A look at the Sopchoppy candidates
The candidates for Sopchoppy City Commission in the upcoming election: Corey ‘DJ Butch’ Benedict, Lara Edwards, Fred McClendon, and Thomas E. Porter II.
By CHARITY TUMBLESON Reporter
For the upcoming Sopchoppy city commission election on Nov. 8, there are four candidates on the ballot: Corey ‘DJ Butch” Benedict, current Mayor Lara Edwards, current city commissioner Fred McClendon, and Thomas E. Porter II. (Sopchoppy voters will vote for two candidates for city commission.)
• Benedict was born and raised in Sopchoppy. Reflecting on his childhood memories in the city of Sopchoppy inspired Benedict to raise his children in Sopchoppy and he seeks to protect “that easy living family environment,” Benedict says.
Some of Benedict’s goals if he were to be elected would be to “protect the sacred land. I know that it’s going to grow some but I think that it needs to grow right and be done right. Sopchoppy has a charm that many places don’t have and I want to keep that charm and protect that charm,” Benedict says.
Benedict is also a local musician and has drawn inspiration from Sopchoppy in his music. Benedict seeks to keep the “charm” of Sopchoppy alive and protect it for future generations to enjoy.
“There’s something special about Sopchoppy. The people here and the people that have always been here, that’s really what makes it a great community. There’s a special bond here and I want to make sure that bond is not broken and that we remain a great place,” Benedict says.
• Edwards moved to Sopchoppy in 2008 and married into a local Sopchoppy family. (Her husband is County Administrator David Edwards.) Edwards was first appointed to the council in 2011 and became vice mayor in 2013 and became mayor in 2016. Edwards’ goal to stay in office would be to see the comp plan updated.
“I want to see those design standards that were talking about implementing for the commercial corridor implemented that way when people do come in commercially we have control over who, what, when, where, and how it looks,” Edwards says. Edwards knows growth is going to happen but wants to have the design standards in place to keep everything “balanced out.”
Another goal Edwards has is to improve the gateway into downtown Sopchoppy, and also wants to work with state Department of Transportation to make the curve into Sopchoppy safer with signage.
“We’re always planning ahead for the growth of our water utility because we’re basically a water utility with the city,” Edwards says. Edwards is also part of a group called Discover Sopchoppy, a small group of local people and business owners that plan out the festivals for Sopchoppy. Edwards is looking forward to the Shells and Tales oyster and mullet festival in November.
“We’re really looking forward to that. I think the festivals really bring the community together, and you get to meet new people,” Edwards says, “I’m proud to continue to serve the citizens of Sopchoppy and I look forward to accomplishing more things to benefit the community.”
• McClendon moved to Sopchoppy 10 years ago but has been in Wakulla since the 1970s and worked in the seafood business. Some goals McClendon has in office would be to bring stability.
“Financial stability, no debt that sort of stuff. Just to contribute to the needs of the community,” McClendon says.
McClendon attends the Spirit Life Church, which works with a farm share, and McClendon has been helping out for 12 years. “We distribute farm share twice a month here,” he says. This partnership with the church and farm share has helped between 7,000 to 10,000 families.
“We don’t want Sopchoppy to change but if you changed all the people, then it has changed,” McClendon says, “ I just thank you. I look forward to doing and helping the community and they help back. They’re friendly and caring people. I’ve enjoyed being a part of the city and I’ve learned so much.”
• Porter has lived in Sopchoppy for almost 11 years and moved here from Orlando.
Some goals Porter has if elected into office would be to keep things “nice and quiet like they are,” Porter says. Another goal Porter has is to improve the Mom’s Restaurant lot as a gateway to the city.
“Mostly parking for the festivals and have a couple of picnic benches there, bike racks. A spot for people to sit,” Porter says.
Porter also mentioned that the Wakulla County School Board is giving the old Sopchoppy School to the city. “I want to make sure the city gets control of that because the school board’s pretty much going to give it to the city if we want it. I want to make sure that happens and that certain improvement is made,” Porter says.
Porter also encourages small business development and small-time projects to improve the city.
“I love it here and I don’t have any plans on leaving. I plan on staying in my house in Sopchoppy till the day I die,” Porter says.