County Judge Lori Cotton wins re-election; Thompson, Mackey-Barnes head to November runoff
County Judge Lori Cotton easily won re-election Tuesday, while Renee Thompson and LeAnn Mackey-Barnes will face each other in a November runoff to see who will take the Group 1 county judge seat.
If Thompson prevails in the Group 1 contest, then Marion County will have a husband and wife serving on the bench at the same time in the 5th Judicial Circuit.
The circuit covers Marion, Lake, Sumter, Hernando and Citrus counties. Thompson's husband is Marion County Judge Tommy Thompson, a former assistant state attorney.
County judge Seat 1: LeAnn Mackey-Barnes, Danielle B. Ruse, Renee Thompson
County judge Seat 2: Lori Cotton vs. William 'Will' Harris
Beware: Increased fines, jail time as Marion County adds teeth to litter enforcement ordinance
Looking forward to November
According to the elections office, a candidate must receive 50 percent of the vote plus one in the primary to win outright.
"I'm excited to move on to the November election and grateful to the voters and supporters for showing their support," Renee Thompson said.
Mackey-Barnes said, "I'm elated to still have the opportunity to be in this race." She said she worked "hard to be here," and thanked God, her team and the voters. She said she's looking forward to November.
Danielle B. Ruse was the third candidate in the race.
"I'm happy for Thompson and Mackey-Barnes," she said, adding she's thankful for everyone who supported her.
Returning judge & tight race
When the first results trickled in shortly after 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Cotton sprinted to a commanding lead in the Group 2 race over her challenger, William "Will" Harris, with 22,906 votes, or 60.72 percent, to Harris' 14,816 votes, or 39.28 percent.
In the other race, Thompson had 14,421 votes, or 38.40 percent, to 37.56 percent, or 14,107 for Mackey-Barnes. Ruse had 9,031 votes, or 24.04 percent.
As the results kept coming in, Mackey-Barnes and Thompson remained in a tight race, with Thompson continually holding onto her lead.
At 8:45 p.m., Thompson had 19,185 votes (39.15 percent) to Mackey-Barnes' 18,244 votes (37.23 percent.) Ruse had 11,571 votes or 23.61 percent.
Shortly after 9:15 p.m., when all 105 precincts had been counted, Cotton had 60.91 percent, or 42,628 votes, to Harris' 27,358 votes, or 39.09 percent.
Thompson had 40.44 percent, or 28,037, to Mackey-Barnes' 35.55 percent, or 24,645 votes. Ruse checked in with 24.01 percent, or 16,643 votes.
"I'm thrilled that the voters are giving me six years to serve this community, which I love," Cotton said.
Harris could not be reached for comment.
LIVE ELECTION RESULTS: See latest results for local and statewide races
About the candidates
Mackey-Barnes, Ruse and Thompson were in a three-way contest to fill the spot that will soon be vacated by sitting County Judge Jim McCune, who's slated to depart at the end of the year.
To get to this point, the three candidates had to be members of the Florida Bar for five preceding years and a resident of the county circuit upon taking office, election officials said.
Judicial races are non-partisan. County judges serve six-year terms and earn a salary of $156,377 per year.
The women vying for the judge's gavel had a wide variety of experience, knowledge and work environment.
Mackey-Barnes is an assistant public defender, Ruse, an assistant state attorney, and Thompson, an owner of a law firm, civil attorney and mediator.
Together, they have more than 50 years of law practice.
Between them, the election website shows they raised $130,980.
Harris and Cotton were former colleagues at the State Attorney's Office in the 5th Judicial Circuit.
The two had raised a total of $126,866.
Cotton has been a judge a little more than a year. She was appointed to replace former County Judge Sarah Ritterhoff Williams, who resigned.
Harris, who once was a private lawyer, now is one of several attorneys advising the Marion County Board of County Commissioners.
Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com.
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Who won the judge seats for Marion County in the 2022 election?
