Santa Rosa County there is another election underway and you can support your local athletes.
Until Dec. 17 fans have the opportunity to vote for their selections to the NFL Pro Bowl and three Santa Rosa athletes are on the ballot.
Former Milton Panthers Lawrence Tynes, a kicker with the NY Giants, and Cortland Finnegan, a cornerback with the St. Louis Rams, are joined by second year pro out of Gulf Breeze High Doug Baldwin.
Tynes and Finnegan are very excited about the opportunity to be on the ballot and are excited about the opportunity to be voted for by the fans to play in the 2013 Pro Bowl in Hawaii.
“It’d be pretty high. Individual honors are obviously after team, but that’s the highest individual honor you can have," Tynes said. "It would mean a great deal to me. I’ve worked hard to get to where I’m at and it would mean a lot personally, for sure.”
Tynes is leading the NFL this season in field goals as he as converted on 32 of 36 and is 31 for 31 on point after attempts.
From inside 40 yards Tynes has been a perfect-24 of-24, beyond 40 yards he is eight-of-12.
If elected to the Pro Bowl it would be the first time for Tynes, but Milton has had a Pro Bowl representative back in 2008.
Finnegan was selected to the AFC squad back when he played for the Tennessee Titans in 2008 and was also a First-Team All-Pro that year as well.
The former Panther and current defensive back for the St. Louis Rams is known for his competitive streak and tenacity on the field.
In his first season for the Rams, Finnegan has three interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown, one sack, and hs recorded 66 tackles, which on par or ahead of where he was back in 2008 when he made the Pro Bowl.
"I am humbled and honored by your continued support, thank you," Finnegan said concerning the chance Santa Rosans have to select him in the fan vote.
Baldwin, who is in his second season with the Seattle Seahawks, recorded 51 receptions his rookie year and in 10 games this season has recorded 20 catches for 257 yards with one touchdown.
While it is very exciting to be selected to the Pro Bowl, it is just as exciting to go.
Milton High Athletic Director Murray Rutledge recalls going in 2008 as a guest of Finnegan's.
"It is a great experience," Rutledge said. "Tim (Short, former Milton basketball coach) and I called Cortland to congratulate him for making the Pro Bowl in 2008 and he told us to pack our bags we were going with him.
"He is always messing with us and I thought he was joking, but he wasn't and it was an experience I will never forget."
As far as having as many from Santa Rosa County up for the Pro Bowl is quite another honor.
"It would be great if we could get all three on the Pro Bowl team," Rutledge said. "But to have two from Milton with the opportunity to go is a huge thing and tells you a great deal about our athletic programs."
To vote for Tynes, Finnegan, and Baldwin you can go online to www.nfl.com, scroll down and find the Official 2013 Pro Bowl ballot.
You can vote for your choice in each position.
Tynes, Finnegan, and Baldwin are all selections for the National Football Conference and are listed in their respective positions.
You can vote as many times as you want.
The fan votes will be calculated along with the players and coaches votes to decide who will be selected to the 2013 Pro Bowl in Hawaii.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Santa Rosa pros on Pro Bowl ballot