With April campaign reports turned in, candidates are turning their eyes toward the final stretch ahead of the August 23 primary election.
Qualification week takes place in June, and mail out ballots are distributed in July ahead of early voting, which will begin August 8.
Two Santa Rosa County Commission seats are up for grabs, and so far all candidates are registered Republicans.
In the District 2 race to represent the greater Milton area, incumbent Bob Cole has announced and reiterated that he will not seek re-election. Presently the following Republican candidates are vying for that seat:
- Jeff Ates IV has raised $40,076 and expended $39,966.71, leaving a $109.29 balance;
- Rickie Cotton Jr has raised $24, 325 and expended $12,593.03, leaving $11,731.97;
- Kerry Smith has raised $13,426 and expended $8,789.04, leaving $4,636.96;
- Howard Steele has raised $17,200 and expended $16,166.45, leaving $1,033.55.
In the District 4 race to represent the greater Navarre area, incumbent Dave Piech is seeking re-election and presently faces two Republican challengers after a fourth candidate, Paul Gault, suspended his campaign and endorsed Piech:
- Mike Clynch has raised $1,987 and expended $1,130.38, leaving $856.62;
- Ray Eddington has raised $7,997.50 and expended $7,561.95, leaving $435.55;
- Dave Piech has raised $17,825.03 and expended $1,285.80, leaving $16,539.23.
Three Santa Rosa School Board seats are up for grabs, and those races are non-partisan, meaning that if one candidate does not win the primary by at least a majority of 50 percent plus vote then the top two candidates will face off in the November 8 General Election.
In the District 1 race to represent the greater Milton area, incumbent Linda Sanborn is facing one challenger after two candidates, Shannon Rice and John Kevin Thorn, withdrew from the race:
- Linda Sanborn has raised $1,900 and expended $492.37, leaving $1,407.63;
- Wayne Patterson has raised $322.35 and expended $160, leaving $162.35.
In the District 3 School Board race, incumbent Carol Boston has pre-filed to seek re-election and faces two challengers:
- Carol Boston has raised $25,000 but expended nothing to date;
- John Clinton has not raised nor expended any funds;
- Alisabeth Lancaster recently pre-filed and has not yet raised or expended any funds.
In the District 5 School Board race to represent the greater Gulf Breeze area, incumbent Wei Ueberschaer has not pre-filed to seek re-election. Presently four contenders are running for that seat, including Scott Peden, who used to serve in the position:
- Josh Hellyer has raised $500 but expended nothing;
- Scott Peden has raised $4,600.01 and expended $1,866.33, leaving $2,733.68;
- Pete Peters has raised $4,900 and expended $3,095.16, leaving $1,804.84;
- Gregory Seltzer has raised $1,000 but expending nothing.
*the aforementioned amounts in all races do not include in-kind (non-cash) donations
