Osceola residents to vote on three commission seats
Ballots are set in Osceola County, where several high profile primary races are likely to dominate local politics this summer.
Osceola, much like neighboring Orange County, has developed into a stronghold for Democrats. The county elections office shows there are 94,499 registered Democrats to 50,660 Republicans. There are also 77,163 belonging to other parties or who registered to vote without a party affiliation.
The primary will be held Aug. 18 followed by the general election on Nov. 3.
A pair of known faces highlight the field of Democrats to represent District 1 on the county commission, where incumbent Peggy Choudhry, first elected in 2016, faces Kissimmee Mayor Jose Alvarez, who is termed out of the mayor’s office in the county’s largest city.
Choudhry has raised $85,897 so far, edging Alvarez’ $74,750. A third Democrat, Michael Harford has raised $9,002.
Besides that race, two other seats on the commission are up for grabs. With Fred Hawkins Jr. running for State House, three candidates qualified for his District 5 seat. Republicans Ricky Booth and Wayne Liebnitzky will face each other in the primary, with the winner moving on to face Democrat Tahitiana Chaffin. Booth is currently on the School Board.
District 3 incumbent Brandon Arrington, also a Democrat, has one primary opponent in William Gonzalez. Also in the race are Republican Jeffrey Hawk, Libertarian Marcos Marrero, Ivan Rivera, who has no party affiliation, and Megan Carter, a write-in candidate.
Also, Armando Ramirez, the Clerk of Court, faces three Democrats vying for his seat headlined by State Rep. John Cortes, who could’ve run for another term in the State House. Also seeking the post are Democrats Jossue Lorenzo, and Kelvin Soto, now a School Board member.
Soto, an attorney, has the most money of any challenger so far, putting up $20,000 of his own money. Ramirez has raised $50,300, campaign records show.
Katrina Scarborough was elected to a fourth term as property appraiser by default, after not drawing an opponent.
She was the only constitutional officer reelected Friday.
Tax Collector Bruce Vickers faces Orlando Gonzalez in the Democratic primary, while Supervisor of Elections Mary Jane Arrington faces Jaime Matos in the Democratic primary, who was raised nearly $11,000 so far, about three times more than the incumbent.
Kat Gordon, who has served on the Orange County School Board for 20 years, is not seeking another term, and three candidates are vying to fill her seat.
The campaign to replace Gordon will be one of nine contested school board races in Central Florida this year.
Gordon’s seat is one of three open in Orange, and all the races have at least two candidates.
In Lake County, both school board races feature incumbents as well as challengers while in Osceola County no incumbents are running for the three seats up for election, leaving a slate of newcomers looking to take office.
In Seminole County, one incumbent is being challenged while the other, Amy Pennock, has no challengers and will win her seat automatically.
Here is who qualified Friday to be on the August ballot. Candidates must win 50% of the vote plus one to avoid a runoff election in November.
District 4
Pam Gould, the incumbent, faces two challengers, Prince Brown and Dayna Gaut.
District 5
Bruce Antone, VickiElaine Felder and Michael Scott are running for Gordon’s seat.
District 6
Karen Castor Dentel, the incumbent, has one challenger, Jonathan Hacker.
District 7
Melissa Byrd, the incumbent, has two challengers, Ericka Bell and Jeanetta Maxena.
District 3
Abby Sanchez, the incumbent, has one challenger, Veronica King. District 4
Pennock will retain her seat.
District 2
Kristi Burns, the incumbent, faces challenger Patricia Nave.
District 4
Sandy Gamble, the incumbent, faces three challengers, Mollie Cunningham, Betsy Farner and Michael Garcia.
District 2
Kelvin Soto is not running for re-election. Jochua Cora Santiago, Julius Melendez and Kerly Santos are seeking the seat.
District 3
Tim Weisheyer is not running for re-election. Jon Arguello, H. Rose Corrigan, Victor Cruz and Casmore Shaw are seeking the seat.
District 5
Ricky Booth is not seeking re-election. Robert Bass and Jeffrey Rivera are seeing the seat.