Okaloosa County Commissioner Nathan Boyles wants to buy you a beer.
Unless you don’t care for beer (or you’re under 21), and then he’ll happily spring for coffee, tea or a soda.
Boyles will debut a Cold One with the Commissioner from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Dockside Oyster Bar and Café on John Sims Parkway in Niceville.
It’s an after-hours twist on the two quarterly morning coffees he’s held in Crestview and Cinco Bayou since taking office last November.
“I decided that if world leaders can get together over a beer to solve problems, we can do the same in Okaloosa County,” said Boyles, an attorney who lives in Holt.
He plans to buy the first round — out of his own pocket — and then folks are on their own.
“After that, I’m not responsible,” he said. “If anyone gets too rowdy, I’ll shame them publicly into behaving.”
Boyles added that “no tax dollars will be injured” in the course of the evening.
He said the gatherings are a way for him to stay grounded and connected to constituents.
“As an elected official, it’s very important not to take yourself too seriously,” he said. “I’m an average guy and I like to have a beer every now and then like lots of people.”
The get-together will be casual with an open format, said Boyles, who added that he anticipates discussion about the county budget and the coming property tax increase.
“I don’t come with an agenda,” he said. “There’s no dress code other than your ID if you want a beer.”
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Kari C. Barlow at 850-315-4438 or kbarlow@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @KariBnwfdn.
