By WILLIAM SNOWDEN Editor
Wakulla County Property Appraiser Ed Brimner announced in a press release on Friday morning that he was withdrawing his candidacy for re-election.
Brimner said in the press release that it was “personal reasons.” In a brief phone interview with the Sun, he acknowledged an incident with a county human resources employee in which he was “exceedingly rude” in front of his whole staff.
The HR employee was meeting with property appraiser staff to discuss changes to the county’s insurance plan. Brimner did not use profanity, but said he was very rude to the woman. (According to some county employees, the HR staffer became very upset, suffered an anxiety attack and was hospitalized.)
Brimner said he was upset with himself over the incident. “This is not who I am,” he said.
Asked if it was the result of stress from the election, he said the election also places stress on a candidate’s family. He said, after the incident Wednesday morning, he went to his daughter’s house in the afternoon and saw his two grandchildren and said he hadn’t taken them to Wakulla Springs to swim all summer.
He said he needed to take time to straighten out his priorities.
He vowed to support Donnie Sparkman, his opponent who had retired as property appraiser eight years ago and was running out of concern about how the office was being run by Brimner. (Sparkman’s son, Colby, was a candidate against Brimner four years ago and lost by three votes.)
“It’s embarrassing,” Brimner said of the situation. He added that he should have made the choice not to run six months ago and let somebody else run.
It was expected that Brimner would officially withdraw as a candidate with the Wakulla Supervisor of Elections Office on Friday, but he had not as of 11 a.m.
Sparkman had no immediate comment.
The full text of Brimner’s statement withdrawing from the race:
“Effective immediately, I am withdrawing from the Wakulla County Property Appraiser race for personal reasons. I will be completing this term and will be leaving the office on January 5, 2025. I will begin immediately to transition this office to a new property appraiser.
“Being the Wakulla County Property Appraiser has been a rewarding experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I will cherish the time spent with my coworkers in the office. I also appreciate all the support I’ve received from the Florida Association of Property Appraisers, Property Appraisers Association of Florida, and fellow Wakulla County constitutional officers.
“I am asking everyone to give Donnie Sparkman the same support I’ve received. I am committed to ensuring a smooth transition and will assist in any way I can.
“Thank you for your continued support and for allowing me to serve the residents of Wakulla County.”