Council appoints Mr. Echols to fill Precinct 2 vacancy

The Crestview City Council voted unanimously at a special meeting to appoint Mr. Echols to fill the Precinct 2 vacancy left by Mr. Bullard. Councilman Frost moved to appoint Mr. Echols; the motion was seconded and carried 4–0 with one member absent.

Mr. Echols, a long-time Crestview resident and retired Air Force member who has worked at Eglin as a civil servant, told the council he would bring “integrity, transparency, listening to the residents” and a focus on public-safety priorities to the seat. In his opening remarks he said he supports steps to protect children in school zones and urged clearer disaster-evacuation planning for traffic on U.S. 85.

During questioning, council members pressed each candidate on communication with residents, transparency and local priorities such as a proposed sports complex. Councilwoman Allison and others praised Mr. Echols’s attendance at past meetings and his emphasis on school safety; Councilman Hayes and others noted the candidates’ service records and community ties.

Council members said they were looking for someone who could step into the role quickly and work effectively with staff and regional partners. The council’s process followed a city-charter procedure the mayor reviewed at the start of the meeting, which requires a majority of remaining council members to fill vacancies and directs that the vacancy be filled within 30 days.

Mr. Echols will serve the unexpired term for Precinct 2 until the next scheduled election unless the council or voters take a subsequent action.