The City Council is the legislative body of the City; it is composed of the Mayor and seven Council members who are elected for four-year, staggered terms. Council members run for seven seats, each of which are voted on City wide. The City Council appoints the City Manager, City Clerk and City Attorney.  The City Council initiates all ordinances and resolutions setting City policy. Additionally, the City Council adopts an annual budget and appoints all members of Boards and Committees.

Use the following address to mail paper documents to the Mayor or Council Person:

Mayor

Position: Mayor of City of Fort Walton Beach

Name: Mike Anderson

Term(s): 2005 - Present

Phone: (850) 862-5530

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Background: Mike Anderson has lived in Fort Walton Beach since 1979.  Upon graduation from the University of Southern California with a degree in Industrial Management, he entered the Air Force.  Mayor Anderson retired from the Air Force in 1984 as a Lt Col and began working with Civil Service at Eglin in 1985.  He retired from Civil Service in 2005.  Mayor Anderson holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of Texas and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of West Florida.  Prior to being elected Mayor, he served four years as a Fort Walton Beach Council Member.  His early involvement in the City was as a member of the Mayor's Advisory Group and the Around-the-Mound Project Advisory Group.  As a City Councilman, he was a member of the Okaloosa-Walton Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) and the Northwest Florida Regional TPO.  Mayor Anderson is the Past President of the Okaloosa County League of Cities and the Northwest Florida League of Cities.  In 2007, he received the Florida Mentoring Partnership’s Local Government Mentor of the Year award and was selected as the Florida League of Cities Mayor of the Year. Mayor Anderson was selected the Northwest Florida League of Cities 2008 Elected Municipal Official of the Year and recognized by Team Eglin with the 2008 James E. Plew Outstanding Community Ambassador Award.  He began his second term as Mayor in April 2009, after being reelected without opposition.  Mayor Anderson is currently on the Florida League of Cities and Florida League of Mayors Boards of Directors.  He is a member of the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the Military Affairs Committee, plus Chairman of the Government Affairs Committee.  In addition, he is on the Association of Marine Institute for Kids -- Emerald Coast Board of Directors, the Board of Directors for the Okaloosa School Foundation (Take Stock in Children) and the Shelter House Board.  Mayor Anderson and his wife Linda have two sons, Matt and Sam.

Seat I

Position: Council Seat I

Name: Bobby Griggs

Term(s): 2011 - Present

Phone: (850) 864-2354

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Background: Bobby Griggs is a life-long resident of Fort Walton Beach. Upon graduating from high school, he started his own land development company.

Seat II

Position: Council Seat II

Name: joyce gillie gossom

Term(s): 2010 - Present

Phone: (850) 244-9525

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Background: Dr. joyce gillie gossom and her husband Thom have lived in Fort Walton Beach since 1999. Her more than 30 years of professional experience include working as a special education teacher, a management consultant, and as an instructional designer and supervisor in the nuclear industry. In addition, joyce has been a small business owner and higher education instructor. Throughout her career, she has served as an active member or officer with numerous civic, professional, and community organizations. In 2004, she joined the University of West Florida (UWF) where she served as the Associate Dean for UWF Emerald Coast until June 2011. Currently, joyce has entirely too much fun serving as a consultant for higher education, community, and non-government organizations.

Seat III

Position: Council Seat III

Name: Dennis Reeves

Term(s): 2007 - Present

Phone: (850) 864-4569

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Background: Dennis Reeves is a lifelong resident of Fort Walton Beach. Upon graduating from Fort Walton Beach High School, Dennis joined longtime downtown men’s clothing store Don Alans. After 20 years Dennis decided it was time to bring his vision of men’s clothing to Fort Walton Beach. In 2007, he opened Dennis & Company Clothing in the Uptown shopping district of Fort Walton Beach. Dennis and his wife Amy, also a lifelong resident of Okaloosa County, make their home in the Kenwood neighborhood. Dennis is also serving on the Board of Directors of Okaloosa Gas, and is currently serving as Mayor Pro Tem.

Seat IV

Position: Council Seat IV

Name: Trey Goodwin

Term(s): 2011- Present

Phone: (850) 837-3662

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Background: Trey Goodwin, a local attorney, grew up in the Fort Walton Beach area. His wife, Krystle, is also a lifelong local resident. Trey attended the University of Florida where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Building Construction in 2001. After college, Trey spent a short time as an assistant project manager for a multi-state construction company. Trey left the construction industry to further his education, receiving his Juris Doctor degree from the Florida State University College of Law in 2005. After practicing law in Tallahassee for a few years following law school, Trey and Krystle moved back home. Trey is now an attorney with local law firm Matthews Jones & Hawkins, LLP. Trey is a member of the Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce and First Baptist Church of Fort Walton Beach. Trey and Krystle have one daughter, Alexia.

Seat V

Position: Council Seat V

Name: Bobby Nabors

Term(s): 2009 - Present

Phone: (850) 499-5369

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Background: Bobby Nabors was born and raised in Fort Walton Beach. He majored in chemistry and graduated cum laud from the University of Florida in 2003. During his time at the university and the year following he traveled all over the US and the Caribbean as a sales rep and windsurfing instructor for water sports equipment manufacturers. He has since started the water sports retail company Liquid Surf and Sail with locations in Fort Walton Beach, Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Before winning a seat on City Council, he held a position on the Fort Walton Beach CRA board.

Seat VI

Position: Council Seat VI

Name: C.H. "Bull" Rigdon

Term(s): 2010 - Present

Phone: -NA-

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Background: C. H. Rigdon, Jr., known world-wide as "Bull," was born in Portland, Florida and spent much of his youth in the Northwest Florida area. After his discharge from a three year hitch in the Army, Bull was hired as a temporary three-month helper with the Directorate of Civil Engineering. He was given another three-month job with the organization's sawmill in Niceville as a carpenter's helper. He then spent the next 38 years in Civil Engineering at Eglin A.F.B. and retired in April 1989. He attended Pensacola Junior College, Georgia Tech, and many engineering classes, conferences and seminars during the time he spent at Eglin. During his career he also received several outstanding performance awards. In addition to Shrine and Masonic activities, he has been very active in his community. He was elected to City Council in 1964 and served until 1981 during which he served as Mayor Pro-Tem numerous times and was appointed to fill a Council seat vacancy from March until June 1985. He now serves on the Board of Directors for the Okaloosa County Natural Gas District, and serves on the Okaloosa Industrial Committee. He was elected the first Chairman of the West Florida Regional Planning Council and has served on the Board of Regents at the University of West Florida. Bull and his late wife Margaret had one daughter and one son. He is now married to Helen Sue.

Seat VII

Position: Council Seat VII

Name: Dick Rynearson

Term(s): 2009 - Present

Phone: (850) 862-4004

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Background: Dick Rynearson has lived in Fort Walton Beach since 1981. A native of Ohio, he graduated from Kent State University in 1967 with a Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace Technology. Dick served 11 years in the United States Air Force as a pilot and missile test engineer. He served a tour in Vietnam as a C-7A aircraft commander/instructor pilot, and two tours on Guam as a B-52G aircraft commander flying missions over Southeast Asia. His combat service resulted in being awarded the Air Medal with seven oakleaf clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Silver Star. In 1978 Dick joined Hughes Aircraft Company/Raytheon as a missile systems test engineer. He also worked in new business development before being promoted to site manager of the company's Eglin AFB based air-to-air missile test team. In 1995 he earned a Master's Degree in Business from Troy University. Dick retired from Raytheon in 2005. Dick's wife, Janey, is the owner of P S Gifts in Fort Walton Beach. They have 4 children and 10 grandchildren, and are members of the Shalimar Methodist Church.