this continues, the reserves will soon be depleted. What is your plan to deal with this budget concern?
My plan is to take the budget apart piece by piece, working with staff to see where we can re-prioritze our efforts to save money, find ways to increase efficiency, and start looking at big ticket items to see whre we need to make some cuts in terms of living within our means. It’s no different than what we do with our family budgets.

2. As you have been out campaigning, what is the biggest concern you have heard from voters about the Calhoun County school system?
The biggest concern is the lack of vocational training and the lack of job opportunities for our young people when they graduate from our schools. As superintendent, I will work closely with our other elected officials and community leaders to find ways to attract job opportunities here in Calhoun County. Education and economic development go hand in hand.

3. What sets you apart from your opponents?
As a dad with kids in the school system, I am keenly interested in future opportunities for my daughters and their peers. What sets me apart is that I bring a fresh approach to the educational system and will use my experience in the private and public sector to effectively lead our school system. I will filter my decisions through this grid - what is best for our students, what is best for our teachers, schools and communities, and, ultimately, the impact to the taxpayer.

Confused about amendments?
Check out this summarized version of
proposals before you go to the polls

Confused about the proposed amendments on the Nov. 6 ballot? Here’s a simplified version of what each amendment is about to help you decide before you get to the polls. Each one will require at least 60% of Florida voters to pass. All were placed on the ballot by the Florida Legislature during the 2011-2012 sessions.
Amendment 1 – Health Care Services
If passed, would attempt to exempt Floridians from the requirements of the individual mandate section of the Federal Affordable Care Act. Now that the Supreme Court has upheld the federal government’s right to impose the individual mandate, the legal status of this amendment is questionable.

Amendment 2 – Veterans Disabled Due to Combat Injury: Homestead Property Tax Discount
If passed, would provide a property tax discount to all Florida veterans that are over 65 and disabled as a result of a combat injury. Currently this exemption only applies to veterans who were Florida residents when they enlisted. Revenue loss to local government as a result of passage of the amendment: $15 million over 3 years.

Amendment 3 – State Government Revenue Limitation
If passed, would place a stricter limit on state revenues that would be based on inflation and population growth, instead of personal income growth as the Florida Constitution currently states.

Amendment 4 – Property Tax Limitations
If passed, would extend tax breaks to certain business property owners and first-time homebuyers. Revenue loss to local government as a result of passage of the amendment: $1 billion over 3 years.

Amendment 5 – State Courts
If passed, would add a requirement that a Florida Supreme Court Justice must be confirmed by the Senate after appointment by the Governor. Also would authorize the repeal of a court rule by a simple majority of each house of the Legislature rather than a two-thirds vote as currently required and allow the Florida House expanded access to review files involving judges accused of misconduct.

Amendment 6 – Prohibition on Public Funding of Abortions: Construction of Abortion Rights
If passed, would restate in the Florida Constitution current federal and state law that prohibits public funds from being used for an abortion or health insurance coverage of abortion. It would also limit the constitutional right to privacy to specifically exclude it from being applied to cases involving abortion-related issues.

Amendment 8 – Religious Freedom
If passed, would repeal the 126-year-old provision in the Florida Constitution that prohibits taxpayer funding of religious institutions including schools through voucher programs.

Amendment 9 – Homestead Property Tax Exemption for Surviving Spouse of Military Veteran or First Responder
If passed, would eliminate property taxes for the surviving spouses of military veterans, law enforcement officers, correctional officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and paramedics who die while on active duty or in the line of duty. Revenue loss to local government as a result of passage of the amendment: $1.8 million over three years.

Amendment 10 – Tangible Personal Property Tax Exemption
If passed, would raise the tax exemption for machinery, equipment or other business property from $25,000 to $50,000 and allow cities or counties to approve additional tax exemptions. Revenue loss to local government as a result of passage of the amendment: $60.3 million.

Amendment 11 – Additional Homestead Exemption; Low-Income Seniors who Maintain Long-Term Residency on Property; Equal Assessed Value
If passed, would eliminate property taxes for those 65 and older who lived in their home for at least 25 years and have an annual “household” income of less than $27,030 and own a home with a value of less than $250,000. Revenue loss to local government as a result of passage of the amendment: $27.9 million.

Amendment 12 – Appointment of Student Body President to Board of Governors of the State University System
If passed, would change the method of appointing the student member of the University System Board of Governors from the President of the Florida Student Association to the Chair of a Council of state university student body presidents.

You can read more about these amendments at http://www.floridatrend.com/tagged/87 or www.thefloridavoter.org/resources/issues/2012-constitutional-amendments or election.dos. state.fl.us/initiatives.