Election season: GOP presidential primary on March 19; looking ahead to August
Though the candidates for the November presidential election are set, the Republican Presidential Preference Primary election still will be held March 19, with early voting already underway.
Early voting for the Republican primary in Marion County ends Saturday. Voting hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and early voters can cast their ballots at the Supervisor of Elections Office, Freedom Public Library, Belleview Public Library, Dunnellon Public Library, Forest Public Library, Mulberry Center Liberty Room, Deputy Brian Litz Building, Silver Springs Shores Community Center and Reddick Community Center.
As of 1:40 p.m. on March 13, 1,969 voters had voted early and the elections office had processed 9,374 mail votes.
On Presidential Preference Primary Election Day, March 19, regular polling places will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Looking ahead
Early voting for the primary election will be Aug. 10-17 at the nine sites, with Aug. 20 being Primary Election Day.
This election is for state and local races and also for nonpartisan school board seats and judicial elections.
The qualifying period for judicial races is noon April 22 to noon April 26. Clerk of the circuit court and comptroller, property appraiser, sheriff, supervisor of elections, tax collector, county commission and school board qualifying dates are noon June 10 to noon June 14.
Dunnellon and Belleview have a different calendar. For Dunnellon, the qualifying period is noon Aug. 19 through noon Aug. 23. Four of the five city council seats, including the mayor, are in play. In Belleview, three seats, including the mayor, are up for election. That city's qualifying dates are 8 a.m. Aug. 19 through 4 p.m. Aug. 22.
Candidates for constitutional offices can qualify one of two ways: either gather 2,711 signatures or pay a fee, which varies depending on whether the office is nonpartisan or partisan.
According to records from the elections office, several incumbents running for re-election have secured enough signatures to qualify for a ballot spot. They include: County Commissioners Craig Curry and Michelle Stone, Property Appraiser Jimmy Cowan, Sheriff Billy Woods, Supervisor of Elections Wesley Wilcox and Tax Collector George Albright.
School Board member Allison B. Campbell, County Judge Tommy Thompson and County Commissioner Matt McClain are close to gathering enough signatures for qualification.
So far no one from the Democratic Party has filed paperwork to challenge any Republican holding office. Some Republican incumbents are facing opposition from fellow Republicans.
Candidates
According to the the local election website, the sheriff, two county commissioners and one school board member face challengers so far.
Milton Simmons Busby Jr. is challenging Sheriff Billy Woods, who's seeking a third term. Busby so far has raised $25 compared to Woods' $47,760. Both are Republicans.
Sarah Dennis, a Republican, is running against Republican incumbent Craig Curry for County Commission District 1. Curry has so far raised $38,160.72 to Dennis' zero.
As of March 13, District 3 County Commissioner Matt McClain and challenger David M. Blackwell, both Republicans, had not raised any money.
County Commission Chairwoman Michelle Stone, with $57,061.72 raised as of March 13, so far does not have a challenger. Nicole M. Meade, Republican, and Jose "Manny Alonso, Independent, both have withdrawn their names from consideration in that race.
In the School Board District 1 race, Campbell, the incumbent, has raised $12,800 to Beth McCall's zero, according to the elections website.
Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: GOP Presidential Preference Primary is March 19
