Lynn Haven City Commissioner resigns, will run for mayor

LYNN HAVEN, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - Lynn Haven City Commissioner Judy Tinder says she is resigning as commissioner to run for mayor. Tinder has served in the commission 4 seat for six years.

Tinder sent an email to Bay County Supervisor of Elections Mark Andersen as well as to the City of Lynn Haven notifying them of her decision. She is now leaving the commission one year before her term is up.

“I decided to resign today, so that I can give the residents of Lynn haven an opportunity to put somebody in my seat at this upcoming election. And I’m going to run for Mayor of Lynn Haven and I’m very excited about that,” said Tinder.

Tinder is set to testify in the trial of former Mayor Margo Anderson, but Tinder says that has nothing to do with her decision to run.

Tinder is a vocal supporter of Anderson, saying she believes the former mayor was set up.

“I don’t believe that she’s guilty of anything and out of 64 counts against her there’s only two left. And I think this will all come to pass, and people are gonna see she was set up from the get-go and I still support her and I will always. So, I don’t think it has anything to do with that,” said Tinder.

Tinder says she looks forward to working with everyone in the city, despite a lot of what she calls rumors going around town.

“There’s always talk I don’t get along with the city manager,” said Tinder. “And of course, recently I did ask for Ricky Ramies’ job and that’s not over yet, but it will work itself out whether I’m here or not that will work itself out. I think it all comes back down to remembering why you have the job you have and who you are serving, they serve the people and I think people deserve to be treated with kindness and I just like to see that culture change a little bit.”

She and others are calling for Lynn Haven Police Chief Ramie to be fired after text messages surfaced late last year showing crude remarks about Tinder and her partner.

Tinder says the main thing that she would like to see happen if elected is to have an honest administration.

The City Commission will consider whether to appoint a replacement at the next meeting.

The mayoral election is set for April 18. Qualification starts on Feb. 6 and ends on Feb. 10.

Copyright 2023 WJHG. All rights reserved.