By Special to the News
Incumbent David Corbin said he is “excited” to announce his candidacy for the District 5 seat on the Washington County Board of County Commissioners.
Corbin was appointed to the position by Gov. Ron DeSantis in August 2022 after the passing of Commissioner Steve Joyner.
“Mr. Joyner left behind big shoes to fill and I have done my best to continue the vision he started,” Corbin said. “As a lifelong resident of Washington County, I care about this community that my family calls home. I’m the youngest son of Travis Corbin and Zenna Corbin. After graduating from Chipley High School in 1993, I received my associate degree in business from Chipola College and began working full time with my mother in 1995 at Chipley Gun & Pawn, becoming co-owner in 2000.”
Corbin further said he is fortunate to have “two wonderful children,” one of whom is Davis, a 2022 Chipley High School graduate and currently finishing his A.A. at Chipola while working part-time in the family business.
“My daughter Sydney is a freshman and varsity cheerleader at CHS. One of the most important things to me is for Washington County to be a place where our children can grow safely, start their education, and come back to raise the next generation of local leaders,” Corbin said. “We have to create an environment where our children are not rushing to leave when they graduate but a place where they can have good paying jobs, affordable housing and plenty of opportunities all while still living in a small-town atmosphere. It is our responsibility to create these opportunities.”
As the community builds the county, Corbin said everyone has to “consider that growth should be well thought out and planned, while occurring at a steady pace.”
“District 5 is the fastest growing area with an explosion of housing and development being built in the south end of our county,” he said. “We need leaders who can navigate this growth in the right way and I believe I’m that leader.”
In the time Corbin has been a commissioner, he said he’s been a “part of the significant rebuilding since Hurricanes Michael and Sally that devastated much of our community.”
“We have paved 80 miles of dirt roads and repaired or replaced bridges,” he said. “I will continue to work with my fellow commissioners and county staff to ensure a great future for Washington County as I have had the opportunity to speak with many citizens over the last year and a half about concerns and praises and look forward to many more conversations over the next four years.”
Corbin further said he “humbly” asks for “your vote to keep me as your District 5 County Commissioner on August 20th, 2024.”
Staff Report 
Jim Saunders