Okaloosa County Commissioner Mel Ponder won't seek re-election in 2024.

SHALIMAR — At the end of Tuesday's Okaloosa County Commission meeting, District 5 Commissioner Mel Ponder told those in attendance that he would not run for re-election this November.

Ponder gained the seat during the 2020 general election and has a political career that spans nearly 14 years, entering the political area first as a member of the Destin City Council before serving a two-year term as Destin's mayor. Ponder won the seat once held by now-U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz in the Florida House of Representatives in 2016 before returning to Okaloosa County in 2020.

"It has been a great and tremendous honor for me, my wife and my family, and I hope that in time, I've been able to serve the community honorably and effectively, preserving our values and culture in Northwest Florida," said Ponder.

Ponder then said that he believed a great leader would run for his seat this November and build on his (Ponder's) achievements in office. He added that he felt the timing of his decision was right, as candidates will announce their intentions to run for office over the next seven months.

Ponder said he did not decide not to run for re-election this upcoming election cycle lightly. He and his wife, Mona, prayed about the decision before Ponder said the family finalized their choice in the past few weeks.

Entering the arena

A few hours after Ponder made his announcement, Drew Palmer, described in a press release as "a conservative dedicated to God, family and community," announced that he would run for the District 5 seat this November.

“As a husband and father, I’ve been blessed to raise my family in Okaloosa County. I want our kids to have the same opportunity. Our exceptional public servants have done a phenomenal job making our county a great place to live and work," said Palmer in a release. "I want to continue their good work, ensuring that our kids can grow up here, be educated here, work here and contribute to making Okaloosa County an economic powerhouse on the Panhandle."

While Palmer has no experience in government, he was a founding member of Destin High School's governing board, where he helped tackle issues such as overcrowding in Okaloosa County schools.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Palmer holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Colorado Technical University, a master's degree in operations management from the University of Arkansas and a master's degree in leadership from Mid-America Christian University.

His career began in the U.S. Air Force in 1997 when his team said he had supervised staff members working on software development and operational intelligence for the National Security Agency. According to Palmer's LinkedIn profile, after leaving the Air Force, Palmer began working for BAE Systems in 2001 before joining Lockheed Martin in 2005, where he has worked ever since.

Palmer notes that if he is elected, he plans to focus on five key issues affecting the residents of Okaloosa County:

• Affordable housing for teachers and first responders.

• Supporting law enforcement and public safety.

• Providing efficient and transparent county operations.

• Infrastructure development.

• Economic growth.

Gaetz endorsement

After thanking Ponder for his service to Okaloosa County residents, Congressman Gaetz tweeted his "total and complete endorsement" of Palmer's campaign on Tuesday.

"Drew loves Okaloosa County. He will keep our taxes low and our streets safe," wrote Gaetz. "Please join me in supporting Drew Palmer!"

This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Commissioner Mel Ponder announces he will not run for re-election