OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The first Tuesday in November usually determines the political destinies of those seeking office.
However, in Marion County and in the Town of Reddick several important elections will be decided during the summer when voters go to the polls for the primary election on Tuesday, Aug. 20.
‘We want to do everything possible to ensure that we invite everyone, and to make sure everyone feels comfortable during the voting process,” said Wesley Wilcox, Marion County Supervisor of Elections. “Anything that we can do to educate along the way, to show people what to expect, with one of our biggest barriers being that people may find themselves a little bit intimidated by the process.”
Florida is a closed primary state, which means to participate in the partisan sections of the primary, whether it be Republican or Democrat or any minor party, the voter must be a member of those parties at least 29 days prior to the election.
“The August ballot will be our most active local ballot, and this is the important election for local elected officials,” said Wilcox.
In Marion County, there will be two seats contested in what is known in Florida as a universal primary – the race for Marion County Sheriff and County Commission District 1. Wilcox says since there are only two candidates who are both from the Republican Party, and there are no candidates for any other parties, the elections will be decided in August. In those two races, Republicans, Democrats and those who are non-party affiliated will get to vote.
Incumbent Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods is running against Milton Simmons Busby Jr.
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For Marion County Board of County Commissioner’s District 1, the incumbent Craig Curry will have to fend off the challenge of Sarah Almeida Dennis.
County Commission District 3 is an entirely different story. Two Republicans will face off in August, but they know they will have a challenger awaiting them in November as a write-in candidate will have their name on the ballot. Because there is an opponent this fall, the only people who will get to vote in this primary are those registered with the Republican party.
The incumbent Matt McClain will be challenged by David Blackwell in the Republican primary, and the winner will go up against write-in candidate Rich Brown in November.
“If you’re a registered Republican in August, you’re going to see County Commission Districts 1 and 3 on your ballot, no matter which of the five districts that you live in,” said Wilcox. “They are elected at-large. People ask, ‘What district am I in?’ It’s great to know who your representative is, which one of the candidates actually represents me. But the way we elect them is everybody participates in the process.”
From the Republican party perspective 40% of the Board of County Commissioners will be elected in August, and with the non-party affiliated School Board election, 20% of the seats will be decided.
“Both of those are very small boards, and every time we have an opportunity to elect a member, it has a great impact countywide,” said Wilcox.
Marion County Board of County Commission Chairwoman Michelle Stone, who represents District 5, was deemed elected because all three opposing candidates made the decision to withdraw from the race for her seat.
The Marion County School Board District 1 race and the Reddick mayoral and town council seats 3 and 4, are non-partisan contests, meaning the candidates are running without a party affiliation, so everyone will have an opportunity to vote in the election, with the school board candidates appearing on everyone’s ballots.
Allison B. Campbell, the incumbent in the Marion County School Board race, will face Beth McCall, a former school board member who resigned from her seat in District 2 in 2021, because her husband was having health issues and she moved to District 1 to be closer to her family.
A pair of married couples will be running against each other in the Reddick elections, Kim Law will oppose Patricia Vetter for town council seat 3 and Bob Law and John Vetter will contest the mayoral race. Shirley Youmans and Kathryn Leskosky will face off against each other for town council seat 4.
To see who is running for all Marion County offices, check the Supervisor of Elections website.