Thompson recall effort faces court challenge

Chairman files petition to end ‘campaign of opposition’

The continued push to recall Walton County Chairman David Thompson hit a new legal wrinkle last week Thursday after Thompson formally petitioned to end the recall procedure.

Thompson filed the “Petition for Review of Suffiency of Grounds for Recall Under the Recall Act” in Superior Court on Thursday, arguing in the filing that the recall effort was little more than sour grapes over the recent vote on the county tax rate.

Chairman David Thompson

“This case arises from an organized campaign of opposition against Petitioner David Thompson, the elected Chairman of the Walton County Board of Commissioners,” the petition reads. “That campaign began on or around Aug. 5, 2025, after Chairman Thompson cast the deciding vote to approve an increase in Walton County’s millage rate.Since that vote, Chairman Thompson has been the target of sustained public criticism, personal attacks and harassment from certain individuals who disagreed with his vote.”

Thompson declined to comment when contacted about his petition, simply confirming he had filed the paperwork on Thursday, on the last day within the four-day window to challenge the recall attempt.

Thompson broke a 3-3 tie in August to pass the budget and millage rate, which saw a 19.55% increase in property taxes and drew ire from voters around the county. Organized protests were held in front of the Walton County Historic Courthouse, a petition was circulated asking the board to rescind the millage vote and lower the budget and, when that attempt failed, the newly formed Walton In Action organization began making moves to formally begin proceedings to push a recall against Thompson.

Thompson’s petition, however, argues Walton In Action’s recall paperwork falls far short of meeting the legal hurdle of finding a reason to recall him, instead resting simply on animosity over his millage vote.

“Although framed as a lawful recall effort, the Application is, in substance, an attempt to punish an elected official for a lawful vote and represents a textbook abuse of the Recall Act,” the petition reads. “Here, the Application attempts to conceal its true motivation by manufacturing allegations that Chairman Thompson committed acts of malfeasance and misconduct during his previous term.”

The recall petition argues Thompson cast a vote on an annexation application filed by Rosewood Development LLC, a company which allegedly owed money to a company owned by Thompson.

The petition claims this allegation “fails to connect Chairman Thompson’s alleged conduct to any policy or statutory violation.” Instead, the petition argues the annexation attempt, made to the city of Between by Rosewood, was presented to the county by Between and did not require any action. Furthermore, when the commissioners did choose to vote to confirm the annexation based on county policy, the vote was unanimous and Thompson’s vote did not influence the final decision in any direction.

“While Chairman Thompson admits to voting in favor of the Rosewood annexation — as the entire Com-
mission did — the Application fails to demonstrate how Chairman Thompson’s affirmative vote ‘directly and immediately affected Chairman Thompson’s pecuniary interest’ as Chairman Thompson had no interest, direct or indirectly, in the property,” the petition reads.

Walton In Action organizers said they were confident their arguments would prevail in court.

“We respect Chairman Thompson’s right to respond, but the people of Walton County also have a right to seek accountability,” Chairperson Gareth Fenley for Walton In Action said. “The recall process exists to restore public trust when an elected official’s actions raise serious questions of ethics, judgment, or responsibility.”

No court date has been set as of yet for the hearing on the petition, but Fenley said they were ready.

“This recall is not about politics,” Fenley said.. “It’s about integrity in office and the right of citizens to hold their leaders accountable when they break the public’s trust.”