John Reading Prefiles For Escambia Commission District 5 Seat

May 29, 2020

A Cantonment man that served on the Escambia County Commission more than two decades ago is seeking his old seat back.

John Reading prefiled Thursday as a Republican for the District 5 seat on the Escambia County Commission. He served one term as the District 5 Escambia County commissioner before losing re-election in 1996.

Incumbent Steven Barry and Megan Walters are also seeking the seat as Republicans. Democrat Barbara Goins prefiled, but withdrew this week. Qualifying official ends at noon on June 12.

Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

26 Responses to “John Reading Prefiles For Escambia Commission District 5 Seat”

  1. George Heard on August 4th, 2020 1:32 pm

    The county commissioners currently in office have done nothing to control the rampant spread of the COVID-19 virus in our county. Thousands of Escambia residents have been infected and hundreds have died, hospitals are full. District 5 has been especially hard hit by the virus yet Steven Barry has done nothing. Barry has completely disregarded the recommendations from medical professionals. It’s time for a change!

  2. DeDe on July 19th, 2020 11:45 am

    Call me a Nosey Nellie, but why was he disbarred? Not that it matters because I voted for him. Everyone says it’s because “it was the right thing to do”. No judgement here, just curious. I don’t know the Reading family personally, but when they had the pharmacy, you have no idea how many times I went there when my little girl was a baby and forever sick. When I saw his name on mail-in-ballot, I immediately checked his bio to see if he was one-in-the same. Cudos to you Mr. Reading for standing up and making your voice heard to better our community.

  3. Doris Emmons on July 16th, 2020 9:40 am

    We need someone that will answer our calls, when we are trying to get something done up in the north end. Barry, has been a disappointment. We have lived in district 5 over 30 years and used Cantonment Pharmacy. John Reading, has always been a part of our community and so was his dad. We will vote for Mr. Reading this year. Hopefully he will get back over our district. I believe he will be a better commissioner for district 5. We are not looking for someone that can solve all our problems however, we do need someone that cares about the people they represent.

  4. Jennifer Daniel on July 3rd, 2020 12:43 am

    Thank you (and your Dad) for your service and help for my family and the north end of Escambia County. I certainly support you in District 5.

  5. john reading on May 31st, 2020 6:32 pm

    After suing the Governors office successfully, several times, I had made many powerful enemies. This is how they got back at me. I learned a lot about bad practices watching the florida bar. I was deprived of an attorney then. Apparently their is now linkage between negative posters and Steven Barrys’ office. Muckrakers have united in fear.

  6. Curious on May 30th, 2020 8:53 pm

    @ Jacqueline

    It’s impossible to have Proper fire protection on the north end when Engine 4 is always at station 6 or you always have Engine 6 at station 3 If you rode around town all day then you would see that. If Engine 4 is at station 6 and receive a call on the north end of their district then it’s over 10 miles, so tell me how that is proper fire protection. ECFR needs to quit trying to be like New York, there are a lot of elderly people here on fixed incomes that can’t afford higher property taxes.

  7. BP on May 30th, 2020 4:04 pm

    He has my vote. Like his father, he is a caring man ….. he genuinely cares for others that are in need! Our community lost so much when they closed Cantonment Pharmacy. And for the record …. he has never been out for himself but for how he can help others. He will be there for the citizens in North Escambia!

  8. Jacqueline on May 30th, 2020 12:27 pm

    Yes, Curious,
    It would be awful to have adequate fire and public safety coverage in the north end, wouldn’t it?

  9. Curious on May 30th, 2020 10:13 am

    Will vote for him before I vote for the Union endorses Walters, Definitely a biased agenda with her, Property taxes guaranteed to go up with her

  10. DAVID BEE on May 30th, 2020 9:32 am

    GOT MY VOTE

  11. EMD on May 30th, 2020 12:21 am

    Resident. You do not know all the facts. If you did, you might find out he was disbarred for doing the right thing. It seems true nowadays that no good deed goes unpunished. John and his family sure seemed like good and honest and helpful people to me. I have been here over 40 years. Have not changed my mind. I would vote for Johnny in a heart beat.

  12. db on May 29th, 2020 8:15 pm

    Don’t know the guy, but if he was disbarred, need explanation. Not that it would matter in the end. We need someone to run Barry off, he’s not good for our community.
    I will be voting for someone, just not Barry.

  13. Oversight on May 29th, 2020 5:54 pm

    Looking into Resident’s statement. In only a few minutes, here’s what I found:

    John Thomas Reading Jr.
    Bar Number: 771759
    Disbarred – Not Eligible to Practice Law in Florida

    Mail Address:
    PO Box 316
    Gonzalez, FL 32560-0316

    Same person? Not sure because the names don’t match on http://www.escambiavotes.com website and the Florida Bar’s, but they are eerily close.

    https://www.floridabar.org/directories/find-mbr/?barNum=&fName=John+&lName=Reading

  14. JustMe on May 29th, 2020 4:38 pm

    After doing some searching it appears this candidate is actually a Jr not sure why the north escambia article doesn’t list the Jr. There was a letter on May 6 of 2016 from John Reading Jr expressing interest to being on the Planning Board. In this letter he stated he served as county commissioner.

    Then this excerpt below is from the Florida Supreme Court

    • John Thomas Reading Jr., Gonzalez. Disbarred from practicing law in Florida, effective immediately following a July 11 court order. The Florida Supreme Court imposed disciplines of disbarment and suspension on Reading in two different cases, effective 30 days from Jan. 7, 1999. Reading filed a verified motion for rehearing in each of the cases on Jan. 21, 1999. The motions contained numerous misrepresentations of fact and were filed in a bad faith attempt to deceive.

  15. To Resident on May 29th, 2020 3:20 pm

    To “Mr resident” you inaccurate. If you would like the facts from 20+ years ago feel free to contact him or anyone else besides the media. As we all know what they say isn’t true. So do t spread words you have nothing to back up.

  16. Molino Resident on May 29th, 2020 3:16 pm

    Pretty sure “Resident” has his facts wrong about disbarred attorney. Please
    post that link if I’m wrong.

  17. JR on May 29th, 2020 2:00 pm

    If what “Resident” said is true, to me, that is concerning.

  18. Rita Rose on May 29th, 2020 1:56 pm

    Mr. Reading, I , for one will never forget what you & your Dad did for me in the past . That is not the reason I would vote for you. I think you are the best man for the job. You will be a great commissioner and a great asset to our community. I have not seen you since you closed the Pharmacy. I miss your smiling face & your kindness. Good luck on your campaign. You can count on mine and Phil’s vote. If I can be of any help please let me know. Rita Rose.

  19. Customer on May 29th, 2020 12:30 pm

    Let’s not forget all the times he helped customers out with their medicine. All the times he didn’t have to, and shouldn’t have. He did. They are his family. It’s for Johnny 2020

  20. Trisha on May 29th, 2020 11:38 am

    A wonderful family who has done so much for our community. I am happy to see him throw his hat in for the election.

  21. Resident on May 29th, 2020 11:09 am

    Disbarred as a lawyer by the Florida bar after trying to get over a million bucks for work he did not do. Just what we need

  22. John Doe on May 29th, 2020 10:15 am

    good luck. I’m a democrat but I still think Barry is a good guy and would vote for him. He’s all business, I like that.

  23. Emily on May 29th, 2020 10:03 am

    Plus ran Cantonment pharmacy and helped everyone for 40+ years

  24. Friend and family on May 29th, 2020 9:37 am

    This is great news! Johnny and John Reading used to own Cantonment pharmacy back in the day. You won’t find a better person and candidate in Mr. Reading!!!

  25. deBugger on May 29th, 2020 6:11 am

    Good man. He & his Dad ran one of the great family-owned & operated pharmacies & were always great friends & assets to the community.

    I’ll vote for him.

    … and yes, we miss Kim’s Family Pharmacy, as well.

  26. Emd on May 29th, 2020 3:10 am

    Hey Johnny ! Haven’t seen you in so long. I still have some of your cards from your campaign days of yesteryear. Go for it.