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Randall Wise
First appointed to the position of Mayor in 1971, he was then elected, due to a charter change, in 1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, and 2003.
Mayor Wise has lived his entire life in Niceville.
Vision for Niceville: Mayor Wise would like to see Niceville work to develop the old downtown area and the concept of the town center.
Voted in as President of the Florida League of Cities in 1979, he has served in various other positions for the League over the years; Chairman of the Board for the Florida Municipal Health Trust Fund and for the Board of Directors for the Florida League of Cities Loan Program; in 1997 he was presented the 20th Annual E. Harris Drew Award for his contribution to all cities of Florida. He is past President of Panhandle League of Cities and the Okaloosa County League of Cities, as well as serving on the Boards. Mayor Wise has served as a member of various groups including Baptist Hospital in Pensacola, Niceville-Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce, Military Affairs Committee, the Host Committee for the Chamber of Commerce, the Ambassadors Committee, the Okaloosa County Economic Development Council, and was one of the original captains of the Niceville Volunteer Fire Department. The Okaloosa County School Board honored Mayor Wise and his service to the community on March 4, 1997 by naming the new library at the C. W. Ruckel Middle School after him.
Family: My wife, Helen Jo, and I have four children, six grandsons, and two granddaughters.
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Bill Smith
First elected to the City Council in 2005, he is up for re-election in 2009.
Vision for Niceville: To ensure that Niceville maintains its local charm and community atmosphere as it faces the challenges of growth.
Background: Doctorate, in Educational Leadership and Facilities, and Educational Specialist in Curriculum and Supervision from the University of West Florida. Master's and Undergraduate Degrees in Health and Physical Education from the University of Southern Mississippi. Graduate of Niceville Senior High School Class of 1969. Currently the Facilities Department Director for the Okaloosa County School District.
Family: I have lived in the Niceville community since 1973 and in the Twin Cities since 1961. My parents are Cecile and Jay (Deceased) Smith (Cecile is a Niceville resident in Bayshore Place); My son, Ryan, is a graduate of the University of Florida in Gainesville. My sister, Janeane Williams, is the retired Principal of Walker Elementary School in Crestview.
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William M. Thomas
First appointed to the position Niceville City planning Board in 2004 and elected to the City Council in 2007. I was born and raised in Sawyerville, Alabama. I have been a Niceville resident since 1988. I've been in and out of this area since 1973.
Vision for Niceville: My vision for Niceville is to maintain a peaceful and safe place where citizens are happy to live, work and raise their children. I would like to maintain and help responsibly manage economic growth in the best interest of citizens who live here as well as for those who might hope to make this their residence.
Background: I attended and graduated in 1997 from Okaloosa Walton Community College with an A.S degree in Criminology. While attending school I worked as a volunteer in the Sheriffs Posse. I completed 24 years active military duty service in the USAF. November 1994 Completed 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Development Course. I retired from Eglin AFB in 1995 where I was the Supervising Noncommissioned Officer In charge of Plans, Scheduling, Documentation and Engine Management at Eglin AFB for Special Operations. My military career first brought me to this area in 1973. After retiring from the air force; I was employed by the Okaloosa County Sheriff where my training and experience as a Deputy Sheriff has been extensive. I began working as a Bailiff at the courthouse in January 1997. I worked in the school system as a School Resource Officer for five years. During my Law Enforcement career, I also worked at the Okaloosa Regional Airport where my duties included, but were not limited to maintaining curbside Security, providing security training which involves fingerprinting for contract workers, inspecting vehicles for security purposes, conducting search and seizure of illegal weapons and contraband, and signing in Law Enforcement and Federal Agents who were traveling with weapons. Specific training I received as a Law Enforcement Officer has included Verbal Judo, Physical and Sexual Abuse, Crisis Management, Florida Anti-Car Theft, Florida Association of School Resource Officers, ASP/Baton/Flashlight, Multi-Hazard Planning for Florida's Schools, The Modem Behavior- Characteristics of Adolescents, Interviewing-Camping Skills and Field Training Officer (ETO). I am a Certified Substance Abuse and Violence Education instructor and Certified Law Enforcement Practitioner.
Family: I have lived in Niceville since 1988. I have been married to my wife Mary since 1980 and we have two children together; Toussaint and Chante'. Both of our children were educated in the Niceville public schools and graduated from Niceville High.
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Daniel Henkel
Dan was elected to the city council via special election in 2008 to fill the remaining term of the late Terry Tislow. He was re-elected in 2009.
Vision for Niceville: To keep Niceville as a desirable place to live and raise a family. To encourage the citizens of this great city to use their talents and skills and become more involved in helping implement quality of life improvements as we grow. I look forward to serving you and this community.
Background: MS International Relations, Troy State University; BS History, Arizona State University. He retired from the United States Air Force after a 29 ½ year career, where he served as a navigator – electronic warfare officer on a variety of C-130 aircraft including the AC-130H and U models. His staff experience included a tour as the Chief of the Requirements Division for Plans, Programs, and Requirements Division for Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command. He completed seven tours into the combat zone in support of the Global War on Terrorism with over 570 hours of combat flying time. He currently serves as a program manager for a foreign military sales program testing an advanced integrated defensive electronic warfare suite for US coalition partners.
Family: He and Melissa have been married for 37 years and have lived in this area since 1995. Their four sons all graduated from Niceville High School.
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Heath Rominger
Raised in Boggy Bayou and a 1989 graduate of Niceville High School. Heath was a local baseball and football standout while growing up in community. He was instrumental in Niceville High School's first football State Championship as a starting Defensive Back. Heath enlisted in the United States Navy in January of 1990 and performed duties as a Search and Rescue Crewman onboard the SH60B Seahawk helicopter. He departed active duty in 1999 to complete his bachelor degree in Workforce, Education and Development from Southern Illinois University Carbondale (2002) and then awarded a Master’s in Business Administration from Webster University (2003). While enrolled in his master’s program he was commissioned in the United States Naval Reserves as an Intelligence Officer where he continues to serve today. Heath currently is employed by SAIC and is married to his wife Caryn of four years.
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Bill Schaetzle
First elected to City Council in August 2011. He is up for re-election in 2015.
Vision for Niceville: For Niceville to remain a desirable community to live and raise a family by maintaining its local charm and community atmosphere and ensuring a safe community with the services that its citizens want and deserve while facing the challenges of economic and residential growth.
Background: BA in Economics, 1973, with additional courses towards an MBA program. I entered the USAF in 1973 and pursued a career in aviation, first as a navigator and then as an electronic warfare officer on a variety of aircrafts. I have served both on active duty and in the Air National Guard. I retired from the USAF in 2004 and have since worked at Hurlburt Field as a requirements program manager for an EC-130 aircraft.
Family: My wife, Claudene, and I were married in 1974. I was assigned to Hurlburt Field in late 1998 and we moved to Niceville in 1999. We have lived here ever since. We have no children.
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