Crestview City Council appoints Sylvester Echols to vacant precinct 2 seat Collin Bestor January 21, 2026 3:41 pm Crestview CRESTVIEW — The Crestview City Council voted 4-0 on Tuesday night to appoint Sylvester Echols to the vacant Precinct 2 seat, selecting the retired Air Force veteran after interviews that focused on public safety, communication and the city’s rapid growth. Echols was chosen over two other candidates, former council member Andrew Rencich and longtime Crestview resident Louis Rodriquez, after the council held a structured interview round in which each nominee answered the same core questions from council members. Echols framed his pitch around what he described as long-term planning, transparency and public safety, particularly for children. “I have a deep, deep desire and passion for the long-term growth, public safety, and budgetary health of Crestview,” Echols told the council. During questioning, he repeatedly returned to the idea that communication was a key responsibility of the job. “I believe that a lot of our problems is because we fail to communicate,” he said. Asked about short- and long-term goals, Echols pointed to speeding in school zones and said he supports efforts to improve safety near campuses. He also emphasized disaster preparedness, arguing that Crestview’s location along a major north-south route makes evacuation planning critical. Council members praised all three candidates as qualified, but several said Echols stood out for his consistent attendance at city meetings and his emphasis on safety and transparency. Councilman Brandon Frost...
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