Bob Graham Grayton Beach State Park ?

**kurt** · 03-04-2010, 06:11 AM

HB 1001 - Grayton Beach State Park

Session :Bills :->Bill Info:S 1882->Session 2010 : flsenate.gov

Grayton Beach State Park could add Bob Graham to title (DOCUMENT) | grayton, add, park - News - Northwest Florida Daily News

Florida lawmakers may change Grayton Beach State Park�s name to include former governor and U.S. Sen. Bob Graham.

Rep. Marti Coley, R-Marianna, and Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, have introduced bills in the House and Senate to rename the park Bob Graham Grayton Beach State Park. The bills mention Graham�s ties to Walton County, and state that the park may not have been expanded without Graham�s efforts.

�I�m a Republican. Bob Graham is a Democrat, but my respect for his service to the people of Florida goes way beyond partisan politics,� Gaetz said.

Graham�s mother was born in Walton County and attended Walton County High School. As a child, Graham spent summers and holidays walking the trails and swimming in the Gulf of Mexico off of Grayton Beach.

�These are my roots,'' Graham said of South Walton County in a 1996 Daily News article. �Daniel Simmons, my grandfather, was from Freeport and a country doctor.''

When he was governor in 1985, Graham supported the state�s purchase of beachfront dunes and forest to add to existing parkland.

�This most valuable addition to the park might never have occurred without Bob Graham�s personal involvement,� the proposed bills read.

Graham now leads a think tank at the University of Florida and occasionally works with lawmakers and testifies on committees.
Gaetz said developing state parks was part of Graham�s legacy as governor.

�His passion for protecting Florida�s environment came from the time he spent at the beach,� Gaetz said.

**kitlit** · 03-04-2010, 09:21 AM

I just don't agree with going around, adding people's names to schools, roads, landmarks, etc., all willy-nilly... What the heck is wrong with just keeping it Grayton Beach State Park?

Lots of people have local roots around here, and lots of people have worked to influence and better and protect the state park, and I don't see petitions to add their names, too. Don't want to, either. Keep it simple.

My .02.

**Just Curious** · 03-04-2010, 09:27 AM

Thanks Kurt. I read this this morning, but couldn't find a link for the story. I was waiting for this to pop up. I'm not sure I like the sound of Bob Graham Grayton Beach State Park. It rolls of the tongue as well as Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport.

**Jdarg** · 03-04-2010, 09:30 AM

Am I the only one finding it funny that Gaetz and Coley are sponsoring this bill to honor someone who protected the environment?

**rocket136** · 03-04-2010, 10:38 AM

I am against renaming of any public resources after politicians

**kurt** · 03-04-2010, 10:38 AM

That old Bob Graham Grayton was a good dude.

**rocket136** · 03-04-2010, 11:37 AM

No doubt he was a good dude, but I think it's more complicated than that. I'll agree that there are plenty of politicians that deserve accolades for doing the right thing. Unfortunately in politics you can't please everyone. I don't know of his case specifically but his "Good Dudeness" is an opinion that is most likely not held by everyone. I have no opinion on him, I visit Grayton Beach and I'm not a resident. I'm glad he help preserve the area from over development (if I read you right)

Put his name on a monument or historical plaque stating he was a good dude and why he was a good dude at a public entrance to the beach. That way the accolade is tied to his "good deed"

Just don't put his name on a map.

(saw this on my facebbok feed and just hasd to throw my 2 cents in)

**scooterbug44** · 03-04-2010, 11:43 AM

I don't mind naming new things after people (though prefer it to be after they are dead), but I HATE adding names or changing the names of existing things.

Money has changed hands to get naming rights to iconic things in my hometown and I refuse to call them by the new name (plus the new names are dumb - like the new bowl game names). I find it very disrespectful that new money overshadows earlier contributions.

**kurt** · 03-04-2010, 12:10 PM

Originally Posted by rocket136

No doubt he was a good dude, but I think it's more complicated than that. I'll agree that there are plenty of politicians that deserve accolades for doing the right thing. Unfortunately in politics you can't please everyone. I don't know of his case specifically but his "Good Dudeness" is an opinion that is most likely not held by everyone. I have no opinion on him, I visit Grayton Beach and I'm not a resident. I'm glad he help preserve the area from over development (if I read you right)

Put his name on a monument or historical plaque stating he was a good dude and why he was a good dude at a public entrance to the beach. That way the accolade is tied to his "good deed"

Just don't put his name on a map.

(saw this on my facebbok feed and just hasd to throw my 2 cents in)

I agree - I was making a funny as if his last name was Grayton.

**Bob** · 03-04-2010, 02:10 PM

Bob Graham Cracker Beach State Park?

**rocket136** · 03-04-2010, 02:27 PM

Got it!

Originally Posted by kurt

I agree - I was making a funny as if his last name was Grayton.

**scooterbug44** · 03-04-2010, 02:31 PM

Not to mention we just put up new signs w/ the old name.

**SWGB** · 03-05-2010, 02:20 AM

I love Bob Graham and have met him on several occasions. This is nothing more than pandering from politicians who are finally feeling a little heat to their normally unchallenged jobs. Further I believe that there are far bigger issues and wonder exactly how hard they are working to have found time to honor a DEMOCRAT? Please pay no attention and turn you focus back to the drilling bills at hand.

I really hope Sen. Graham will come out and use this opportunity to shame them for their current actions regarding drilling and how it could potentially affect the very state park they are trying to rename after him.

**GoodWitch58** · 03-05-2010, 07:22 AM

Originally Posted by SWGB

I love Bob Graham and have met him on several occasions. This is nothing more than pandering from politicians who are finally feeling a little heat to their normally unchallenged jobs. Further I believe that there are far bigger issues and wonder exactly how hard they are working to have found time to honor a DEMOCRAT? Please pay no attention and turn you focus back to the drilling bills at hand.

I really hope Sen. Graham will come out and use this opportunity to shame them for their current actions regarding drilling and how it could potentially affect the very state park they are trying to rename after him.

You are exactly right! What pathetic pandering...wouldn't it be nice if we had some representatives who had some principles and the courage to stand up for them, instead of this ridiculous attempt at distraction!

**Just Curious** · 03-08-2010, 10:31 AM

Originally Posted by SWGB

I love Bob Graham and have met him on several occasions. This is nothing more than pandering from politicians who are finally feeling a little heat to their normally unchallenged jobs. Further I believe that there are far bigger issues and wonder exactly how hard they are working to have found time to honor a DEMOCRAT? Please pay no attention and turn you focus back to the drilling bills at hand.

I really hope Sen. Graham will come out and use this opportunity to shame them for their current actions regarding drilling and how it could potentially affect the very state park they are trying to rename after him.

So, do you think the name should be changed?

**SWGB** · 03-08-2010, 11:05 PM

Originally Posted by Just Curious

So, do you think the name should be changed?

No, if he were in it for naming rights he would have done it when the park was formed.

**GoodWitch58** · 03-09-2010, 06:23 AM

Originally Posted by SWGB

No, if he were in it for naming rights he would have done it when the park was formed.

These two, Gaetz and Coley, manage, with this one bill, to offend not only Senator Graham--but, Major Gray for whom the Park and Grayton itself is named, but also the people of the area--who have not been asked our opinion!

Who do they think they are to decide what to call our park without so much as a thought to the wishes of the people they represent?

**kurt** · 03-09-2010, 07:41 AM

How long before people can buy their name on government property? Like Alltel Central Park or Bill Gates DC Beltway. Or is that what is going on already?

**Just Curious** · 03-24-2010, 08:43 AM

Hey, the Walton Sun has a poll on their website about this. Let them know what you think.
The Walton Sun

**SWGB** · 03-25-2010, 11:51 PM

Originally Posted by Just Curious

Hey, the Walton Sun has a poll on their website about this. Let them know what you think.
The Walton Sun

Why, they suck? They now have ads running on the site that look like news articles.

**Just Curious** · 03-27-2010, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by SWGB

Why, they suck? They now have ads running on the site that look like news articles.

The poll doesn't have anything to do with whether or not you like the newspaper. I just thought that this would interest people as this park could potentially have a name change.

**wrobert** · 04-09-2010, 12:24 PM

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Park Name Change Update

background info:
A man named John Robert (Bob) Middlemus came to Rep. Coley and told her that the "community" really wanted to honor Bob Graham by adding his name to Grayton Beach State Park. Coley said that Graham was instrumental in securing funds for the park. She said the buck stops with her because she took him at his word, thought it sort of an insignificant thing, and she actually started the Bill. She called Sen. Don Gaetz and he thought it also just a local sort of thing that the people in the community wanted and said he agreed to sponsor in the Senate.
Mr. Middlemus is not a Walton County resident., he does not represent any longtime residents of the area, he is single resident of Panama City Florida

This morning, Rep. Coley talked to Sen. Gaetz about the emails and phone calls in opposition. Sen. Gaetz said he wanted to measure opposition against support as he has started getting phone calls and emails in support. Coley doesn't have a clue where these are coming from. She said we need to get a lot more people to call and email Sen. Gaetz office today and tomorrow. We need to flood the telephone lines and emails. I can't imagine how Mr. Middlemus heard that we were mobilizing opposition but he, or someone he knows, did. See previous post for phone and email information.

**NotDeadYet** · 04-11-2010, 09:48 AM

Grayt letter from Grayton Beach resident Edmund Alexander, published in this week�s Herald Breeze. I could not find it on line, so I retyped it here. Edmund refers to some of the history of the public lands in SoWal that should not be forgotten, lest we find ourselves repeating it. Never take those public lands for granted.

Editor,
In regards to the name change of Grayton Beach State Park.
The citizens of Grayton and South Walton County do not want the park�s name changed to Bob Graham Grayton Beach State Park. It is in no way meant to be disrespectful to Bob Graham because most locals who have lived here long enough know who Bob Graham is and have the highest respect for him. I supported him for his presidential run.
The citizens of Grayton Beach and the surrounding area fought a very difficult fight against the politicians in Tallahassee, including former Governor Lawton Chiles and all of the Walton County Commissioners over the commercial development of Grayton Beach State Park. �New Town� was to be placed on private and park lands at the entrance of Grayton Beach. The disclosed plan called for a 115-acre New Town. An undisclosed plan expanded that development dream to nearly 1000 acres of preservation land that stretched from Western Lake to Little Redfish Lake. I still have the plans. That mid-1990�s amazing battle between citizens and politician/developers lasted two years. No politicians stepped up to the plate during that time, yet against all odds, the citizens overcame the strong arm of developers and shady politicians.
If anyone really wants to choose of a fitting new name for Grayton Beach State Park, how about Citizen�s Grayton Beach State Park? Without the amazing community action the county would have converted all of the state lands to development. The county always claimed by purchasing those private lands for preservation that the state �stole� the lands from the county.
How about a monument at the entrance of the park. How about calling County Road 283 Bob Graham Parkway.
We love our park name just the way it is. Please voice your opinion.

Senator Durell Peaden, Jr.
850-487-5000

Representative Brad Drake
850-488-4726

Sponsors of Bill:
Don Gaetz
850-487-5009
email: gaetz.don@flsenate.gov

Marti Coley
850-718-0047

Edmund Alexander
Grayton Beach

**GoodWitch58** · 04-11-2010, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by NotDeadYet

Grayt letter from Grayton Beach resident Edmund Alexander, published in this week�s Herald Breeze. I could not find it on line, so I retyped it here. Edmund refers to some of the history of the public lands in SoWal that should not be forgotten, lest we find ourselves repeating it. Never take those public lands for granted.

Editor,
In regards to the name change of Grayton Beach State Park.
The citizens of Grayton and South Walton County do not want the park�s name changed to Bob Graham Grayton Beach State Park. It is in no way meant to be disrespectful to Bob Graham because most locals who have lived here long enough know who Bob Graham is and have the highest respect for him. I supported him for his presidential run.
The citizens of Grayton Beach and the surrounding area fought a very difficult fight against the politicians in Tallahassee, including former Governor Lawton Chiles and all of the Walton County Commissioners over the commercial development of Grayton Beach State Park. �New Town� was to be placed on private and park lands at the entrance of Grayton Beach. The disclosed plan called for a 115-acre New Town. An undisclosed plan expanded that development dream to nearly 1000 acres of preservation land that stretched from Western Lake to Little Redfish Lake. I still have the plans. That mid-1990�s amazing battle between citizens and politician/developers lasted two years. No politicians stepped up to the plate during that time, yet against all odds, the citizens overcame the strong arm of developers and shady politicians.
If anyone really wants to choose of a fitting new name for Grayton Beach State Park, how about Citizen�s Grayton Beach State Park? Without the amazing community action the county would have converted all of the state lands to development. The county always claimed by purchasing those private lands for preservation that the state �stole� the lands from the county.
How about a monument at the entrance of the park. How about calling County Road 283 Bob Graham Parkway.
We love our park name just the way it is. Please voice your opinion.

Senator Durell Peaden, Jr.
850-487-5000

Representative Brad Drake
850-488-4726

Sponsors of Bill:
Don Gaetz
850-487-5009
email: gaetz.don@flsenate.gov

Marti Coley
850-718-0047

Edmund Alexander
Grayton Beach

Grayt letter and grayt idea for the road name. this way nothing has to be taken from anyone; and if someone wants to honor Senator Graham, this is a way to do it in a positive way.

**Yzarctoo** · 04-12-2010, 09:42 AM

Originally Posted by wrobert

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Park Name Change Update

background info:
A man named John Robert (Bob) Middlemus came to Rep. Coley and told her that the "community" really wanted to honor Bob Graham by adding his name to Grayton Beach State Park. Coley said that Graham was instrumental in securing funds for the park. She said the buck stops with her because she took him at his word, thought it sort of an insignificant thing, and she actually started the Bill. She called Sen. Don Gaetz and he thought it also just a local sort of thing that the people in the community wanted and said he agreed to sponsor in the Senate.
Mr. Middlemus is not a Walton County resident., he does not represent any longtime residents of the area, he is single resident of Panama City Florida

This morning, Rep. Coley talked to Sen. Gaetz about the emails and phone calls in opposition. Sen. Gaetz said he wanted to measure opposition against support as he has started getting phone calls and emails in support. Coley doesn't have a clue where these are coming from. She said we need to get a lot more people to call and email Sen. Gaetz office today and tomorrow. We need to flood the telephone lines and emails. I can't imagine how Mr. Middlemus heard that we were mobilizing opposition but he, or someone he knows, did. See previous post for phone and email information.

See you read my blog as you cut and pasted my last entry.

Gaetz and Coley have pulled the bill I received notice this AM. If you like you can read his message to me on our blog.

GRAYTON BEACH NEIGHBOHOOD ASSOCIATION