The simple versionWho's in charge of what
- Elected boards set policy and budgets. The County Commission, each city commission or council, and the School Board vote on budgets, tax rates and big contracts.
- Appointed managers run operations. A county manager or city manager, hired by the board, runs departments and staff.
- Five county officers are elected on their own. The Sheriff, Property Appraiser, Tax Collector, Clerk of Court and Supervisor of Elections each run their own office. The County Commission funds most of their budgets. Their pay is set by a state formula.
Find who represents your address →
Countywide elected officers
| Office | Who | Elected | Term ends | Pay FY2026 | Pay FY2027 | |
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| Sheriff | Tommy Ford | Nov 2024 (won primary 78.07%) | Jan 2029 (4-year term; next election Nov 2028) | $238,643 | $240,075 | Website |
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| Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller | Bill Kinsaul | 2024, unopposed | Jan 2029 | $170,173 | $171,359 | Website |
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| Property Appraiser | Dan Sowell | 2024, unopposed | Jan 2029 | $170,173 | $171,359 | Website |
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| Tax Collector | William (Chuck) Perdue | 2024, unopposed | Jan 2029 | $198,466 | $199,754 | Website |
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| Supervisor of Elections | Nina Ward | 2024, unopposed (succeeded Mark Andersen) | Jan 2029 | $170,173 | $171,359 | Website |
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| Superintendent of Schools | Mark McQueen | Appointed July 2023 to complete Husfelt's term; 2024 election status not verified | | $198,466 | $199,754 | Website |
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Governments
Bay County Board of County Commissioners
Non-charter county; 5-member commission with appointed county manager (Ch. 125 F.S.)
| Seat | Who | How | Term ends |
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| District 1 | Daniel Raffield (Vice Chairman per commission page) | Elected | Nov 2028 |
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| District 2 | Robert Carroll | Elected | Nov 2026 (seat on 2026 ballot) |
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| District 3 | Doug Crosby | Elected | Nov 2028 |
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| District 4 | Doug Moore (stepped down as chairman Nov 18, 2025; not seeking re-election) | Elected | Nov 2026 (seat on 2026 ballot) |
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| District 5 | Clair Pease (Chairman per commission page) | Elected | Nov 2028 |
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| County Manager | Joel Schubert | Appointed | — |
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| Deputy County Manager | Keith Bryant | Appointed | — |
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Employees: 835 · Website · Contact Source
City of Panama City
Commission-manager; mayor elected at-large, four commissioners elected by ward
| Seat | Who | How | Term ends |
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| Mayor (at-large) | Allan Branch | Elected | May 2027 |
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| Ward I | Robbie Hughes | Elected | May 2029 |
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| Ward II | Janice Lucas | Elected | May 2027 |
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| Ward III | Brian Grainger | Elected | May 2027 |
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| Ward IV | Josh Street | Elected | May 2029 |
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| City Manager | Jonathan Hayes | Appointed | — |
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| City Attorney | Nevin Zimmerman (FY26 budget book) | Appointed | — |
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| City Clerk-Treasurer | Janette Smith (FY26 budget book) | Appointed | — |
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Employees: 631 · Website · Contact Source
City of Panama City Beach
Council-city manager (home-rule city); mayor plus four ward council members
| Seat | Who | How | Term ends |
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| Mayor | Stuart Tettemer | Elected | 2028 |
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| Ward 1 | Paul Casto | Elected | 2026 |
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| Ward 2 | Ethan Register | Elected | 2028 |
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| Ward 3 | Mary Coburn | Elected | 2026 |
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| Ward 4 (Vice Mayor) | Michael Jarman | Elected | 2028 |
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| City Manager | Drew Whitman | Appointed | — |
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| Assistant City Manager | Holly White | Appointed | — |
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Website · Contact Source
City of Lynn Haven
Commission-manager; mayor and four commissioners elected at large
| Seat | Who | How | Term ends |
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| Mayor | David Lowery | Elected | — |
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| Commissioner | Sam Peebles | Elected | — |
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| Commissioner | Pat Perno | Elected | — |
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| Commissioner | Jamie Warrick | Elected | — |
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| Commissioner | Not published online | Elected | — |
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| City Manager | Chris Lightfoot | Appointed | — |
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Employees: 219.5 · Website · Contact Source
City of Callaway
Commission-manager; mayor plus one commissioner from each of four wards
| Seat | Who | How | Term ends |
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| Mayor | Pamn Henderson | Elected | Nov 2028 |
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| Ward I | Bobby J. Birdsell | Elected | Nov 2026 |
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| Ward II (Mayor Pro Tem) | David Griggs | Elected | Nov 2026 |
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| Ward III | Bob Pelletier | Elected | Nov 2028 |
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| Ward IV | Kenneth L. Ayers, Jr. | Elected | Nov 2028 |
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| City Manager | Ed Cook | Appointed | — |
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Employees: 99.0 · Website · Contact Source
City of Springfield
Mayor-commission; mayor plus four ward commissioners (no city manager listed on city site)
| Seat | Who | How | Term ends |
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| Mayor | Ralph Hammond | Elected | — |
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| Ward 1 | Jack Griffis (serving since 2023) | Elected | — |
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| Ward 2 | Richard Chval (serving since 2024) | Elected | — |
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| Ward 3 | Jackie Kennington (serving since 2016) | Elected | — |
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| Ward 4 | Cindy Hamre (serving since 2022) | Elected | — |
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| City Clerk | Teresa Cox | Appointed | — |
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| Finance Director | Beth Strobel | Appointed | — |
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| Fire Chief | Brian Eddins | Appointed | — |
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| Police Chief | Barry Roberts | Appointed | — |
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Website · Contact Source
City of Parker
Mayor-council (5-member council incl. mayor; no city manager listed on city site)
| Seat | Who | How | Term ends |
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| Mayor | Andrew Kelly | Elected | — |
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| Mayor Pro Tem | Tonya Barrow | Elected | — |
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| Council Member | Katy Bodiford | Elected | — |
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| Council Member | Ron Chaple | Elected | — |
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| Council Member | Mark Rega | Elected | — |
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Website · Contact Source
City of Mexico Beach
Council-administrator; mayor and four council members, all elected at large; City Administrator appointed by council
| Seat | Who | How | Term ends |
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| Mayor (Group 1) | Richard Wolff | Elected | May 2027 |
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| Group 2 | Erik Fosshage | Elected | May 2027 |
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| Group 3 | Linda Hamilton | Elected | May 2027 |
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| Group 4 | Lisa Logan (appointed April 2026) | Appointed | 2028 (until next regular election) |
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| Group 5 | Steve Cox | Elected | 2028 |
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| City Administrator | Mell Smigielski | Appointed | — |
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| City Clerk | Tammy Brunson | Appointed | — |
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Website · Contact Source
Bay District Schools (School Board of Bay County)
Five-member elected school board by district; superintendent (Bay listed by EDR/FADSS as an elected-superintendent district)
| Seat | Who | How | Term ends |
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| Superintendent | Mark McQueen (appointed by Gov. DeSantis July 2023 to finish Bill Husfelt's term) | Elected | — |
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| District 2 | Ann Leonard (not seeking re-election); Ginger Littleton won Aug 18, 2026 primary, term begins Nov 2026 | Elected | Nov 2026 |
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| District 3 | Not published online | Elected | Nov 2026 (on 2026 ballot) |
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| District 5 | Not published online | Elected | Nov 2026 (on 2026 ballot) |
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Website · Contact Source
What officials are paid
From state salary reports, budgets and contracts
| Position | Who | Government | Annual | Year | Basis |
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| Sheriff | Tommy Ford | Bay County | $240,075 | FY2026-27 | Statutory formula salary computed by EDR (Sept 2026) Source |
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| Mayor and 4 Commissioners (combined regular salaries) | | City of Panama City | $204,217 | FY2026 proposed budget | City Commission cost center 'Regular Salaries & Wages' - covers 5 elected members plus 0.5 executive assistant, so not a per-member figure Source |
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| Tax Collector | William (Chuck) Perdue | Bay County | $199,754 | FY2026-27 | Statutory formula salary computed by EDR (Sept 2026) Source |
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| Superintendent of Schools | Mark McQueen | Bay County | $199,754 | FY2026-27 | Statutory formula salary computed by EDR (Sept 2026) Source |
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| Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller | Bill Kinsaul | Bay County | $171,359 | FY2026-27 | Statutory formula salary computed by EDR (Sept 2026) Source |
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| Property Appraiser | Dan Sowell | Bay County | $171,359 | FY2026-27 | Statutory formula salary computed by EDR (Sept 2026) Source |
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| Supervisor of Elections | Nina Ward | Bay County | $171,359 | FY2026-27 | Statutory formula salary computed by EDR (Sept 2026) Source |
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| City Manager | Ed Cook | City of Callaway | $163,225 | FY2026-27 budget | Budgeted regular salary for the single City Manager position (current wage $161,125 + $2,080 increase); plus $6,000 auto and $600 phone allowances Source |
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| City Manager | Drew Whitman | City of Panama City Beach | $150,000 | 2021 (initial base salary in employment agreement, Res. 21-148) | Employment agreement; later raises not located Source |
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| County Commissioner | Daniel Raffield (D1) | Bay County | $93,692 | FY2026-27 | EDR statutory formula Source |
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| County Commissioner | Robert Carroll (D2) | Bay County | $93,692 | FY2026-27 | EDR statutory formula Source |
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| County Commissioner | Doug Crosby (D3) | Bay County | $93,692 | FY2026-27 | EDR statutory formula Source |
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| County Commissioner | Doug Moore (D4) | Bay County | $93,692 | FY2026-27 | EDR statutory formula Source |
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| County Commissioner | Clair Pease (D5) | Bay County | $93,692 | FY2026-27 | EDR statutory formula Source |
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| Mayor and Commissioners (combined) | | City of Lynn Haven | $86,560 | FY2025-26 budget | Account 512300 MAYOR/COMM, total for the legislative body Source |
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| Mayor and 4 Commissioners (combined) | | City of Callaway | $50,000 | FY2026-27 budget | Commission salaries line, total for 5 members Source |
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| School Board Member (each of 5) | | Bay District Schools | $47,321 | FY2026-27 | EDR statutory formula Source |
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| Mayor and Council stipends (combined, all funds) | | City of Parker | $26,400 | FY2025-26 draft budget | General Fund $13,200 + Water/Sewer fund lines $4,620 + $8,580 Source |
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Where a budget shows only one combined line for a whole city commission, that total is listed rather than divided among members.
What we couldn't find
- Mexico Beach and Springfield: no FTE counts found. Springfield and Parker list no city manager.
- Manager salaries not found: Bay County (Joel Schubert), Panama City (Jonathan Hayes; only his requested $175,000 minimum was reported), Lynn Haven (Chris Lightfoot), Mexico Beach (Mell Smigielski). The Panama City Beach figure is the 2021 contract base. Department-head salaries were not compiled.
- School board: the full current member roster with districts and term ends wasn't verified (the district website doesn't render it). Superintendent McQueen's 2024 election status and term end weren't verified.
- Lynn Haven, Springfield and Parker seat term-end dates are not published on their sites. Lynn Haven's fifth commission seat is unconfirmed.
- Bay County commissioner term ends were derived from election cycles (2024 FAC results, 2026 qualifying list), not from a single county roster.