The Big Ten calls its reputation as a top-heavy conference unfair.

Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti considers those three College Football Playoff championships — from Michigan in 2023, Ohio State in 2024 and Indiana in 2025 — testaments to the league’s strength from top to bottom.

“You cannot send your top teams out into the CFP unless they’ve played — and have them be successful, which we have been very successful — if they’re not going through a gauntlet in the regular season,” Petitti said this week. “This idea that the middle of our conference isn’t hard is just not right.”

The balance of power between college football’s heavyweight conferences has been a major talking point at the leagues’ media days.

Petitti spoke to reporters while standing beside the Big Ten’s three recent CFP trophies. Illinois coach Bret Bielema said the SEC was living in the past. Indiana coach Curt Cignetti said “there’s no doubt” the Big Ten is best.

“The numbers speak for themselves,” Cignetti said. “We don’t run a hype machine up here in the Midwest. We believe everything is earned, not given. When we fall short, we say, ‘We fell short.’ We don’t cry a river, whine and complain. That’s why we’re the best.”

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey argued his league’s case a week earlier.

“When you look at our schedule, no one has created the kind of weekly competition that exists in the Southeastern Conference,” Sankey said.

Five different SEC schools combined to win 13 national titles from 2006-22, but no SEC team has reached any of the last three championship games.

Both have evidence to support their claims

In the first two years under a 12-team CFP format, seven different SEC schools have made eight playoff appearances. The Big Ten had four schools total seven playoff berths.

Certain metrics support the idea that the 16-team SEC is stronger than the 18-school Big Ten at the bottom. ESPN’s Bill Connelly produces the SP+ rankings, a predictive measure rating each team’s efficiency while adjusting for tempo and an opponent’s strength.

The Big Ten had three of the top four teams in the 2025 season-ending SP+ rankings, while the SEC had nobody in the top five. But seven Big Ten programs ranked below the lowest SEC team on the list: No. 67 Kentucky.

Recent head-to-head results favor Big Ten

Over the last two seasons, the Big Ten went 10-7 against the SEC, including a 3-0 playoff record and a 5-2 mark in other bowl games. The Big Ten won as an underdog in all five of those non-playoff victories.

Illinois produced two of those upsets, beating South Carolina in the Citrus Bowl in 2024 and defeating Tennessee in the Music City Bowl last season. So Bielema had reason to feel good about himself and his conference this week when he commented that SEC backers “kind of want to live in 2005 forever.”

The 2005 reference was curious because Texas won the title that season when it was still a Big 12 member, a year before the SEC began a string of seven straight titles. Bielema said he chose 2005 because that’s the year before his head coaching career began at Wisconsin.

“The transfer portal and revenue share or NIL, however you want to describe it, when those two elements came into college football, the whole world changed,” said Bielema, who went 29-34 while coaching SEC school Arkansas from 2013-17. “I mean, it’s overly obvious to say that, but I think anything to predate that is just a different time in college football. It just is.”

Big Ten capitalizes on changing times

Fourteen of the 22 playoff games over the last two years have featured Big Ten teams, including two in which conference rivals faced off. No wonder even Big Ten coaches with SEC backgrounds claim bragging rights.

“I just look at what the stats are, you know, and the last three years, the national champion has come out of this conference,” said Purdue’s Barry Odom, who went 25-25 at Missouri from 2016-19. “You also look at the number of playoff wins compared to any other conference, we’ve won twice as many as the next conference in the playoffs.”

UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava has experience playing in both conferences after reaching the playoff with Tennessee in 2024.

“I think it’s two great leagues — two great, physical leagues,” Iamaleava said. “I think the SEC brings a lot of physicality, but over the years, it’s kind of leveled out in terms of the playing field.
I think everybody is able to get high-level athletes. ... I think there’s definitely a lot of tough SEC teams, so that every week is going to be a game, but I feel the same way in the Big Ten.”

The intensity of the debate frustrates coaches eager to settle it on the field, perhaps with more head-to-head matchups.

“You never hear in the NFL, ‘Wow, the NFC’s better than the AFC,’” Washington coach Jedd Fisch said. “You don’t ever hear, ’Check us out, we’ve won the Super Bowl the last few years.' We’ve kind of made this some competition rather than just take a step back and say, ‘Who cares?’ Let’s play.”

___

AP freelance writer Luke DeCock contributed to this report.

___

AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

Trump is taking Friday’s Cabinet meeting on the road — to the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland. It's the first Cabinet meeting at Camp David in Trump’s second term after an earlier attempt in May was scuttled because of bad weather.

Trump said Thursday he may pull acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination for the full-time post to avoid conceding to Senate Republicans’ demands over a sweeping tax audit immunity deal benefiting the president and members of his family.

Here's the Latest:

Sign shows tours closed at Kennedy Center

A sign at the Kennedy Center on Friday said tours are closed.

It comes after the New York Times reported that the center is pausing free public tours.

UN chief urges Hamas and Israel to follow US roadmap to peace in Gaza `without any questions’

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called Trump’s announcement on Hamas agreeing to disarm in Gaza the only “good news” in recent days that have seen a military escalation in the Gulf, including a collapse of trade through the Strait of Hormuz.

Hamas said Friday it will begin disarming as part of a stalled deal announced by Trump that requires Israel to halt attacks in Gaza and withdraw from the territory which the Palestinians insist must be part of a future state. Israel’s prime minister has not responded to what could be a major breakthrough to ending the war in Gaza.

Guterres told U.N. reporters Friday he has a message to both Israel and Hamas: There is a roadmap that must be implemented now “without any questions, skepticism, or determination to undermine it.”

He warned that the six-month war in Iran “is increasingly becoming a driver of instability,” saying energy markets have been upended, food and fertilizer prices have surged, “supply chains are buckling,: and “around the world families are struggling to put food on the table.”

Trump has wrapped up the public portion of his Cabinet meeting

The president gave a lengthy opening statement, heard from top officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and answered questions on Iran and array of other topics.

He has now asked the press and cameras to leave, meaning the rest of the meeting’s proceedings won’t happen in view of the public.

Trump steps back from pledge to let Ukraine make Patriot interceptors

Asked about his previous commitment to give Ukraine a license to make Patriot air defense systems to counter Russian missiles, Trump said, “We have not agreed to that.”

“We’re talking about it. But it’s a hard thing to give away that kind of technology,” Trump said at his Cabinet meeting on Friday.

“I don’t think this would ever happen, but you know there’s people that, you give that technology, they can someday turn on you,” Trump added. “You look at war, that’s happened a couple of times over the years, right? So we have to be very careful.”

It was a contrast to earlier remarks from the sidelines of the NATO summit this month, where Trump said, “We’ll give them the right to make Patriots.”

Trump said he discussed the topic with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy when they met in Washington on Tuesday. Zelenskyy also met with senators to make a case for why Ukraine needs the interceptors.

Trump claims Iran war helped drive Hamas to disarmament agreement

The president during his Cabinet meeting said the newly-minted agreement aimed at leading to disarmament of the Palestinian group Hamas and Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza and transition of oversight of the territory to a civilian body will have “ups and downs.”

Still, he said this week’s agreement is a “great breakthrough” that has been helped along by the U.S. and Israel’s war with Iran, which has served as Hamas’ prime backer.

“Nobody’s ever thought that would be possible to disarm Hamas,” Trump said. “That shows you how much success we’re having with Iran, because if you go four months ago or five months ago, a deal like that would have been impossible.”

RFK Jr talks about first visiting Camp David 6-plus decades ago

Trump health chief Robert Kennedy Jr. said he was visiting the presidential retreat on Friday for the first time in about 62 years.

“My father loved this place, my uncle loved this place,” said Kennedy, who is the son of former Attorney General and New York Sen. Robert Kennedy.

He said that his uncle, President John F. Kennedy, was resentful of his predecessor, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, for naming it Camp David after Eisenhower’s grandson.

Kennedy said that had his uncle lived to a second term, he planned to rename the retreat Shangri-La, which was its original moniker before Eisenhower changed it.

Kennedy also cheered Trump for allowing reporters in the compound, saying Trump had opened “inner sanctum” of the presidency.

Trump later pointed to a picture of John F. Kennedy on the wall and said he was a “handsome guy.”

Trump says the anti-weaponization fund is ‘dead’

The comments came after the president spent the morning defending the $1.8 billion fund on social media.

“It is dead,” Trump said. “But I wish it weren’t, to be honest with you.”

Trump continued to defend the people who could potentially benefit from the fund, mainly those who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

“Their families have been ruined,” Trump said. Those people “wanted to go to a rally or an event and ended up spending the rest of their lives in horror.”

Trump acknowledged that Blanche, his attorney general pick, has been a “pawn in this whole thing.”

Trump says ‘we just want to win’ in Iran

The president has previously insisted that Iran has been “completely defeated” militarily. But in his engagement with reporters at Camp David on Friday, he acknowledged that he expects U.S. military action will likely continue for some time.

“We’ll be hitting them very hard,” Trump said. “You know, at some point they’re going to say, ‘We just can’t take it anymore.’”

Trump cheers Clayton for first Cabinet meeting

Jay Clayton, confirmed earlier this week as the new director of national intelligence, is at Camp David for his first formal Cabinet meeting.

Clayton was confirmed by the Senate on party lines earlier this week.

“He’s with us today, as you know,” Trump said. “He’s had a big victory.”

Trump said of Clayton, a former federal prosecutor and chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission: “His whole life has been about doing a fantastic job.”

Trump says he doesn’t think International Criminal Court is targeting him but ‘it could happen’

Secretary of State Marco Rubio complained that the international court based in the Hague was very arrogant and had unfairly targeted leaders around the world.

That prompted the president to interject: “There’s no indication they’re after me. It could happen.” He didn’t elaborate, but his suggestion drew laughter from Cabinet members.

Trump said Rubio wasn’t trying to defend him personally, but instead wanted to shield other court targets. He said that could include people like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“There is no indication that I’m one of them, at this moment,” Trump added again for emphasis, drawing still more laughter.

Trump says US could see surge of migrants like Spain if Republicans don’t win midterms

Spain is grappling to respond after some 60,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into Spain’s tiny Ceuta territory in the past 24 hours.

Roughly half of them have already made their way back voluntarily, according to the Spanish government, but Trump suggested the moment should be taken as a warning to U.S. voters as midterm elections near.

“You know I saw Spain yesterday and I watched the catastrophe that took place. It looks like an invasion of a country by hundreds of thousands of people,” Trump said. “And that same thing is going to happen to us if the Republicans don’t get elected. Except worse, much bigger.”

Trump also criticized Spain’s left wing government led by Pedro Sánchez, claiming the country’s “weak law, bad management” is to blame.

US to make visa bond requirements permanent, affecting mostly African countries

The State Department is making permanent a pilot program under which citizens from 50 countries, mainly in Africa, are required to post bonds to apply for a U.S. visa, and it’s raising the cost as well, to as much as $20,000.

A draft notice published Friday in the Federal Register says a review “provided sufficient data” to suggest the bond program effectively enforces compliance, and would be made permanent by the end of August. The notice is to be formally published on Monday. Additional countries may be added to the list, found here.

The program requires holders of passports from the affected countries to pay the bond when being interviewed for business and tourist visas. The regulation says the bond will be refunded if the application is denied or after the person leaves the United States.

The Trump administration rolled out the program as a way of cracking down on visa overstays.

Trump starts Cabinet meeting at Camp David

The president began his Cabinet meeting Friday by saying his team was meeting in a “very special room.”

The White House has tried to highlight that this was the first televised Cabinet meeting at the presidential retreat.

Trump said he invited the news media to watch because he believes in “transparency,” before turning to his standard talking points about the economy and border security, among other issues.

CEO defends Exxon’s performance at a time of global supply shortages

American refineries are running at near-full capacity and poised to benefit because some refineries in the Middle East and Russia were damaged. And Asia can’t get the amount of Middle East oil needed for refining.

“Penalizing the businesses who stood by those countries and provided that product going forward is very short-sighted,” Exxon CEO Darren Woods said in a call with investors Friday. “We canceled investments that we had planned for Europe based on the last time they passed a windfall profits tax.”

Lawmakers propose taxing the war profits of major oil producers

Exxon and Chevron don’t set the price of American oil, which has ricocheted between $68 and $115 a barrel, driven by supply and demand, and what traders, refiners and other buyers are willing to pay.

Democrats nevertheless hope to tax major oil producers for profits from 2026 onward and redistribute that revenue to consumers.

“It’s fair to put a windfall profits tax on inordinate windfall profits rather than cut off children’s food programs,” said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse. His measure and a companion bill by Rep. Ro Khanna of California would impose a per-barrel tax on companies that produced or imported at least 300,000 barrels of oil per day in 2025.

The UK and other European countries have extended temporary windfall profits taxes on fossil fuel companies to 2030, according to Tax Foundation Europe.

Critics say the energy company windfalls are unjustified

“There are constituencies around the world who are having a very good crisis, and the oil producers are one of them,” said Patrick Galey, fossil fuels lead at Global Witness, a nonprofit organization that investigates environmental issues.

“When you compare that to the hundreds of millions of people who are struggling with rolling blackouts, with electricity curbs, rationing, waiting in line for food queues, or the disruption to fertilizers and the potential impact that that has on food prices, we don’t think that it’s a justifiable price for the rest of the world to be paying.”

Major oil companies reap massive profits as US and Iran fighting drives energy prices higher

American oil and gas giants are announcing huge spring windfalls thanks to the fighting between Iran and the U.S. that made consumers around the world pay more for fuel.

Exxon Mobil on Friday reported that its second quarter profits doubled to $14.53 billion, boosted by record diesel production. The oil giant, based in Spring, Texas, brought in $116.02 billion in revenue, up 42%. Chevron, based in Houston, nearly quadrupled its profits to $12.07 billion and revenue jumped 56% to $70.06 billion.

Six of Europe’s largest oil companies posted combined first-quarter profits of $22 billion, more than 40% higher than last year.

Saudi Arabia announces Red Sea defense alliance plan

The kingdom said the alliance includes 14 countries to strengthen maritime security, safeguard freedom of navigation and secure international trade routes and energy supply corridors in the Red Sea region.

The Iran war has severely disrupted global shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Yemen’s Houthi rebels have declared a blockade on Saudi Arabia over a separate but related conflict, putting at risk another major trade corridor.

Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry said Thursday that the coalition is “defensive in nature,” and that access “remains open to all willing countries.” Oman and the United Arab Emirates were the only two Gulf countries that did not back Saudi Arabia’s statement. Turkey, Egypt and Pakistan were among those that joined the proposed alliance.

Latest developments in the Iran conflict

No U.S. strikes were reported in Iran on Friday.

Iran fired drones at Kuwait, a Gulf country hosting U.S. forces, and said it had also fired at oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global oil and gas shipments, which has been largely closed by the fighting.

Kuwait’s Defense Ministry said Friday its armed forces had shot down drones inside Kuwaiti airspace. It said the Iranian attacks had targeted several vital military facilities, causing material damage from falling shrapnel but no casualties. It did not specify how many drones were intercepted. Iranian state media said Iran had targeted an air base in Kuwait with drones, in retaliation for U.S. strikes on Thursday.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed to have hit two oil tankers attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state media said four other tankers had turned around. The report did not provide further details on which flags or ownership the tankers were sailing under, or say whether there were any casualties.

FIFA chief operating officer tells AP that staff was ‘deceived’ by World Cup sell-off plan that ‘must not go ahead’

FIFA’s chief operating officer Kevin Lamour said in a statement to The Associated Press that the staff was “deceived” by Gianni Infantino’s lack of openness while planning the scheme to sell a World Cup stake to private investors linked to Trump’s family.

“It is the project of one person,” wrote Lamour, a long-time colleague of Infantino at both FIFA and UEFA. “Not only must this project not go ahead … but the time has now come for football political leaders to ask themselves the right questions and make the right decisions.”

Lamour did not resign the post he held since 2024 but said he had a duty to his colleagues to speak out about the “contempt and intimidation” FIFA staff has faced.

“And if that means I lose my job, then so be it” the French official said. “I will understand and respect that decision. At least I’ll sleep well tonight.”

▶ Read more

Wisconsin Democrats shaken by Mandela Barnes’ exit from governor’s race

The former lieutenant governor’s announcement came Thursday amid news that the state party had reviewed past allegations of inappropriate behavior, further shaking up the race less than two weeks before the Aug. 11 primary in Wisconsin, where independents and moderates are key voters and where Trump won two razor-thin elections.

That leaves four Democrats, including most prominently Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who rejoined the race with the endorsement of Gov. Tony Evers after Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez ended her run amid a campaign finance scandal two weeks ago, and insurgent democratic socialist State Rep. Francesca Hong, running far to the left.

The single mother and former line cook has captured the imaginations of liberal Democrats upset with the party establishment, but she’s raised concerns that her past calls for defunding the police will hurt her chances against Trump-backed Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany in November.

▶ Read more

Details on disarmament from the Hamas statement

Hamas said Friday that it’s committed to implementing the Gaza ceasefire agreement, including the new roadmap focused on the steps it needs to take to disarm.

The group’s statement says it and other Palestinian factions agreed to the framework as part of a national consensus to protect people in Gaza and help meet their humanitarian needs.

It said Israel must adhere to the ceasefire deal agreed to in October and halt its attacks in order for implementation to move forward, echoing language in the new roadmap released Friday by the Board of Peace.

The agreement calls for Hamas, which ran the government in Gaza, to first turn over all police weapons to a national committee of technocrats responsible for administering the strip. Only later, once the Israeli military withdraws from Gaza, would it be required to decommission and hand over its heavier weapons, according to the text.

▶ Read more

Democratic candidates grapple with ‘defund the police’ baggage

With midterm elections looming, Democrats hope to convince voters that Trump administration lawlessness is the biggest threat to their rights and pocketbooks. The party’s past debates over crime and safety threaten to undermine that pitch.

Across the country, Democratic candidates are facing tough questions about their past calls to “defund the police” by reimagining public safety services or redirecting spending to other social programs — a prominent demand during the protests that followed George Floyd’s death.

Democratic leaders fear the outlier opinions may sink their chances of gaining ground in Congress, governor’s mansions and statehouses as the party’s rising left flank captivates its base, just as Republicans stoke fears about crime, immigration and democratic socialism in their closing midterm message.

▶ Read More

Asian soccer joins Europe and North America in opposing World Cup privatization plan

The Asian Football Confederation, a key ally in Gianni Infantino’s presidency of global soccer, has joined UEFA and CONCACAF in protesting his plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private equity investors tied to the Trump family.

“Football should never have been placed in such a position,” said the Asian soccer body. Together with Europe and North America, they count 136 of FIFA’s 211 members.

“Some things are simply too important to sell,” UEFA said in a statement Thursday announcing a boycott of FIFA events.

Infantino’s secret proposal revealed Tuesday would spin off its commercial operations in a new $20 billion subsidiary 20% owned by private investors, whose core investor would be a New York investment firm created by Joshua Kushner, the brother of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Trump swings at Cornyn over Blanche nomination

Trump, still frustrated about the status of his attorney general pick, began his Friday morning by going after one of the Republican senators who was holding up Todd Blanche’s confirmation to lead the Justice Department.

Continuing a criticism he began earlier this week, Trump said Texas Sen. John Cornyn had no issue with the $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund until after he endorsed his primary challenger, Ken Paxton, for the Senate.

In the post, Trump also continued to defend the controversial fund, which Blanche said in his Senate testimony was dead. Republican senators want him to put that commitment into writing.

“Perhaps there has never been a group of people treated so badly in our Nation’s history,” Trump said. “They are suffering still, many ruined, and I felt that they should be given compensation for what has been done to them.”

Blanche met privately with Cornyn and North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis over the issue later Thursday and the sides were working collaboratively, although Blanche’s confirmation prospects still remain unclear.

FIFA adviser on White House’s World Cup panel resigns to protest Infantino private equity plan

Senior FIFA adviser Carlos Cordeiro, who represented the soccer body on the White House Task Force for the World Cup, resigned Friday to protest its private equity plan.

“I cannot stand by while FIFA considers selling a stake in the World Cup,” Cordeiro, a former Goldman Sachs banker, said in a statement resigning as adviser to FIFA President Gianni Infantino that urged other senior FIFA staff to speak out.

Cordeiro often joined Infantino on working visits to meet Trump at the White House in recent years.

“Let me be clear. I had no involvement in this proposal, and I oppose it unequivocally,” the former U.S. Soccer Federation president said, calling the $20 billion commercial subsidiary “a bad deal for football.”

“Football has been central to my life, and after more than 35 years in banking, I understand both the value of this asset and the consequences of giving part of it away” he said. “That is why this proposal should be rejected.”

▶ Read more

The Trump administration is ending a Medicare drug subsidy program. Here’s how it could affect costs

Millions of older adults on Medicare prescription drug coverage could face steeper monthly costs in 2027, after the Trump administration concludes a temporary subsidy program that has helped offset premiums for the past two years.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services this week announced it would wrap up the program, which was initially implemented by the Biden administration in 2024 to lower patients’ Medicare Part D prescription drug costs in response to the effects of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.

While federal officials insist the financial impact on Medicare beneficiaries will be minimal, the decision opens the Republican-led administration to potential political consequences in a high-stakes midterm election year. Voters have identified cost of living as a top concern, and many older adults, who tend to vote in high numbers, are on fixed incomes where every dollar counts. The roughly 25 million Americans with Medicare Part D plans will find out about their 2027 rates in the fall, when they are casting ballots in November’s elections.

▶ Read more

Trump floats pulling Blanche’s nomination for attorney general to avoid conceding to GOP demands

Trump said Thursday he may pull acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination for the full-time post to avoid conceding to Senate Republicans’ demands over a sweeping tax audit immunity deal benefiting the president and members of his family.

After failed negotiations forced the delay of a committee vote to advance Blanche’s nomination, Trump suggested he was holding firm against pressure from Republican Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis. They have expressed concerns about the controversial settlement of Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service, which a judge denounced as an exercise in self-dealing.

The senators said the Justice Department seemed interested in reaching an agreement with them, but the White House wouldn’t budge to aid the confirmation of Trump’s loyal former personal attorney, who has aggressively pursued the administration’s priorities as acting attorney general. Instead, Trump said in a social media post that he might pull Blanche’s nomination and resubmit it after Cornyn and Tillis leave office next year.

▶ Read more

Trump is taking his Friday Cabinet meeting on the road to Camp David

Trump told his Cabinet members to meet him at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland, a rustic backdrop for the Trump administration sessions that have come to be known for being overly long and consumed by endless praise for their boss.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the 13th such meeting of the Republican president’s second term “will be a lot of fun and something different for the Cabinet to experience together.”

An earlier attempt in May was scuttled because of bad weather. During his first term, Trump held a Cabinet meeting at the retreat.

The public portion of Trump’s Cabinet meetings has lasted as long as three hours, with the president letting everyone at the table update him on their departments or agencies — with added praise for him personally and his leadership thrown in. In a departure from other presidents, he allows the news media to stay for the duration, a move that Leavitt has said proves his commitment to transparency.

▶ Read more

Trump announces a deal for Hamas to disarm in Gaza, but many hurdles and uncertainty remain

A Hamas official said Friday that they did reach an agreement on disarmament, the most crucial part of the ceasefire deal. Israel didn’t give an indication that they had agreed.

Trump said Thursday that a deal has been reached for Hamas to disarm and Israel to withdraw its forces from Gaza, but many hurdles, conditions and long timelines remained to wind down the war in the Palestinian territory.

The White House announcement comes nine months after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire was signed. Negotiations between Israel and Hamas had largely deadlocked over the implementation of its second phase, including the disarmament of Hamas and the reconstruction of Gaza.

Trump’s 20-point ceasefire plan calls on the militant group to surrender its weapons and destroy its vast network of tunnels. It also envisions Israeli forces withdrawing from Gaza, the arrival of a new technocratic Palestinian government, deployment of an international security force and the rebuilding of the battered Palestinian enclave.

▶ Read more

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Orange County mayor

Unlike most counties in Central Florida, Orange County has a dedicated strong mayor who oversees day-to-day operations in government. In addition to leading meetings, managing the county’s 8,000 employees, and overseeing the county’s multi-billion dollar budget, the mayor is also the face of the county at regional boards for transportation, the airport, tourism and other growth issues.

The mayoral race is a nonpartisan election, which means all voters can vote in the election, regardless of party affiliation.

Since there are four candidates in the race, the top vote-getter must get more than 50% of the vote (50%+1) in order to win outright. Otherwise, the top two candidates will go to a runoff in November.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

Our partners at the Orlando Sentinel and Vox Populi compiled the candidate responses for the Orange County mayoral race, emailing and calling the candidates over several weeks.

You can see the full Orlando Sentinel Voting Guide HERE.

Chris Messina

WEBSITE: www.chrismessina.com/

Top issues in your race

If elected, what are the THREE most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them? In the boxes below, please list each issue and how you will address them:

YOUR NUMBER 1 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Low median wages stifle economic opportunity for many Orange County citizens. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data ranks Greater Orlando as #49/50 of the 50 largest metro areas in the US, with a median wage of $45,410 in 2024. We’ll address this by diversifying our local economy, with a focus on attracting High Tech/Space Tech businesses, to bring a range of great jobs to complement those we have now. A centerpiece of our Space Tech recruitment efforts will be to bring the first military academy in the South - The Space Force Academy- to Orange County. The Space Force Academy alone will generate a minimum of $1B in local economic activity.

YOUR NUMBER 2 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: We need to keep our kids safe; they are our future! As one indicator of the scale of the attacks on our children, leaders affiliated with organizations such as the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children say that Greater Orlando is #3 in the country in child sex trafficking. The USF Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Lab 2024 State Report estimates that there were 100,000 trafficked children in FL, with Orange County in the top group. In addition, there is a rise in large group teen crime, such as the April 2026 “Icon Park Takeover.” Our approach to keeping our children safe will be multifaceted. We’ll focus on every environment that our children find themselves in. This includes getting rid of environmental toxins, providing more sports opportunities and playing fields, and sensibly regulating e-bike use. Above all, we will focus on fostering a culture of responsibility, accountability, and opportunity. A major initiative which we plan to launch is our Orange County Works program. This provides a subsidized trade school education to every qualified citizen in Orange County who wants one. Eligibility will start junior year in High School and run through middle age, addressing the local shortage of qualified trades workers, while providing a hopeful path to those feeling stuck in a “dead-end” job. After finding a trade job, the recipient will have 5 or 10 years to pay ½ of the subsidies back. This will help keep the program evergreen.

YOUR NUMBER 3 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: We need to get rid of waste, fraud & bureaucracy in County government. That way we can invest where needed- such as better transportation & affordable housing - without raising taxes (& potentially while cutting taxes, if the ballot initiative to reduce homesteaded taxes passes.) We’ll utilize a forensic audit team, zero-based budgeting, and fiscal discipline to cut $200M/ year in programs which are unnecessary, inefficient, or both.

FOR CHALLENGERS AND OPEN SEATS: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? My combination of Experience, Education & Vision is ideal for the role of Orange County Mayor:

Experience:

1. Building high-tech businesses, trade associations & foundations that have cumulatively created thousands of great jobs
2. Solving problems with technology
3. Community service - Vice Chair- Orange County Watch; volunteer OC High School Football Coach; Big Brother; Special Needs Ministry founder.

Education: MBA, Harvard; Master’s in City & Regional Planning (Rotary Fellow)

Vision:

1. Bring the SpaceForce Academy to Orange County, lead OC to be the US center for SpaceTech.
2. Fund a Trade school education (Orange County Works) for every OC citizen who wants one.
3. Transform the Lynx system using technology to right-size it, making it a more reliable/efficient point-to-point system.
4. Revitalize our blighted Strip malls, create vibrant housing (including affordable), commercial & residential centers.
5. Partner with the City of Orlando & local builders to develop Church Street into a mega-sports entertainment complex, including e-sports, & giving local residents an equity stake.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue?

1. Bringing in additional great jobs. “Affordability” is mainly a function of earnings ability.
2. Facilitate educational paths, especially in the trades, which provide opportunities for economic advancement.
3. Cutting the per capita cost imposed by local government on its residents.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? I will vote Yes to lower property taxes by increasing the Homestead exemption and am encouraging everyone to vote accordingly. The total from taxes on homesteaded properties is 2.5% of Orange County’s budget, assuming no growth. The impact of the proposed amendment on Orange County’s budget is likely to be less than a 2% reduction, again, assuming no growth. With growth, Orange County budget revenues will be neutral to positive even if this amendment takes effect. Any shortfall will be addressed by economic growth, combined with fiscal discipline. It’s important to note that non-homesteaded residential and commercial properties are both larger County ad valorem revenue categories than all homesteaded properties.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Although this issue is largely addressed at a state vs. a county level, there are a number of important considerations. First, I don’t believe that hyper-scale data centers are right for Florida, especially because of the risks to our water supply. Second, I believe that the Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC) should discontinue incentives for inefficient large-scale utility solar fields & wind turbines and instead encourage clean coal and small-scale nuclear to provide stable base load power. In addition, FPSC should incentivize investments in commercial & residential rooftop solar by mandating net metering (1 for 1 utility bill credits) and cash payments for the net energy those installations send back to the grid.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? We need to reduce pollution across the board- water, air & land- starting with threats to the Florida Aquifer. That’s why I oppose hyper-scale data centers in Florida generally and Orange County specifically. These hyper-scale centers are currently cooled by massive amounts of water. That water is chemically treated with glycols, phosphates, nitrates, biocides, and sodium hydroxide, among other additives, all of which will end up back in our water supply.

Tiffany Moore Russell

WEBSITE: https://tiffanyformayor.com/

Top issues in your race

If elected, what are the THREE most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them? In the boxes below, please list each issue and how you will address them:

YOUR NUMBER 1 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Housing.

Orange County families, seniors, teachers, first responders, and young professionals are struggling with rising housing costs. I will expand workforce and affordable housing through public-private partnerships, preserve existing affordable housing, encourage mixed-income development, and coordinate with our municipalities to increase housing options while protecting neighborhoods. Housing solutions must also be paired with transportation and infrastructure investments to keep communities connected and affordable.

YOUR NUMBER 2 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Managing Growth & Transportation.

Orange County continues to grow rapidly, and our infrastructure must keep pace. I will prioritize smart, responsible growth by ensuring roads, stormwater are considered before approving new development. We must invest strategically while preserving our quality of life and protecting rural and environmentally sensitive areas. Furthermore, we must prioritize solutions to address our transportation deficiencies. Orange County needs a dedicated funding source to address a multi-modal transportation plan for the future.

YOUR NUMBER 3 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Economic Prosperity. Residents deserve a county government that is transparent, fiscally responsible, and focused on delivering results. I will support workforce development, access to opportunities for small businesses, and economic opportunities that create good-paying jobs while maintaining responsible budgeting. My experience managing a large constitutional office and serving on the County Commission has prepared me to lead efficiently and responsibly.

FOR CHALLENGERS AND OPEN SEATS: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? I deserve to be the next Orange County Mayor because I care about the people of Orange County, not special interests. I have dedicated my career to serving the people of Orange County. As an Orange County Commissioner for eight years and as Clerk of Courts for more than twelve years, I have managed large budgets, led complex organizations, and worked collaboratively to solve community challenges. I understand county government because I’ve served in it, and I have a proven record of transparency, fiscal responsibility, and delivering results. I’m running to bring experienced leadership that listens, builds consensus, and puts Orange County residents first. As a former County Commissioner, I secured funding to improve infrastructure in the Little Egypt Community. As Clerk of Court, I raised the starting pay for Clerks from $12 to $17 while also making budget cuts. I understand that Orange County wants a mayor committed to this County and bringing about transformative change.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Affordability requires a comprehensive approach. At the county level, we can increase the supply of workforce and affordable housing, reduce unnecessary barriers to responsible development, preserve existing affordable housing, and support transportation investments that lower commuting costs. We should also continue attracting high-quality jobs, invest in workforce training, and ensure county government operates efficiently to maximize taxpayer dollars. While many affordability challenges require state and federal action, Orange County can take meaningful steps to reduce costs for working families.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? I would vote No on the constitutional amendment to reduce property taxes because I believe it will hinder local governments from providing quality services uniquely designed for that community. Any proposal affecting property taxes should be carefully evaluated based on its long-term impact on essential local services. Property taxes fund public safety, parks, transportation, libraries, and other critical county services. While I understand the financial pressures facing homeowners, any reduction in revenue must be accompanied by a sustainable funding plan that does not shift costs to residents through higher fees or reduce the quality of services they rely on. My priority is protecting taxpayers while ensuring Orange County remains financially strong. As the Orange County Clerk, I have been faced with cutting my budget three times within one fiscal year. I was successful in modernizing the processes and services in the Clerk’s Office and avoided any furloughs or layoffs. It will always be my priority to explore opportunities for efficiencies while protecting the quality of services to citizens and county employees before presenting any tax or fee proposal.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Utility regulators should ensure that infrastructure investments are planned responsibly, rates remain fair and transparent, and costs are allocated appropriately. As Florida’s energy demands grow, regulators should balance reliability, affordability, and long-term sustainability while encouraging energy efficiency and thoughtful planning. Residents and small businesses should not bear an unfair share of costs resulting from significant new industrial demand.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Protecting our water resources while managing growth is one of the most important environmental challenges facing Orange County. We must protect our lakes, wetlands, springs, and drinking water through responsible land-use decisions, conservation, resilient infrastructure, and sustainable development practices. As our community grows, we have a responsibility to preserve natural resources and open spaces while ensuring future generations enjoy the same quality of life that makes Orange County such a special place.

Stephanie Murphy

WEBSITE: https://murphyformayor.com/

YOUR NUMBER 1 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Affordability. Housing is the biggest financial challenge facing many Orange County families, and it’s the foundation of my affordability agenda. The simple reality is that we are not building enough housing to keep pace with our growing community, and that shortage is driving up costs.

As mayor, I will increase the supply of attainable housing by streamlining permitting, reducing unnecessary barriers to construction, encouraging thoughtful development where infrastructure already exists, and partnering with employers and the private sector to expand workforce housing. We can create more housing while protecting the character of our existing neighborhoods.

Orange County cannot become a world-class community if teachers, nurses, first responders, hospitality workers, young professionals, and families can no longer afford to live in the community they serve.

YOUR NUMBER 2 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Livability. Livability means making Orange County a place where families can spend less time stuck in traffic and more time enjoying the community they call home. As our county continues to grow, we must invest in infrastructure before it falls behind. That means improving roads, modernizing transportation, expanding parks and recreational opportunities, protecting our natural resources, strengthening stormwater infrastructure, and delivering world-class county services.

Growth is a sign of Orange County’s success, but it must be managed thoughtfully. We can welcome new residents and businesses while protecting neighborhoods, preserving our quality of life, and ensuring our infrastructure keeps pace with growth.

YOUR NUMBER 3 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Opportunity. Opportunity means creating an economy where every resident has the chance to build a successful future right here in Orange County. Tourism will always be one of our greatest strengths, but we must also diversify our economy by attracting higher-wage employers in industries like advanced manufacturing, aerospace, defense, life sciences, technology, and financial services, while continuing to support the small businesses that are the backbone of our local economy.

We also need to invest in people. That means expanding workforce training, apprenticeships, mentoring, and creating Orange County Promise so more students can earn a community college degree or workforce credential. We can’t afford not to make that investment. By connecting more residents to good-paying jobs and creating pathways to upward mobility, we can ensure Orange County remains a place where families can build lasting prosperity for generations to come.

FOR CHALLENGERS AND OPEN SEATS: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? I’m prepared to lead Orange County on day one. Throughout my career in business, national security, and Congress, I’ve managed complex challenges, built consensus, and delivered results. The Orange County Mayor oversees an $8 billion-plus organization with thousands of employees, making it one of the largest executive leadership roles in Central Florida. But the mayor also serves as Chair of the Board of County Commissioners, where success depends on bringing people together, building consensus, and turning good ideas into action. My experience leading organizations and working across policy differences has prepared me to do both.

But this campaign isn’t about my résumé. It’s about the future of Orange County. I’m running to make our community more affordable, more livable, and full of opportunity so the next generation can build their future right here at home.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? The greatest pressures on working families are the rising costs of housing, transportation, insurance, and everyday necessities. While many of those challenges are beyond the control of local government, county leaders have a responsibility to make every taxpayer dollar count.

Smart investments in stormwater systems, flood mitigation, and resilient infrastructure not only protect homes and businesses, they can also reduce risk over time. While the county can’t set insurance rates, lowering flood risk is one way local governments can help improve insurability and ease pressure on insurance costs over the long term.

My priorities are straightforward: make housing more attainable, improve infrastructure, grow higher-paying jobs, and ensure county government delivers better value for every taxpayer dollar. That’s how we make Orange County more affordable for the people who call it home.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? I will vote no. I support responsible property tax relief, but I do not support eliminating a major source of local revenue without a credible plan to replace it. Property taxes fund essential services residents rely on every day, including public safety, roads, parks, stormwater infrastructure, and emergency management.

I’m also concerned the proposal could make Florida’s housing shortage worse. Exempting newly permitted homes under $250,000 from property taxes would leave counties and cities responsible for providing roads, public safety, parks, and other services without the revenue to pay for them. That creates a strong disincentive to approve the attainable and workforce housing our community desperately needs.

Eliminating property taxes without a responsible replacement plan could also shift more of the burden to regressive taxes and fees that hit working families the hardest. Tax relief should be thoughtful, sustainable, and protect the services that make Orange County a great place to live.

Orange County’s budget has grown significantly in recent years, so we should first improve efficiency, hold departments accountable, and ensure taxpayer dollars are focused on core priorities. If this amendment were approved, my priority would be protecting public safety and other essential services through a comprehensive spending review, delaying lower-priority projects where appropriate, pursuing additional state support, and finding efficiencies before considering higher taxes or fees.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Innovation and economic growth are essential to Orange County’s future, but they should not come at the expense of working families and small businesses. The rapid growth of data centers across Florida is increasing demand on our electric grid, and residents can feel the impact in their monthly utility bills whether those facilities are located in Orange County or somewhere else in the state.

Florida’s utility regulators should require transparency, full cost-of-service pricing, long-term commitments, and appropriate financial safeguards before utilities invest in new infrastructure for large energy users. Companies that require significant new generation, transmission, or grid upgrades should bear the cost of those investments rather than shifting them onto existing ratepayers.

As Orange County works to diversify our economy, we should welcome companies that create high-quality jobs, strengthen our tax base, and generate lasting economic value for our community. Every project should be evaluated on its overall economic impact and the opportunities it creates for our residents. In many cases, industries such as advanced manufacturing, aerospace, defense, life sciences, and technology create more jobs, stronger career pathways, and broader economic benefits than data centers alone. My focus will be on attracting the kinds of investments that deliver the greatest long-term return for Orange County while protecting residents from unnecessary increases in their cost of living.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Protecting Florida’s water resources while making our communities more resilient to flooding and extreme weather is one of the most important environmental challenges we face. In Orange County, clean water and resilient infrastructure aren’t just environmental priorities—they’re essential to protecting our neighborhoods, strengthening our economy, and maintaining our quality of life.

As mayor, I will invest in stormwater infrastructure, flood mitigation, water quality, conservation, and smart growth that protects our natural resources while accommodating a growing population. These investments also help safeguard homes and businesses, reduce long-term costs, and can improve our community’s resilience to future storms. Protecting our environment and protecting our economy go hand in hand, and Orange County should lead on both.

Mayra Uribe

WEBSITE: https://mayraformayor.com/

Top issues in your race

If elected, what are the THREE most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them? In the boxes below, please list each issue and how you will address them:

YOUR NUMBER 1 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Affordability.

The number 1 issue is affordability, which deals with both the high cost of living in this county and the need to attract higher-paying jobs for our citizens.

• Housing. Housing costs, both rental and home ownership, have exceeded the 25 to 30% threshold of the average income of our residents.
• Growth of Homeowner Starter homes. For affordable housing that is owner-occupied, we need to encourage, limit, or require a percentage of new houses be no more than 1500 square feet.
• We need to grow the inventory of starter homes for our kids and the younger generation to have the opportunity of homeownership.
• Infill, transit interaction with new units, redevelopment of 1950s used car lots that stretch on existing state roads are the targets for townhomes.
• Recognize that we need more compact, dense housing with readied transit.
• My team will engage with the State and other states to develop and expand the financing of owner-occupied units.

YOUR NUMBER 2 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: The number two issue is Transportation with Environmental Protection.

On Transportation, I support strengthening and modernizing the Lynx transit system to better meet the needs of a growing Orange County, but expansion alone is not enough without meaningful reform and improved service efficiency. We need a more reliable, user-friendly system that includes smaller and more efficient buses, improved digital and web-based scheduling tools, and better-connected transfer stations, especially in the Eastern and Southern parts of the county. We also need express routes that reduce travel times. Transportation funding conversation must be grounded in accountability and focus on tangible improvements such as pedestrian safety, lighting, intersection upgrades, green spaces and trails, better traffic signal timing, and critical roadway improvements in high-impact corridors. We will improve the daily commute time by 10-15 minutes each way with simple, smarter transportation solutions

On environmental protection, I strongly support preserving Orange County’s rural boundary and have demonstrated that commitment through my votes, including serving as the deciding vote on multiple occasions to prevent urban sprawl. As Mayor, I will continue to lead efforts to protect our rural communities while promoting smart, responsible growth within our existing urban areas. Preserving our rural boundary also means protecting our wetlands, improving flood control, and safeguarding our natural resources with consistent, science-based standards across the county. It is time that we have one set of rules for wetland and flood control in Orange County, as those areas cross jurisdictional boundaries.

YOUR NUMBER 3 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: The number 3 issue is Fiscal Responsibility. While not glamorous, the third issue is maximizing the return to our citizens on their tax dollars. We need to efficiently spend. We need to live within our means. As Mayor, my budget priorities will begin with protecting core services that residents rely on every day, including public safety, fire rescue, corrections, transportation, and critical infrastructure. For example, let’s look at public safety. While it will always be a funding priority, the increased costs need to be minimized. I have no problem paying the deputies and fire fighters and jail guards appropriately. But, at the same time, we need to find efficiencies in those budgets. I believe we have a responsibility to ensure every taxpayer dollar is spent wisely. I will implement a “zero-based budgeting approach” that requires every department to justify its spending, identify inefficiencies, and eliminate waste rather than simply increasing budgets year after year. Instead of tackling the waste and inefficiencies in the system, many budgets were increased by 20-40% under the current Mayor. Under my leadership, this won’t happen again. I will also pursue greater operational efficiencies by centralizing and modernizing back-office functions across county government and exploring innovative approaches to reduce rising insurance costs, which now exceed $200 million annually for the General County Government, the Sheriff, Fire, Corrections and Constitutional Officers.

FOR CHALLENGERS AND OPEN SEATS: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? I want to make Orange County a better place where our Children will want to and be able to work and prosper. I support private industry. I will hold people accountable in the spending of tax dollars. I challenged the status quo on tourism marketing spending, and they went after me for that when I simply thought they were granted too much money, and when two years later they would not return $20 to $40 million to the general fund that was improperly spent, I voted against giving them a free pass. I am now raising my children here and have been a champion for people. I know what it takes to make Orange County better with attainable housing, transportation, and good-paying jobs. I have made tough choices where my focus is on putting people first, not the Status Quo.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? That is the Number 1 issue affecting our citizens. The cost of property insurance, transportation, and basic commodities is rising, making it difficult for working families, retirees, and young people to get by. As Mayor, I’ll prioritize growing the workforce and affordable housing, making permitting easier to bring down housing costs, investing in transportation solutions that save residents time and money, and promoting economic growth that brings more higher-paying jobs in varied industries such as tech, auto, and manufacturing. I will also seek to minimize unnecessary regulatory burdens on small businesses, strengthen workforce development partnerships, and ensure public monies are spent wisely and transparently. The County can’t solve every affordability concern alone, but we can make wise local decisions that bring down the cost of living, improve economic opportunities, and support Orange County as a place where families can afford to live, work and prosper.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions?* Florida’s affordability challenges are real, and homeowners deserve meaningful property tax relief. I have yet to be provided in written detail on the effects on Orange County. As a homeowner, I support raising of the homestead exemption. And our County is better situated than Seminole or Osceola Counties with the amount of commercial taxable properties. But it is going to cause real problems in other counties and small cities within the county. I would have preferred an open discussion to provide offsets such as increasing taxes on tourism, as the Governor mentioned. Our citizens want efficient government. Some past practices need to change, and efficiencies expanded. Constitutional votes are hard to take back. So, I am still uncertain as to whether we can govern with loss of revenue. I am waiting for more of the detail which has not been forthcoming.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Affordable, reliable utilities are critical to our residents’ quality of life and Orange County’s economic competitiveness. The general public should not subsidize the delivery of energy to data centers. We need to make sure that residential customers aren’t unfairly stuck with increased energy costs as demand for electricity increases from data centers and other major industrial users. I think utility regulators need to demand more openness in how rates are set, look hard at the long-term impact of large energy consumers and make sure those that create big additional demand are paying their fair share for the infrastructure expenses needed to accommodate them. At the same time, Florida should continue to invest in grid modernization, energy efficiency and robust infrastructure to improve dependability and help limit long-term costs. We should be supporting innovation and economic progress while not saddling families, elderly and small businesses with subsidizing those uses.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Balancing expansion with the conservation of our natural resources is one of the greatest environmental concerns facing Orange County. As our population continues to grow, we must maintain our lakes, springs, watersheds, wetlands and drinking water, manage stormwater better and invest in resilient infrastructure that lowers flooding and protects our ecosystem. Smart growth implies combining economic development with conservation by protecting environmentally sensitive regions, increasing green spaces and ensuring new development is supported by the infrastructure needed to maintain sustainable communities. As Mayor, not only is conserving our environment about conservation, it’s also about protecting public health, improving our economy and preserving the quality of life that makes Orange County a great place to live, work and raise a family. And, a hidden issue is that we need to protect our community’s water supply from development and for preservation of recreation. This has been silenced. We need to acquire areas where our water supply is recharged. I will engage on this issue, and develop a plan and start such purchases.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Orange County Clerk of Courts Democratic Primary

The clerk of courts is the keeper of court records in Orange County. They also handle all court-related fines and fees, handle passport applications, and issue marriage licenses. The current clerk of courts, Tiffany Moore Russell, is leaving to run for Orange County mayor.

The constitutional office is considered a partisan race, which means you must be a member of a political party to vote in August. All voters will be able to choose from a final slate of candidates in November.

The winner of the Democratic primary will go on to face Terrell Thomas, a No Party Affiliate candidate, in November.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

Our partners at the Orlando Sentinel compiled the candidate responses for the Orange County Clerk of Courts Democratic Primary, emailing and calling the candidates over several weeks. You can see the full Orlando Sentinel Voting Guide HERE.

Maribel Gomez Cordero

NOTE: Maribel Gomez Cordero dropped out of the race on July 27. Since vote-by-mail ballots had already gone out, her name will be on the ballot in Aug. 18 primary.

Rick Singh

WEBSITE: http://www.votericksingh.com

Top issues in your race

If elected, what are the THREE most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them? In the boxes below, please list each issue and how you will address them:

YOUR NUMBER 1 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Modernizing Court Operations and Reducing Delays

The Clerk’s Office must function as a modern, efficient hub within the court system, where performance is measurable, processes are streamlined, and delays are actively reduced. If performance cannot be measured, it cannot be improved.

As Orange County Property Appraiser, I led the transformation of a traditional government office into one of the most technologically advanced and highly rated agencies in Florida. By implementing performance metrics, accountability standards, and modern digital systems, we significantly improved service delivery and customer experience. At one point, average phone hold times were reduced to 2 minutes and 39 seconds, down from waits that previously extended to hours. That improvement was achieved through data-driven management, technology upgrades, and continuous process refinement.

Those same principles will guide my approach as Clerk of Court. I will prioritize upgrading technology infrastructure, expanding secure digital filing and records systems, and improving case management and tracking tools. Manual processes that create unnecessary delays will be reduced through automation and workflow modernization, improving both speed and accuracy across operations.

Modernization will be paired with clear performance standards and accountability measures so that efficiency is continuously monitored and improved. This includes identifying operational bottlenecks, strengthening internal workflows, and ensuring staff have the training and tools needed to meet service expectations consistently.

By leveraging technology, setting measurable benchmarks, and focusing on continuous improvement, we can reduce delays, improve transparency, and provide faster, more reliable service to judges, attorneys, litigants, and the public while maintaining strong stewardship of taxpayer resources.

YOUR NUMBER 2 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Transparency and Secure Public Access to Court Records

Public trust in the Clerk’s Office depends on both openness and security. Court records must be accessible in a timely and user-friendly manner, while also protected by strong cybersecurity and compliance standards.

I will expand and modernize digital access to court records so residents, attorneys, and stakeholders can retrieve information efficiently and reliably without unnecessary barriers. At the same time, I will ensure that sensitive data is protected through updated security protocols, system safeguards, and ongoing compliance oversight.

In prior public service, I helped expand online accessibility and digital tools that improved public-facing services while maintaining accuracy and compliance standards. That experience demonstrated how technology can improve access without compromising security or integrity.

The goal is a system that is both transparent and secure—where access to public information is efficient, dependable, and responsibly managed.

YOUR NUMBER 3 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Customer Service, Accessibility, and Operational Consistency

The Clerk’s Office serves residents during some of their most important legal and administrative moments, including court filings, official records requests, and property-related transactions. Service must therefore be consistent, professional, and accessible across all channels.

As Property Appraiser, my office earned recognition for customer service excellence through improved training, performance standards, and technology-driven service delivery. We reduced wait times, expanded digital access, and improved responsiveness across multiple platforms by focusing on accountability and staff performance.

I will bring that same approach to the Clerk’s Office by strengthening staff training, standardizing service expectations, and ensuring consistent performance across all locations and customer touchpoints. Technology will also play a central role in improving accessibility, allowing residents to complete more services online while reducing in-person delays.

The result will be a more responsive, consistent, and user-focused Clerk’s Office that serves the public efficiently and professionally.

Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? I bring proven public-sector leadership experience and a strong understanding of government operations, financial accountability, and service delivery. I have previously served as an elected Property Appraiser, where I gained firsthand experience managing large-scale public systems, budgets, and taxpayer-facing services.

I understand that government must be both efficient and accountable. My focus is on reducing waste, improving performance, and ensuring public agencies deliver high-quality service at the lowest responsible cost to taxpayers.

I am committed to innovation, transparency, and fairness in public service. My goal is to modernize the Clerk’s Office so it works better for families, attorneys, and businesses while maintaining the highest standards of integrity and accessibility.

Roberta Walton Johnson

WEBSITE: voteroberta.com/

YOUR NUMBER 1 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Expanding Access to Justice. Every resident deserves equal access to the courts, regardless of income or whether they have an attorney. As Clerk, I will continue expanding customer-focused services, improving court navigation resources, and ensuring residents can access the information and assistance they need with dignity, professionalism, and respect.

YOUR NUMBER 2 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Modernizing Services and Technology. Orange County continues to grow, and the Clerk’s Office must keep pace. I will champion technology improvements that make services more efficient, accessible, and user-friendly while reducing wait times, streamlining processes, and improving online access to court services and information.

YOUR NUMBER 3 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Protecting Public Records and Public Trust. Residents deserve confidence that their court records are secure, accurate, and managed responsibly. As Clerk, I will protect the integrity of public records, ensure taxpayer dollars are used wisely, and uphold the transparency and accountability that Orange County residents expect from their government.

Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? I have dedicated my career to serving others and helping residents navigate some of the most important moments in their lives. From representing underserved families through legal services, to serving in local government, nonprofit leadership, private practice, and more than a decade in leadership within the Clerk’s Office, my work has always been focused on ensuring government is more accessible, responsive, and accountable. As General Counsel for the Orange County Clerk’s Office, I work every day on the legal, operational, and policy issues that impact our courts and the public we serve. These experiences have given me a deep understanding of the Clerk’s responsibilities and how this office can better serve our community. I am ready to lead on day one and continue building a Clerk’s Office that residents can trust to deliver professional, efficient, and transparent service.

A draft notice published Friday in the Federal Register says a nearly year-long review “provided sufficient data” to suggest the bond program effectively enforces compliance with visa conditions, and would be made permanent.

The notice is to be formally released on Monday, the day the program becomes permanent, and additional countries may be added to the list, which can be found here. The pilot program set the maximum bond amount at $15,000, with lower amounts of $5,000 and $10,000 based on a consular officer’s discretion. The final regulation raises the maximum to $20,000 and removes the $5,000 low-end payment.

The program requires holders of passports from the affected countries to pay the bond to be interviewed for business and tourist visas — known as B1 and B2 visas — to travel to the United States. The bond is refunded if the visa application is denied or, if granted, if the person adheres to the visa terms.

The Trump administration rolled out the program last August to crack down on visa overstays and as part of its broader efforts to curtail illegal migration. The government estimates that arresting and deporting visitors who have overstayed their visa costs about $18,000 per person.

State Department officials have hailed the program as a great success. In 2024, nearly 45,500 visitors from the 50 countries in the program overstayed their visas, according to the notice. In the first 10 months of the pilot visa bond program, the number of overstays from those countries was fewer than 50, it said.

Critics have said it imposes an unnecessarily harsh burden on people from impoverished countries to visit family members or to pursue education or business opportunities in the U.S.

According to government projections and statistics from the first year of the program, the State Department initially expected that about 2,000 visa applicants would be required to post the bond. Instead, the department found that roughly 20,000 applicants were covered by the bond requirement.

Nearly half of those applicants chose not to pay the bond and there was an 83% decline in the number of business and tourist visas issued to citizens of countries on the list.

“The department expects that this final rule will contribute to the continued reduction of demand for B1/B2 visa applications from nationals of countries subject to the program,” the notice said.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Democratic U.S. House District 3 candidates

The Democratic U.S. House District 3 primary is open to all registered Democrats residing in District 3, which includes part of Marion County in Central Florida, as well as parts of the following counties:

• Alachua
• Bradford
• Union
• Baker
• Columbia
• Gilchrist
• Levy
• Dixie
• Lafayette
• Suwannee
• Hamilton

The primary will decide who represents the party in the November general election against the incumbent congresswoman, Republican Kat Cammack.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates. Where possible, for candidates who did not respond, our collaborative partners sought to fill in details. These are the responses that our partners at Central Florida Public Media received.

You can also see the full Central Florida Public Media Voting Guide HERE.

Troy Albers

WEBSITE: albersforcongress.com/

If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them? First, the economy. High unemployment rates plus high inflation rates are choking the economy. People are working harder to get less.

Second is health care. Rural hospitals are closing one after another. This results in people having to drive over an hour to get care.

Third is insurance. Florida leads the nation in the cost of property insurance and is second in the nation for the cost of automobile insurance. It has reached a point where people cannot afford insurance.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? The federal government could pass the Neighborhood Homes Investment Act. This would create a tax incentive for developers, builders, and local governments to build lower-cost housing in eligible underserved communities.

Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. I am a no vote on the elimination of property taxes. Cities and Counties need property taxes to pay for the services they provide citizens. I do not like paying property taxes. However, how does the county or city pay for services?

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? First, I am a big no on data centers. They consume more resources than the value they produce for society. The utility companies need to find ways to produce energy without burning something.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? The government should do more regarding climate change. The Earth is our landlord. If we don’t make the changes to help our landlord, we could face eviction.

Seth Harp

WEBSITE: www.sethharpforcongress.com/

If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them? Florida’s 3rd District faces three urgent challenges: affordability, healthcare, and trust in government. My “13 Stripes of Strength” tackles rising housing, insurance, grocery, and utility costs through the H.E.A.R.T. and H.O.M.E. Acts. My U.N.I.T.E. Act expands affordable healthcare. I will also defend constitutional rights, strengthen public education, restore transparent, accountable government & put working families ahead of special interests every day.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Our 13 Stripes of Strength includes the H.E.A.R.T. Act (Housing Equity & Affordable Residential Titles Act) to restore the dream of homeownership. It increases taxes on large Wall Street investors that buy excessive numbers of single-family homes, protects homeowners and small landlords, and creates tax incentives for builders to construct affordable homes for first-time buyers and middle-class families.

Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: No. We have a stronger solution: the H.O.M.E. Act (Housing Ownership & Middle-class Empowerment Act). It expands homestead property tax relief for working families earning under $85,000 and seniors on fixed incomes, creates a property tax rebate for low-income renters, and funds that relief with a modest surcharge on the value of primary homes over $2 million. It cuts taxes for those who need it most while asking the wealthiest homeowners to pay a little more.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Regulators should require rigorous cost-of-service studies before approving new data center projects, prohibit utilities from shifting infrastructure costs onto residential customers & strengthen oversight of rate increases to block unjustified hikes. We also need to invest in grid modernization and energy efficiency to help homeowners lower their monthly bills through weatherization incentives.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? We should be doing more to both mitigate the causes of climate change and adapt to its impact, especially in a state like Florida, where stronger storms, flooding, extreme heat, and rising insurance costs are already affecting families and businesses.We must modernize our electric grid, expand renewable and nuclear energy, protect Florida’s freshwater resources and coastlines, invest in stronger infrastructure & encourage innovation in clean technologies.

George Hubac

WEBSITE: hubacforcongress.com/

If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?

A kidney stone taught me how Washington works: at best, they ease the pain; they rarely treat the cause, and this year they took the pain meds away.

My treatment plan:

1) Put the safeguards back: reverse the cuts to Medicaid, food assistance, and health insurance.

2) Bring our money home: our congresswoman refuses to request community project funding; I’d fight for our share, clean water and mobile clinics.

3) Change the diet: co-ops so what’s made here stays here, and a permanent income floor.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Housing got unaffordable when homes became investment assets, bought in bulk by funds and rented back to us. I’d curb Wall Street’s bulk-buying of single-family homes, fund community land trusts and co-ops so housing is owned locally instead of extracted, and pair that with a basic income floor. Affordability isn’t just the sticker price; it’s whether a paycheck earned here can cover a life here. When a dollar earned here gets spent here, it does the work of three.

Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. No. Eliminating property taxes sounds like relief, but it guts what they fund: schools, fire, police, roads. The money still has to come from somewhere, and the usual replacement is a higher sales tax that hits working families hardest while big property owners pocket the savings. I’d instead expand homestead protections and circuit-breaker relief so seniors and working homeowners aren’t taxed out of their homes, without defunding our kids’ schools.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Data centers should pay their own way, not put their costs on your bill. Pause speculative projects until the water and grid math adds up; for those built, set dedicated rates so AI demand doesn’t raise household bills, and make big users bring their own generation. For families, guarantee the right to generate and store your own power with fair two-way buyback: if the utility sells us power at retail, it buys ours at retail. Energy should be owned close to home, not rented from one utility.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? More, and Florida is ground zero. We’re already paying through a collapsing home-insurance market, flood-exposed property, and saltwater creeping into our aquifer. I treat it as an opportunity, not just a threat: clean energy people own themselves. Give every household the right and the means to generate and store power, with fair two-way buyback. That’s lower bills and real resilience, built from the bottom up, not handed down as a mandate or rented back by one utility.

Tom Wells

WEBSITE: www.tomwellsforcongress.com/

If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them? 1) The Supreme Court - the supreme problem. I’ve said this to 5,000+ folks at public events in CD3; 99+% concur.

2) The Florida aquifer is collapsing. The pending Hyperscale AI Data Centers are insane as: A) They drive cost of power, water, hence crops (e.g. peanuts) - crushing the export market and B) China now has a glass substrate chip 100x the speed, 10% the heat. That market is theirs.

3) ICE is murdering people in the streets; 6 Justices gave Trump the OK. We live in a Fascist State.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? There is a bill in Congress to limit the number of houses investors can buy in a given market. I have little confidence in the efficacy of bills brought by our corp Congress. Basically, homes cannot be an investment opportunity. We ought to have learned that from the 2008 home mortgage collapse. Clinton, 9 years before, had ‘modernized’ banking. The crash was predicted. The banks made many billions. A few million families lost their homes. We must restore Glass-Steagall now or the crash will recur.

Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. Yes, but with reservations. The text giveth here and taketh away there - so the range of results is difficult to quantify. However, if the folks in Tally wanted, at any time in the last 17 years, to help their constituents, they could simply accept the ACA Medicaid benefits - to provide healthcare for those just scraping by; bringing 10s of B$ and 1000s of (tax-paying) doctors and nurses into the state.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Nominally, this is a state-level issue. This problem ought to have been finessed by Congress banning data centers. Our Congress represents corporations quite generously; the people - rarely. I will legislate to delay data centers until they can demonstrate engineering innovation competitive with China. A month or 2 ago, the five AI teams laid off 96,000 US engineers. As AI will not innovate, tossing the engineers looks like a total collapse of the sector.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? We have been destroying the Climate faster than any other nation. Behind a facade of Greening, oil and natural gas production increased every year under Obama and Biden. It dropped significantly at the end of Trump 1 due to COVID. The Congress has stacked the stock market like a Jenga endgame. And the Keynesian way to build our way out of this pending depression: climate collapse: Gift solar (China has massive excess capacity), sodium batteries (US has 90% of global proven reserves).

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Republican U.S. Senate candidates

The Republican U.S. Senate primary is a statewide race open to all registered Republicans in Florida to decide who will represent the party in the November general election.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates. However, none of the Republican candidates for Senate responded to our questions. They did, however, respond to our news partners at WJXT News4Jax in Jacksonville.

You can find those responses in the News4Jax Voting Guide HERE.

Chris Gleason

WEBSITE: www.voteforgleason.com/

Mr. Gleason did not respond to our questionnaire.

Ashley Moody - Incumbent

WEBSITE: ashleymoody.com/

Sen. Moody did not respond to our questionnaire.

Neelam Taneja Perry

WEBSITE: www.perryforfl.com/

Ms. Perry did not respond to our questionnaire.

Ernest Rivera

WEBSITE: ernie4senate.com/

Ms. Perry did not respond to our questionnaire.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Democratic U.S. Senate candidates

The Democratic U.S. Senate primary is a statewide race open to all registered Democrats in Florida to decide who will represent the party in the November general election against the incumbent senator, Republican Ashley Moody.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates. Where possible, for candidates who did not respond, our collaborative partners sought to fill in details.

Our News Collaborative partners at Central Florida Public Media compiled the candidate responses for the U.S. Senate Democratic primary. Below is an excerpt of each candidate’s profile.

You can see the full Central Florida Public Media Voting Guide HERE.

Angie Nixon

WEBSITE: angienixon.com/

Rep. Nixon did not respond to our questionnaire.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? On her campaign website, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate writes the following about affordability: “Washington has stood by while Floridians are priced out of their own lives. We are ending the era of corporate capture. Crack Down on Corporate Price-Gouging: We will pass and enforce federal legislation to stop corporations from inflating prices on groceries, fuel, and essential goods to pad their bottom line. Housing is a Right: We will fund and build affordable housing at scale, expand down-payment assistance, and stop the displacement of working families from the communities they built. Breaking the Insurance Cartel: We will establish a federal backstop and impose strict transparency and accountability requirements on the insurers driving unmanageable rate hikes. Lower the Cost of Living Directly: We will take on the corporate consolidation and monopolies that are driving up costs across every sector of daily life.”

Alex Vindman

WEBSITE: alexvindman.com/

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Lowering costs for Floridians is my top priority. As I travel the state to meet voters, everybody tells me that life is unaffordable in our state. We need to lower the cost of housing, groceries, insurance, and health care. I also plan to fight the political corruption catering to special interests that is responsible for this affordability crisis. My campaign released a “Florida First” policy agenda to make Florida more affordable. One of the key planks of this platform is a plan to solve Florida’s homeowners insurance crisis by increasing market competition, holding insurers accountable, and addressing the underlying risks driving up premiums. I will also work to cut red tape that slows construction, support policies that allow first-time homebuyers to break into the market, and take on corporate investors who view housing purely as a speculative asset and are buying up homes and driving up prices across the state.

Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. This is a half-measure that fails to address the homeowners insurance crisis that is making Florida unaffordable. Local government officials have said that this proposal will force municipalities across the state to cut funding for law enforcement and fire services, and I will never vote to defund the police. This proposal is just a fig leaf to hide the fact that career politicians in Tallahassee have failed to address rising costs for decades, and Floridians are frustrated and pissed off. That’s why I’m 100% focused on how we can cut costs for Floridians.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Our state is suffering from an affordability crisis, and Florida’s utility regulators should respond by making sure that data centers are paying for their electricity and not passing these costs onto the backs of working Floridians suffering from our state’s affordability crisis. I believe we need a moratorium on data center construction until we have a policy ensuring that the extra costs associated with data centers are not passed onto Floridians.

Do you agree with the current federal and state governments’ approaches to immigration enforcement? Why or why not?

As an immigrant refugee myself, I am staunchly pro-immigration reform. I oppose efforts to expand inhumane immigration detention that treats all undocumented as criminals and dangers to society. A system that swiftly and fairly adjudicates immigration status aligns with the U.S. Constitution’s expectation of speedy trials. I believe that existing asylum laws are broadly functional and permit asylum seekers access to the U.S. I loathe the policies of family separation and seriously question the policy of family detention that equates to collective punishment, including the innocent. I will always support those coming to this country for a better life, and I will proudly vote for and cosponsor legislation that creates a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status holders, and essential workers. We need clear and fair immigration systems, while also preserving border security that assures U.S. national security.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Democratic U.S. House District 7 candidates

The Democratic U.S. House District 7 primary is open to all registered Democrats residing in District 7, which includes parts of Volusia and Seminole counties in Central Florida.

The primary will decide who represents the party in the November general election.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

Our News Collaborative partners at Oviedo Community News compiled the candidate responses for U.S. House District 7. Below is an excerpt of each candidate’s profile. To see the full responses, go to the Oviedo Community News candidate page link for each candidate.

You can also see the full Oviedo Community News Voting Guide HERE.

Bale Dalton

WEBSITE: baledalton.com/

Oviedo Community News Candidate Profile:

oviedocommunitynews.org/profile/bale-dalton/

Candidate Q&A: The questions below are based on voter questions and expressed priorities. Each of the candidates within a race were asked the same questions and given the same amount of time to respond. The candidates’ answers were fact checked, checked for spelling and grammar but otherwise unedited.

• If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?

1. The No. 1 problem we need to address is Central Florida’s cost-of-living emergency. Making Florida affordable again requires reversing this administration’s illegal tariff taxes, repealing the health care premium hikes that Congressman Cory Mills voted for repeatedly and avoiding wars of choice that have sent our gas prices through the roof. We have also seen property insurers and utility providers hike their prices in the absence of any real competition. Tallahassee isn’t acting, so we need federal representatives who will provide real oversight. With housing prices going through the roof, I also support legislation to ban Wall Street from buying up homes, while investing in building. We need a wide-ranging affordability agenda, carried forward by representatives who will fight for hardworking families – not billionaires and special interests. That’s why I support cutting taxes for working people, not the ultra-wealthy.
2. Our current cost of living crisis is also rooted in DC corruption – as politicians sell out their constituents and cash in on inside information. Our current Congressman, Cory Mills, is currently being investigated by the House Ethics Committee for corruption, campaign finance violations and sexual misconduct. His corruption has been criticized by Republicans and Democrats. Tackling DC corruption starts with sending Rep. Mills packing, but it cannot end there. We need to place real penalties on politicians and insiders who get rich by betting against America and trading on insider information. This means banning Congressional stock trading, outlawing insiders and politicians from betting on prediction markets, and overturning Citizens United to reform our broken campaign finance system from the inside out.
3. Florida is facing a healthcare and retirement crisis at all levels. As mentioned, Congressman Mills has voted repeatedly to raise health insurance premiums on hardworking families by thousands of dollars every month. This is a crisis of Congress’s own making, and one of my first priorities would be reversing these premium hikes, along with the cuts to Medicaid Rep. Cory Mills voted for. Further action is needed, however, to protect Social Security and Medicare for seniors who have paid into these programs for all of their lives, and who deserve to retire with dignity. With these programs set to go bankrupt, we must eliminate tax loopholes which allow the ultra-wealthy to avoid paying into these programs. We need to shore up our insurance coverage at every level of the system to ensure that, in the richest country on Earth, no one is one ER visit away from bankruptcy.

• For incumbents: Why do you deserve re-election to this race? For challengers and open seats: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? I have spent my life in public service and leadership. As a Navy helicopter pilot and combat veteran, I deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa and the Pacific – and worked with [Florida’s former] Sen. [Bill] Nelson to protect Florida veterans, and helped lead over 16,000 employees as the Chief of Staff at NASA. Serious times call for serious leaders, which Florida’s Seventh District has been sorely lacking. I was born and raised in Central Florida. It makes me furious to see my friends and neighbors struggling while Congressman Mills – a foreign arms dealer who’s been slapped with a restraining order – is bogged down with his own ethics investigations in DC. I’m in this race to tackle corruption and lower the cost of living for our community, and will fight every day to deliver a better deal for Central Florida.
• According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? The median age of first-time home buyers rose to 40 years old last year for one simple reason: housing is too expensive. The sticker price of first-time-homes has skyrocketed, alongside HOA fees, high interest rates and rising property insurance costs. Addressing these challenges requires building more housing at all income levels – and banning Wall Street speculators from buying up homes, driving up the cost of housing across our neighborhoods. We also need to provide meaningful oversight into property insurers, who have been hiking rates with no return in service or coverage provided when storms do arrive. Congressman Cory Mills supports the tariffs that raise the cost of building more housing — I oppose those tariffs.
• Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes, and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? I will vote no on the governor’s proposal to slash property taxes. While I support tax relief for working families, this proposal would imperil our ability to fund public safety, maintain our roads, and prepare for storms. This proposal is irresponsible and should not be enacted into law.
• Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? We’ve seen far too often that when large energy users join the grid, they pass the cost onto ratepayers – which is absolutely unacceptable, especially with our utility costs from FPL and Duke Energy already through the roof. Costs should be shouldered by the new users consuming large amounts of electricity, and we must do more to lower energy costs and help hardworking families afford their utility bills.
• What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? I was dismayed to see this administration propose opening Florida’s coast for offshore oil drilling. Florida’s coastline is a key driver of our local economy – and the test ranges off our coasts help power our military and space programs, to keep our nation secure. We must protect our coasts and public lands here in Florida, to ensure that the beautiful state we’re proud to call home is something we can pass along to the next generation.

Alan Grayson

WEBSITE: electgrayson.com/

Oviedo Community News Candidate Profile:

oviedocommunitynews.org/profile/alan-grayson/

Candidate Q&A: The questions below are based on voter questions and expressed priorities. Each of the candidates within a race were asked the same questions and given the same amount of time to respond. The candidates’ answers were fact checked, checked for spelling and grammar but otherwise unedited.

• Top problem and your suggested solution: The top problem is the looming Trump dictatorship. My suggested solution is to fight back by any means necessary, from impeachment to civil disobedience. “Name and shame.”
• Problem 2 and your suggested solution: The second most-pressing problem is the cost of living, caused in large part by Trump. Most people feel caught in a rat race that they just can’t win. But there are numerous rational solutions. We should eliminate all taxes on driving, right down to the tax on driver’s licenses. There should be no federal income tax on households making less than $50,000, which is a bill that I wrote when I was in Congress. Healthcare costs are crushing people, and the solution is Medicare for All. (I also wrote a law to do that.) The cost of owning and keeping a home is skyrocketing. One solution, for Florida, would be to extend national flood insurance to cover hurricanes and storms (another law that I wrote). Another solution would be to allow everyone to refinance mortgages through the state at 1.5% lower interest rates. There is such a program, and only 0.1% of Florida homeowners use it. Another solution would be to increase the national minimum wage, which is lower now (adjusted for inflation) than it was in 1968. If it had kept up with productivity, it would be $20 or more per hour now. In other words, I am in favor of rational thought to solve national (and local) problems.
• Problem 3 and your suggested solution: We are not doing enough to invest in future generations. Every child should be able to see a doctor when he or she is sick, and get all the care that’s needed to be the best that he or she can be. In other words, Medicare should cover everyone until 18. The cost is minimal, because most children are healthy. We need to get children off their phones and paying attention in class. We need to make special effort to meet special needs. We need to teach more subjects that are germane to living, like how to find a job and how to pay your taxes and how to stay healthy, in lieu of the details of European history. Schooling has to recognize that each child is a unique bundle of talents, skills, capabilities and limitations, each one on a different arc through life, and school should bring out the best in each one. We need to improve pre-K childcare dramatically, and subsidize it in the same way that we do for K-12 children. One reason why younger people are having far fewer children is that they just can’t afford it. That has to change.
• For incumbents: Why do you deserve re-election to this race? For challengers and open seats: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? Because I will do the job best.
• According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? As I said, the cost of owning and keeping a home is skyrocketing. One solution, for Florida, would be to extend national flood insurance to cover hurricanes and storms (a law that I wrote). Another solution would be to allow everyone to refinance mortgages through the state at 1.5% lower interest rates. There is such a program, and only 0.1% of FL homeowners use it. On a typical mortgage balance of $350,000, that would save more than $5000 per year. The insurer of last resort, “Citizens,” is a disgrace, and it should be prohibited from operating at a profit at our expense. Regarding renters, the federal government rations its programs to extend federal credit for building apartments by not appropriating money for them, and these programs should be expanded substantially. Renters actually pay more in property taxes, indirectly, than homeowners do, and to be fair, there should be the equivalent of a “homestead exemption” for renters.
• Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes, and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? We should do whatever people want to do. If people decide, collectively and through legal means, that property taxes need to be cut, that is democracy in action. As to how to make it up, I would be against service reductions, because state services generally are already miserable.
• Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Data centers will require a substantial expansion of utilities, and the data centers should bear the cost of that themselves. If capacity is expanded, then there is no justification for any price increase to anyone else. The real problem with utility prices is the complete collapse of state regulation in Florida. If Florida had a properly functioning Public Service Commission, then this wouldn’t be the same kind of problem. There still would be the huge problem of massive fuel cost increases due to errors at the top, but that’s the price we all are paying.
• What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? I don’t think that there is a “biggest” issue. The government is responsible for clean air, clean water and clean food. It also is responsible for minimizing pollution, and punishing [violators] when appropriate. It also is responsible for respecting and preserving nature, and protecting recreation. And the only opportunity that we have to reduce climate chaos is through government action. As the saying goes, “there is no Planet B.”

Marialana Kinter

WEBSITE: www.kinterforcongress.com/

Oviedo Community News Candidate Profile:

oviedocommunitynews.org/profile/marialana-kinter/

Candidate Q&A: The questions below are based on voter questions and expressed priorities. Each of the candidates within a race were asked the same questions and given the same amount of time to respond. The candidates’ answers were fact checked, checked for spelling and grammar but otherwise unedited.

• Top problem and your suggested solution: The cost of living. Combating the economic squeeze our working class is facing by investing in American trade jobs, strengthening Social Security, expanding voluntary full-day pre-K options, and breaking up the corporate monopolies driving small businesses under.
• Problem 2 and your suggested solution: Restoring government accountability. Corruption and corporate capture have made the government unresponsive to the people. I am bringing a “Zero-Fail” standard to Washington, which includes term limits, a ban on congressional stock trading and an aggressive effort to overturn Citizens United to get big money out of politics.
• Problem 3 and your suggested solution: Stopping overdevelopment and data centers. The housing crisis is driven by corporate investors and a lack of supply for working families. I will sponsor the Stop Predatory Investing Act to ban hedge funds from buying single-family homes, and I support increasing federal investment in the National Housing Trust Fund to expand rental assistance and incentivize the construction of affordable starter homes for primary residents.
• For incumbents: Why do you deserve re-election to this race? For challengers and open seats: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? I am not a career politician. I am a Navy veteran and a working class advocate. I have spent my life overcoming the same obstacles as the people of FL-07, from the foster system to the nuclear reactor plant, and I know that true leadership requires accountability. I am beholden to the people, not corporate PACs. We deserve a representative that works from sunrise to sunset to deliver results and improve the conditions of the lives of Floridians.
• According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Beyond local zoning, this is a national failure. I support federal legislation to prevent corporate entities from monopolizing the single-family home market. We must prioritize a federal reinsurance backstop to stabilize the homeowners insurance market, stop corporate entities from buying up residential property and invest in union and trade jobs to grow our local economy.
• Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes, and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? I am generally skeptical of slashing property taxes through state-level constitutional amendments if they are not paired with a sustainable plan to protect essential services like public schools and first responders. I would need to see the specific language to ensure it does not unfairly shift the tax burden onto renters and first-time homebuyers.
• Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? We cannot allow big tech energy-intensive data centers to hike the electric bills of our families. Regulators must require data centers to pay their full, uncapped share of infrastructure costs and meet strict sustainability mandates so their energy demand does not degrade service or raise prices for the public. I support a moratorium on data centers to stop building and a complete ban of building on protected natural spaces until a complete and thorough investigation and study of the environmental and economic impacts is conducted.
• What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? Water security, quality and protecting the rural boundary are the most pressing issues. Our aquifers and springs are under constant pressure from overdevelopment and pollution, and protecting our natural resources is a necessity for Florida’s long-term economic and human survival. I will fight to protect the rural boundary through federal incentives that make our nature preserves and green spaces protected on a federal level to prevent industrial and developer encroachment.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Republican U.S. House District 6 candidates

The Republican U.S. House District 6 primary is open to all registered Republicans residing in District 6, which includes parts of Flagler, Lake, Marion and Volusia counties in Central Florida, as well as parts of the following counties:

• St. Johns
• Putnam

The primary will decide who represents the party in the November general election.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates. These are the responses that our partners at Central Florida Public Media received.

You can also see the full Central Florida Public Media Voting Guide HERE.

Manuel P. Asensio

WEBSITE: www.asensio4congress.com/

NOTE: Mr. Asensio did not submit a response to our questionnaire.

Aaron Baker

WEBSITE: aaron4fl6.com/

If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them? Mr. Baker did not provide a response to this question.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? The federal government needs to stop spending money unnecessarily. Continued years of deficit spending has caused inflation. We need to concentrate on the needs of Americans first and foremost.

Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. (State Issue) Personally, I believe the homestead exemption should be raised to $250,000 for primary residence. I support a 3% cap on yearly increases for residences and a 5% cap on yearly increases for other properties in Florida. One point not included in Governor DeSantis’ current proposal: I believe the $250k cap should be adjusted annually by CPI.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? In the short to medium term, we should focus on existing technologies- clean coal and natural gas. In the long term, we should focus on nuclear energy. The federal government needs to provide an infrastructure bill focused on reducing permitting time for small nuclear reactors and building the needed infrastructure to meet current demands.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? In Florida, we should focus on expanding our Wildlife Corridor, protecting our beaches, and improving our drinking water. I will do everything in my power to protect our environment.

Dan Bilzerian

WEBSITE: www.bilzerianforcongress.com/

NOTE: Mr. Bilzerian did not submit a response to our questionnaire.

Randy Fine - Incumbent

WEBSITE: www.voterandyfine.com/

NOTE: Mr. Fine did not submit a response to our questionnaire.

Charles Gambaro

WEBSITE: voteforgambaro.com/

NOTE: Mr. Gambaro did not submit a response to our questionnaire.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Democratic U.S. House District 6 candidates

The Democratic U.S. House District 6 primary is open to all registered Democrats residing in District 6, which includes parts of Flagler, Lake, Marion and Volusia counties in Central Florida, as well as parts of the following counties:

• St. Johns
• Putnam

The primary will decide who represents the party in the November general election.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates. Where possible, for candidates who did not respond, our collaborative partners sought to fill in details. These are the responses that our partners at Central Florida Public Media received.

You can also see the full Central Florida Public Media Voting Guide HERE.

Robert Cooper II

WEBSITE: robcooperforcongress.com/

If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them? The three biggest problems I hear about in Florida’s 6th District are the high cost of living, access to health care, and support for veterans and seniors. Families are struggling with rising housing, insurance, grocery, and utility costs. I support increasing affordable housing, lowering prescription drug prices, protecting Social Security and Medicare, and improving access to mental health, recovery, and veteran services. Government should focus on people, not politics.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Housing should be within reach for working families, veterans, and seniors. I support expanding the supply of affordable homes, offering incentives to builders who include workforce housing, helping first-time homebuyers with down payment assistance, and addressing rising property insurance costs. We also need to increase wages, curb corporate practices that drive up housing prices, and invest in infrastructure so communities can grow responsibly.

Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. Yes. Property taxes have become an increasing burden on homeowners, especially seniors, veterans, and working families living on fixed incomes. I support eliminating property taxes only if Florida creates a fair and reliable replacement that does not raise costs on working families or reduce funding for schools, public safety, and local services. Tax relief should help people stay in their homes and build stronger communities.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Florida’s utility regulators should ensure families and small businesses are not forced to subsidize the growing energy demands of large data centers. Companies that require significant power should pay their fair share for infrastructure upgrades. Regulators should encourage investments in energy efficiency, modernize the grid, and expand diverse energy sources while maintaining reliability and keeping rates affordable for residents.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? The government should do more to prepare for and reduce the impacts of climate change. In Florida, that means protecting our coastlines and waterways, strengthening infrastructure against storms and flooding, supporting clean and reliable energy, and encouraging innovation that creates good-paying jobs. We can protect our environment and grow our economy at the same time.

Steve Morgan

WEBSITE: morganforcongress.us/

If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them? Budget - We need to balance the budget and reduce our deficit. We need to do so by amending our tax code so that the billionaires and corporations pay a higher tax rate. Right now, the average billionaire only pays 7.2% in federal taxes.

Affordability - We need to reinstate SNAP, Medicare, Medicaid, and health care subsidies.

Respect - We need to treat one another with respect, treat our public employees with respect, and show respect across party lines even if we don’t agree on everything.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? We need to repeal the Bodaciously Bad Bill and bring back health care subsidies, SNAP benefits, and fully fund Medicare and Medicaid. In addition, we need to revamp the tax code. The average American pays 14.5% of their income in federal taxes. The average billionaire pays 7.2%. We need to reverse those percentages. We also need to limit new housing development until we have enough affordable housing in Florida.

Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. No. The money has to come from somewhere, and without property taxes, the money will have to be made up with more regressive taxes like sales taxes and license fees and others. In other words, the lower-income Floridians who are struggling the most will end up paying even more than they cannot afford.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Ban the approval of the hyper data centers. And take a hard look at any data center. They raise energy costs, they pollute the environment, they are horrible neighbors, and they provide low-paying jobs.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? Much more. We need to get back to the Paris Accord, and we need to incentivize green energy and disincentivize greenhouse gases.

Ronnie Murchinson-Rivera

WEBSITE: www.ron4congress.com/

If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them? The three biggest issues I hear about across FL-06 are affordability, healthcare, and protecting our democracy. Families are struggling with rising housing, insurance, utility, and grocery costs. We must lower costs, protect Social Security and Medicare, expand access to healthcare, and reduce the influence of special interests in politics so government works for everyday people.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? We must address housing costs, insurance premiums, healthcare expenses, and wages together. I support building more affordable housing, stopping corporate price gouging, lowering prescription drug costs, increasing wages, protecting Social Security and Medicare, and investing in workforce development so families can afford to live and work in our communities.

Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. No. Eliminating property taxes would create massive funding gaps for schools, public safety, roads, and local services. Instead, we should focus on lowering insurance costs, increasing affordable housing, and providing targeted relief to seniors and working families without jeopardizing essential public services.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Utility regulators should ensure that residential customers are not unfairly subsidizing large energy users. Data centers and other high-demand facilities should pay their fair share of infrastructure and energy costs. We should invest in grid modernization, energy efficiency, and consumer protections to keep utility bills affordable.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? More. Climate change is already affecting Florida through stronger storms, flooding, rising insurance costs, coastal erosion, and extreme heat. We should invest in resilience, clean energy, infrastructure improvements, conservation, and disaster preparedness to protect communities, reduce costs, and strengthen our economy.

Eric Yonce

WEBSITE: yonceforcongress.com/

If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them? My priorities are lowering living costs, investing in infrastructure, and managing AI growth responsibly. People are struggling while government often serves special interests. We need reforms that reduce corporate influence and actually strengthen the working class. Our district needs better roads, water systems, and flood protection, with federal investment that keeps pace. AI and data center growth must protect resources, workers, and communities while ensuring broad benefits.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Housing affordability is one of the biggest challenges facing our district. We need to push back on large corporate investors buying up large numbers of homes and driving up costs for working families. We also need stronger investment in affordable and workforce housing. Many housing authorities are underfunded while people live in unacceptable conditions. Growth should pay for growth so existing residents are not left covering the cost of overdevelopment.

Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. I do not support eliminating property taxes in Florida. Property taxes fund essential local services, and eliminating them would create major revenue shortfalls for municipalities, schools, infrastructure, and public safety. That does not mean government cannot do better. We need stronger accountability and transparency to ensure tax dollars are spent responsibly and reduce wasteful spending instead of creating cuts that shift costs onto working families.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Working families should not bear the utility costs created by large-scale data center growth. Florida’s utility regulators should require AI and data center operators to cover the infrastructure and energy costs they create, whether through dedicated power generation, direct cost recovery, or long-term energy investments. Residents should not see higher electric bills to subsidize private corporate expansion.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? Government should be doing more to address and adapt to climate change. We need to trust science and acknowledge the impacts of human-driven climate change that communities are already experiencing. That means investing in renewable energy, improving resilience, and making clean energy more accessible and affordable. Florida has the opportunity to be a national leader in solar energy, but we have not invested at the scale needed.

Two major rail unions praised the proposed rule announced Friday that would also strengthen the standards for certifying that crews can safely operate a train.

The two railroads that would be directly affected by the restrictions on Mexican crews — Union Pacific and CPKC — did not immediately respond, and the Association of American Railroads trade group declined to comment while it studies the rule.

The Federal Railroad Administration sent letters to both CPKC and UP in December after inspections found that train crews often had trouble understanding English during focused inspections. The government urged those railroads to reexamine their practices and make sure that Mexican crews can speak English and don’t operate a train more than 10 miles (16 kilometers) inside America.

Last fall, federal inspectors found numerous problems in Union Pacific’s Eagle Pass rail yard and CPKC’s facility in Laredo where train crews were having a hard time understanding operating bulletins and U.S. regulations that require information about hazardous materials and emergency responses to be maintained in English.

At that time, both UP and CPKC pledged to make sure they were following the existing rules, but now the federal government wants to strengthen them “because railroad crews must be able to communicate fully and accurately when crossing into the United States, most notably with dispatchers and emergency responders during a crisis, as a safety-critical function.”

This rail safety effort aligns closely with the Transportation Department's efforts to ensure that truck drivers can understand English, so they can read road signs and warnings and communicate with first responders after an accident or during an inspection. The government has tried to withhold millions of dollars in highway funding from New York and California because it isn’t satisfied with the steps those states have taken to make sure the commercial driver’s licenses they issue are valid.

Mark Wallace, the national president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen union, has been raising concerns about this practice of using Mexican train crews for several years because of safety, security and job concerns.

The union has said that the handoffs used to happen right at the border, but now Union Pacific and CPKC routinely ask Mexican crews to bring trains several miles over the border to one of their railyards where the crew switches can be done more safely. But the firm 10-mile (16-kilometer) restriction in this rule will prevent the railroads from expanding this practice to railyards further into America like the union said UP was considering in New Mexico.

Wallace said the language barrier would pose a hazard in the event of issues such as a derailment.

The SMART-TD union that represents conductors and other rail workers also said the provisions of the rule that will prohibit train crews from using a system that's similar to cruise control for freight trains when they take their certification tests will help ensure they can operate a train safely.

“Railroad certifications should represent proven ability, not simply possession of a certificate,” said Jared Cassity, who is SMART-TD’s top safety expert. “When lives are on the line, the FRA must know that an engineer can safely operate a train, not just supervise a computer doing it.”

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Republican U.S. House District 7 candidates

The Republican U.S. House District 7 primary is open to all registered Republicans residing in District 7, which includes parts of Volusia and Seminole counties in Central Florida.

The primary will decide who represents the party in the November general election.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

Our News Collaborative partners at Oviedo Community News compiled the candidate responses for U.S. House District 7. Below is an excerpt of each candidate’s profile.

To see the full responses, go to the Oviedo Community News candidate page link for each candidate.

You can also see the full Oviedo Community News Voting Guide HERE.

Ryan Elijah

WEBSITE: elijahforcongress.com/

Oviedo Community News Candidate Profile:

oviedocommunitynews.org/profile/ryan-elijah/

Candidate Q&A: This candidate did not respond to multiple requests to answer questions that were based on voter questions and expressed priorities. Each of the candidates within a race was asked the same questions and given the same amount of time to respond. OCN reporters emailed, texted and called the candidate, who was given several weeks to respond.

Michael Johnson

WEBSITE: www.votemichaeldonjohnson.com/

Oviedo Community News Candidate Profile: oviedocommunitynews.org/profile/michael-johnson/

Candidate Q&A: The questions below are based on voter questions and expressed priorities. Each of the candidates within a race was asked the same questions and given the same amount of time to respond. The candidates’ answers were fact-checked, checked for spelling and grammar but otherwise unedited.

• If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?

1. Foreign influence that is out to change the values of our nation is the greatest threat to our nation. I will introduce legislation and a Constitutional amendment to require all members of Congress and federal judges to be born in the United States.
2. Runaway spending by federal government agencies is driving us into bankruptcy. I will introduce legislation that will require the federal budget be separated into two parts: all of the social programs – Social Security, workers’ comp, unemployment insurance, etc. – be separated from the Cabinet department budgets. Programs that support the social net programs must show specific sources of funding. The Cabinet agencies must be specific as to where their funding comes from. A detailed audit must be done on each and require audits by [an] independent organization to look for savings and/or sources of funding.
3. Many seniors and veterans are being neglected by the social net programs and Veterans Agency. I will introduce legislation that will require these agencies to create offices that will require help to [those] having issues getting their benefits. I will also introduce legislation that will allow seniors and vets to earn tax credits to help them.

• For incumbents: Why do you deserve re-election to this race? For challengers and open seats: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? We need term limits. I am the most qualified based on my work experience.
• According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Give first-time homebuyers tax credits. Help end regulations that add expenses to homeowners. Encourage industry to be required to compete on costs of insurance, electricity, water and sewer costs. Add competition in utilities industries.
• Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes, and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? I will vote yes. Cities and counties must give up their non-government spending. Privatize non-essential services.
• Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Build data centers near our oceans and large water bodies to use cooler water and build salination plants to help water needs. Innovate electricity inventions to reduce costs of cooling, heating, cooking and other forms of products that run on electricity. Florida utility regulators must include those outside the big companies that have a grip on residents.
• What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? Water and sewer issues that impact our aquifer. Flooding is wrecking havoc on local older cities.

Cory Mills

WEBSITE: millsforflorida.com/

Oviedo Community News Candidate Profile:

oviedocommunitynews.org/profile/cory-mills-2/

Candidate Q&A: This candidate did not respond to multiple requests to answer questions that were based on voter questions and expressed priorities. Each of the candidates within a race was asked the same questions and given the same amount of time to respond. OCN reporters emailed, texted and called the candidate, who was given several weeks to respond.

Sarah Ulrich

WEBSITE: www.ulrichforflorida.com/

Oviedo Community News Candidate Profile:

oviedocommunitynews.org/profile/sarah-ulrich/

Candidate Q&A: The questions below are based on voter questions and expressed priorities. Each of the candidates within a race was asked the same questions and given the same amount of time to respond. The candidates’ answers were fact checked, checked for spelling and grammar but otherwise unedited.

• If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?

1. The greatest threat to our republic is not that Washington is broken, but that too many in Washington serve everyone except the American people. Too often, our representatives answer to powerful corporations and special interests instead of those who elected them. Simple reforms can help restore accountability. We should ban insider trading and impose term limits, which is why I signed the U.S. Term Limits Pledge. Public service was never meant to be a lifelong career. Limits on campaign length would reduce the influence of money and ensure representatives spend more time governing than campaigning. We should also restrict the revolving door between elected office, lobbying and foreign entities. Americans should expect their elected officials to be civil servants accountable to the people, not career politicians seeking personal gain.
2. The greatest threat to our prosperity is not capitalism, but crony capitalism that rewards greed and extraction instead of competition and innovation. Too many corporations enrich a handful of executives while workers, consumers and investors pay the price. We must stop corporations from poisoning our people and the environment with chemicals banned elsewhere but still found in our food and products. Americans also deserve stronger privacy protections. Individuals should own their data, and corporations should not profit from personal information without consent. Greater separation between executives and corporate boards is needed to ensure proper oversight and accountability. Capitalism works best when competition is fair, consumers are protected and success is earned rather than extracted. Corporate leadership should answer to consumers, employees, shareholders and the communities they affect, not simply to themselves.
3. The greatest threat to our future is not a recession or foreign adversary, but a federal government that spends far beyond its means and passes the bill to future generations. Congress has not balanced the budget in more than two decades, and changing that must begin with changing the behavior of government itself. Last year, the federal government collected roughly $5 trillion and spent nearly $7 trillion. Debt is accelerating, and we are nearing a point where interest payments consume much of the budget. If this continues, the dollar and America’s global influence will be at risk. Families already feel the consequences as inflation erodes earnings and savings, making homeownership, debt repayment and financial stability harder to achieve. Instead of relying on rushed continuing resolutions and shutdown threats, Congress must return to regular order and responsible budgeting. These measures fuel instability and enable unrelated spending provisions that burden taxpayers.

• According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Owning a home has long been one of the most reliable paths to financial stability and generational wealth. For more than 25 years, I have helped Central Florida families purchase homes, and served on the Volusia Affordable Housing Advisory Committee because this issue matters deeply to me. Congress is considering legislation to improve affordability, including a provision I support that would prevent institutional investors owning more than 350 homes from buying additional single-family homes. That would be an important first step, but it cannot be the last. Large investment firms own significant numbers of homes in concentrated Central Florida neighborhoods, influencing prices and reducing inventory for working families. Buyers should not have to compete with corporations for their basic needs. We must also address the economic pressures driving housing costs. A balanced federal budget can reduce inflationary pressure, while lower inflation can help bring down interest rates and monthly mortgage payments. Energy costs matter as well: higher fuel prices raise the cost of materials, transportation and construction. Homes should be stability for families — not simply assets for large corporations to accumulate.
• Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes, and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions?No. While I applaud the effort to reduce the tax burden on Florida homeowners, the reality is that local governments still have to fund emergency services, infrastructure and other essential community needs. If property tax revenues are reduced, many municipalities will look for other ways to make up the difference. In many cases, that means replacing property tax revenue with flat fees and assessments. Unlike property taxes, which generally scale with a home’s value, these fees are often charged at the same rate regardless of a property’s worth. As a result, homeowners with lower-value homes can end up paying a disproportionately larger share of the cost, creating an unintended consequence for the very families these policies are intended to help. My greater concern is that these proposals shift decision-making authority away from local communities and toward the state government. Local officials are best positioned to understand the needs and priorities of their residents. When the state takes greater control over revenue and spending decisions, it gains the power to determine which communities receive resources and which do not. I believe those decisions should remain as close to the people as possible, where local voters can hold their elected officials directly accountable.
• Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Artificial intelligence will not magically solve the world’s problems or deliver the future its biggest advocates promise. AI outputs are only as good as the information put into them. While it can create efficiencies and reduce processing times, more technology is not the answer to every challenge facing our country. We should ask: Will this make America better? Had we asked that before allowing social media to grow largely unchecked, we might be less divided and less vulnerable to foreign influence. AI already enables convincing fake videos, images and propaganda, and those threats will only become more sophisticated. There are also concerns about cost. Regulators are pushing energy providers to connect AI data centers more quickly, promising companies will pay for upgrades and consumers will not see higher bills. We have heard similar promises before. The federal government should establish basic AI safeguards while allowing states to adopt stronger protections. AI is making it easier to identify and exploit weaknesses in our infrastructure, financial systems and national security. Innovation matters, but so does caution. America should lead responsibly; not simply race to keep up.
• What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? Dwindling freshwater supplies are a growing concern for Florida. In many ways, we are becoming victims of our own success. Rapid population growth is placing increasing pressure on our aquifer, pushing this vital resource closer to its limits. Without a reliable supply of clean water, both our quality of life and our economy will suffer. The growing demand from large-scale facilities, including data centers, could further exacerbate this challenge. While the federal government should not dictate solutions to the states, it should stand ready to support and partner with Florida in protecting our environment. Once natural resources are damaged, restoration is often extraordinarily expensive and, in some cases, impossible. Protecting what we have today is far wiser than trying to rebuild it tomorrow.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Republican U.S. House District 9 candidates

The Republican U.S. House District 9 primary is open to all registered Republicans residing in District 9.

Because of redistricting this year, U.S. House District 9 was dramatically redrawn. It now includes parts of Orange and Osceola counties in Central Florida, along with parts of the following counties:

• Polk County
• Indian River
• Okeechobee
• Highlands
• Glades

The primary will decide who represents the party in the November general election against the incumbent congressman, Democrat Darren Soto.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

Our News Collaborative partners at Osceola News Gazette compiled the candidate responses for U.S. House District 9. Below is an excerpt of each candidate’s profile. To see the full responses, go to the Osceola News Gazette candidate page link for each candidate.

You can also see the full Osceola News Gazette Voting Guide HERE.

Ben Butler

WEBSITE: www.butlerforflorida.com/

Osceola News Gazette Candidate Profile: www.aroundosceola.com/election-2026/voting-osceola-meet-us-congressional-district-9-republican-candidates

• Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? I am running because I believe Congress needs more people who have spent their lives solving real-world problems rather than climbing the political ladder. As a ninth-generation Floridian, dairy farmer, cattle rancher, and public servant with experience in water management, I understand the challenges facing Florida families because I live them every day. I know what it means to make payroll, manage rising costs, work through regulations, and balance competing priorities. I want to bring that practical perspective to Washington and be a strong advocate for the people of the 9^th District.
• If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?
• • Affordability and Cost of Living: Florida families are struggling with the rising costs of housing, groceries, insurance, and energy. Washington must reduce deficit spending that fuels inflation, support domestic energy production to lower costs, and remove unnecessary regulations that increase prices for consumers and small businesses.
  • Housing Affordability and Supply: Florida’s growth has outpaced housing supply in many communities. We need policies that encourage the construction of attainable workforce housing, invest in supporting infrastructure, and reduce regulatory barriers that unnecessarily increase housing costs while preserving local control over development decisions.
  • Food Security and Economic Resilience: America’s food supply depends on strong domestic agriculture. We should support family farms and ranches, strengthen supply chains, reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens, and ensure that the United States remains capable of feeding itself in an increasingly uncertain world.
• According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Affordability starts with addressing the root causes of inflation. Washington’s spending policies have driven up costs for everything from groceries to housing. We need a federal government that lives within its means, expands domestic energy production to lower utility and transportation costs, and removes unnecessary regulations that increase construction costs and limit housing supply. We also need to strengthen our economy so wages can keep pace with the cost of living. Families shouldn’t have to leave Florida because they can no longer afford to live here.
• Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: Yes. Florida homeowners deserve relief from rapidly rising property tax burdens. Any proposal must be implemented responsibly to ensure local governments can continue providing essential services, but taxpayers should not be punished simply because their property values have increased. Floridians should be able to stay in the homes they worked hard to purchase without being taxed out of them.
• Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? By prioritizing affordability and reliability for consumers. Florida needs an all-of-the-above energy strategy that increases generation capacity while protecting ratepayers from unnecessary cost increases. Large industrial users, including data centers, should pay their fair share of infrastructure costs rather than shifting those expenses onto residential customers. Transparency and accountability should guide every rate decision.
• What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? Water quality remains Florida’s most important environmental challenge. Clean water is essential to our economy, our agriculture industry, our tourism sector, and our quality of life. We need continued investments in water storage, treatment infrastructure, Everglades restoration, and science-based solutions that improve water quality while respecting private property rights and supporting economic growth.

Marcus Carter

WEBSITE: carter26.com/

Osceola News Gazette Candidate Profile: www.aroundosceola.com/election-2026/voting-osceola-meet-us-congressional-district-9-republican-candidates

• Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? I’ve done the work it takes to get around the money and run the kind of campaign necessary to truly restore authentic representation. What I learned back in 2016 with President Trump’s first election was that one man alone will never save us, and that was never the way it was supposed to be in the first place. Our political system is indeed rigged to support the elite at the expense of the American people, and until the American people do more to change that themselves, that is how our leaders will continue to operate. That’s why my campaign runs exclusively on volunteers from right here within the district, and why I will never accept money from corporations or special interests. We’re out to prove there is indeed a pathway around money in politics.
•  If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?
• • Address the ongoing mental health epidemic: A mental health epidemic can be seen in our schools, in our hospitals, and on the streets of our cities. In the past 18 months, while knocking on more than 20,000 doors, I have never encountered a voter who wasn’t thinking of someone when I brought up mental health. Yet it seems no one is truly doing anything about it. We feed pills to the mentally ill without a clear indication that they help, even raising suspicions that they might be making things worse. I will be calling on Congress to formally declare the mental health epidemic a national emergency, prompting a special subcommittee consisting of representatives who do not take money from Big Pharma and have no other conflicts of interest to begin a deep and transparent dive into the multifaceted attack on Americans’ mental health. At the end of the day, though, it truly takes a recalibration of our moral compass as a society. And that requires each individual, not some guy in Washington.
  • Housing and the Economy: The safest and most efficient way to stimulate the economy is by ensuring a healthy and robust housing market. The way the housing market has changed over the past decade has brought us to a point where intervention is necessary. I was pleased to see the recent legislation banning investment companies from owning single family homes, but there is still more to be done. I would love to include a nationwide home loan program that affords every American the opportunity to purchase a home similarly to how veterans purchase homes using their VA certificates. This would result in lower mortgage rates, no PMI, and possibly no down payment at all. I believe it would create a real pathway for millions of renters who would find themselves spending less on their mortgage than they ever did on rent while building equity of their own.
  • Social Security: The Social Security Administration has already announced a benefit payment shortage just a few years from now, and the economic implications are dire. Virtually every American alive today has lived in a world where Social Security was considered doomed to fail. Politicians kicked the can down the road until they finally ran out of road. But we can prevent the collapse in a way that doesn’t shatter our economy. I believe the only mathematical way to stabilize it is by removing the income cap on Social Security withholding entirely. Once the program is stable, the work must begin to sunset Social Security once and for all. Not tomorrow, and not even in ten years, but over time in a way that neither strips benefits from those who will depend on them nor robs younger Americans who may never receive what they contribute.
• According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? This is precisely why it is one of my top priorities.
• Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: Yes. Not only does it cut straight to the heart of affordability, it also requires governments to cut back on their wasteful spending and bloated budgets. I understand the concerns of citizens in our more rural areas, but I do not fear we will lose essential services. This referendum is essential to restraining our elected officials’ addiction to spending our money. While residents in Glades County may not immediately see the silver lining, and I understand their perspective, I’m confident the state will compensate for any shortfalls that truly exist once waste, fraud, and abusive spending practices are reined in.
• Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? The natural resources required to maintain AI data centers are simply untenable. While elected officials see the tax revenue as the incentive, at what cost does that newfound revenue come to our water table, our electric grid, and, despite Governor DeSantis’ assurance that data centers will shoulder the burden, our energy costs as well? This is a classic example of elected officials doing what is best for themselves and their donors without considering what is best for the people they serve. As for energy costs in general, I believe they also need to be heavily scrutinized. Solar fields placed throughout the state are not a cost-effective use of our land and natural resources.
• What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? There are several, whether it’s related to overdevelopment or invasive species. However, in our district, my greatest concern exists in and around Lake Okeechobee. I learned how growth to the north created a more polluted Kissimmee River, how chemicals have found their way into the lakebed. I learned how dissatisfied citizens are with the water management system. I learned how politics comes into play when determining where water gets to flow and how, in the end, the people who suffer the most are those who live in and around the lake. I understand this is primarily a state and local issue, and I would ask Secretary Kennedy to come down and investigate the effects these chemicals have had on both our health and our environment.

Thomas Chalifoux

WEBSITE: thomas4fl.com/

Osceola News Gazette Candidate Profile: www.aroundosceola.com/election-2026/voting-osceola-meet-us-congressional-district-9-republican-candidates

• Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? America does not need another career politician; it needs proven leadership. I have pledged to serve only two terms, then come home. Congress should have term limits, members should be prohibited from trading individual stocks, and they should live under the same laws and health insurance system as every American who struggles to pay for insurance and gets very limited coverage. Public office should be about service, not personal enrichment. I served our nation for 30 years in the U.S. Army, retiring as a Colonel. After military service, I spent nearly five decades building businesses that created thousands of jobs throughout Central Florida in construction, commercial real estate, franchise restaurants, property management, and agriculture. I have already built my career. I am not looking for another one. I am asking for two terms to fight for Florida families, restore accountability in Washington, and then I will come home. That is my promise.
• If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?
• • Restore Accountability in Washington: Career politicians have created a government that spends too much, accomplishes too little, and answers to itself instead of the American people. We need congressional term limits, a ban on congressional stock trading, balanced budgets, and full accountability for every taxpayer’s dollar.
  • Secure the Border and Enforce Immigration Law: We must finish securing our border, enforce our immigration laws, and remove criminal illegal immigrants. Every nation has the right and responsibility to know who enters the country and to keep its citizens safe.
  • Lower the Cost of Living: Washington’s reckless spending has fueled inflation that affects every Florida family. We must reduce unnecessary regulations, encourage American energy production, strengthen domestic manufacturing, and allow small businesses to grow so families can once again afford housing, groceries, and everyday necessities.
• According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? As a lifelong general contractor and commercial real estate developer, I have watched government make housing increasingly expensive. Inflation fueled by excessive federal spending has dramatically increased construction costs. At the same time, excessive regulations, permitting delays, impact fees, and government bureaucracy have added substantial costs before construction even begins. We need policies that reduce inflation, streamline permitting, eliminate unnecessary regulations, and encourage the private sector to build more attainable housing.
• Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: Yes. Florida homeowners should not face automatic tax increases simply because their property values rise. Local governments should live within their means just as Florida families do. Meaningful property tax relief will help seniors, working families, and small businesses remain in their communities.
• Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Consumers deserve utility rates based on efficiency—not monopoly profits. Having owned and operated a private water and wastewater utility for 16 years, I understand utility regulation firsthand. Too often, utilities are rewarded for increasing costs instead of controlling them. We need greater transparency, stronger oversight, and policies that put ratepayers first. Regarding data centers, Florida should welcome innovation while ensuring adequate power generation and protecting our natural resources.
• What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? Water quality is Florida’s greatest environmental challenge. Protecting Florida’s water begins upstream. For years, treated wastewater discharges, stormwater runoff, excessive nutrients, and other pollutants entering the Shingle Creek and Kissimmee River watershed have contributed to downstream water-quality challenges affecting Lake Tohopekaliga, Lake Okeechobee, the Indian River Lagoon, and the Everglades. Having served for 30 years in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, I understand that successful water management requires practical engineering solutions—not political talking points. We need stronger accountability for water polluters, better stormwater management, meaningful nutrient reduction, additional water storage, and long-term solutions that improve water quality while protecting communities from flooding. Florida should never have to choose between protecting families from flooding north of Lake Okeechobee and protecting our estuaries from damaging discharges. We must do both.

Dan Green

WEBSITE: dangreenfl.com/

Osceola News Gazette Candidate Profile: www.aroundosceola.com/election-2026/voting-osceola-meet-us-congressional-district-9-republican-candidates

• Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? The honor of public service is earned. I believe I am the most prepared in terms of leadership experience, both as a civilian and as a member of the U.S. military. I served in the Trump Administration as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy and Force Development and have led at a senior level at the U.S. Dept. of War/Defense. I am a Captain in the U.S. Navy Reserves with 23 years of experience, and I have led units of 50-135 members. With five deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, I have been tested under several challenging circumstances that have built resiliency in my approach to leadership.
• If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?
• • Affordability: It astounds me how much we are paying for groceries when there are regulations on the books that only drive prices higher. We need to reduce unnecessary regulations and bureaucracy, facilitate price transparency, and promote greater free market competition. We should be doing more to support U.S. manufactured and grown products that support American farmers, small businesses, and manufacturers.
  • Restoring Constitutional Government: Congress need to build positive and constructive coalitions that focus on balancing the budget and reducing the national debt. This can be achieved, in part, by providing more effective oversight of out-of-control bureaucracies built over decades. There has never been a greater need to pass a national budget on time when it comes to serving the needs and will of our people. Passing the budget is also a major national security concern; it is a core issue that will assist in achieving a more affordable way of life for our nation.
  • Building Peace Through Strength: It is important to prioritize when and where our national leaders decide to use military force. Detering our main adversaries requires us to build our capabilities, capacity, and resiliency and to spend judiciously. The most significant national security threat to our nation is the People’s Republic of China. The U.S. Dept of War must be prepared to deter, defend against, and, if needed, defeat them. After five tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, I have learned that we must always be prepared for worst-case scenarios.
• According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? I believe the current federal 21st Century Road to Housing Act is a strong step forward to address housing affordability. This facilitates the building of additional homes which will help to address cost issues. According to Time Magazine, the bill will “streamline environmental reviews in an effort to speed the process of constructing homes.” This includes providing recommendations on zoning reform, supporting local communities on loans and grants, and stopping large corporations from turning single family homes into tax shelters and business ventures that restrict American families from being able to start their American dream.
• Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: Yes. We should endeavor to reduce the tax burden on Floridians when affordability issues are so important. Individuals are better positioned to spend their hard-earned tax dollars than government and the proposed constitutional amendment will promote more responsible budgets, reduce waste and fraud, and allow residents to keep more of their paychecks.
• Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? I am greatly concerned about the impact of data centers on the electrical grid, water usage, noise pollution and other quality of life issues. We must ensure consumers, our water supply, and our quality of life are protected first and foremost. It is important to learn the lessons of how other states have dealt with data centers and, where appropriate, incorporate them into public planning. I am greatly concerned about the impact of data centers on the electrical grid, water usage, noise pollution and other quality of life issues.
• What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? It is incredibly important to address the health of the Florida aquifer, our waterways, and lakes. Water pollution has taken its toll on the quality of our water. Droughts, algae blooms, and nitrogen levels in the water are factors that affect Florida’s environment.

Jorge Martinez

WEBSITE: martinezforcongress.com/

Osceola News Gazette Candidate Profile: www.aroundosceola.com/election-2026/voting-osceola-meet-us-congressional-district-9-republican-candidates

• If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?
• • School choice and parental rights: Expand plans for parents to choose schools for their kids. Get rid of the Department of Education and allow states and parents to have more of a voice on the school curriculum. Ensure that all schools teach reading, writing, math, science and history rather than gender or political ideology.
  • Affordability: Reducing high cost of living due to government overspending - reduce government spending and cap increases. Limit the negative effect of overregulation and taxes on small businesses. Address the insurance crisis in Florida.
  • Immigration Reform: Deal with passing and adjusting legislation on DACA, passing the FACE Act.
• According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Housing affordability can be addressed by reducing the impact fees (taxes) that municipalities are putting on home building. Also address issues with insurance and insurance availability. Lastly reduce the fees and other hidden costs related to home ownership and home acquisition.
• Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: Yes (no further explanation was given)
• Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Data centers that are built need to be in extremely rural areas that do not affect residential or farmlands. We also need them to be self-sufficient when it comes to power generation and water needs. Clean energy like solar, natural gas and the use of new nuclear mini power stations will help to ensure that our utility bills don’t increase.
• What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? The preservation of our wetlands and waterways. The natural beauty of Florida is accentuated by those issues. The persistent problem with the runoff from Lake Okeechobee and its effect on the Everglades, Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean. The issue with red tide and seaweed growth are directly related to that.

Steve Rance

WEBSITE: steverance.org/

Osceola News Gazette Candidate Profile: www.aroundosceola.com/election-2026/voting-osceola-meet-us-congressional-district-9-republican-candidates

• Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? I am not a career politician or a creature of the Washington establishment; I am a veteran, a business professional, and a pastor who has spent my entire life answering the call to serve and protect. My leadership style was forged in the discipline of the United States Air Force Security Forces and grounded in the moral clarity of ministry. Central Florida families are feeling entirely forgotten by the current political class. I bring a combination of real-world legislative budgeting experience, a servant’s heart, and a proven backbone. I am running to execute a mission: to secure our borders, stop the reckless spending causing inflation, protect parental rights, and fiercely defend our constitutional freedoms.
• If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?
• • The Unsecured Southern Border & National Security. The total collapse of our border is bringing fentanyl, human trafficking, and criminal illegal aliens directly into Central Florida neighborhoods. I will fight to fully fund and finish the border wall, deploy advanced military surveillance technology, increase the number of active border patrol agents, and enforce a policy of immediate deportation for criminal illegal aliens.
  • Crushing Cost of Living & Excessive Inflation. Reckless federal spending and big-government bureaucracies have severely eroded the purchasing power of hard-working Florida families. I will work with the America First coalition to block massive omnibus spending bills, vote to aggressively audit and downsize wasteful federal agencies, and push to unleash American energy production to drastically reduce fuel and utility costs across the nation.
  • Encroachment on Parental Rights & Family Values. Federal overreach and radical ideological agendas are continuously attempting to push their way into our public school systems, undermining the ultimate authority of parents. I will support legislation that ties federal education funding strictly to academic transparency and parental rights, ensuring that schools focus entirely on core education—like reading, writing, math, and science—rather than political or social agendas.
• According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? At the federal level, housing affordability is primarily driven by three things: high interest rates caused by massive federal spending, skyrocketing building material costs due to overregulation, and inflation. To fix this, Congress must first restore fiscal sanity to lower inflation, which will allow the Federal Reserve to safely bring interest rates down so families can actually qualify for a mortgage again. Secondly, we must slash the burdensome supply-chain regulations and energy restrictions that make it drastically more expensive to manufacture and ship construction materials. Locally, we need to champion policies that increase housing supply without creating massive government dependencies or picking winners and losers in the free market.
• Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: Yes. I believe that families should not have to continuously pay the government rent just to live on their own property. I strongly support the “Save Our Homes from Excessive Property Taxes” amendment (Amendment 3) heading to the November ballot. Raising the non-school homestead exemption to $250,000 gives immediate, direct relief to Florida families who are being squeezed out of homeownership by rising costs. The amendment protects our long-term interests by lowering the non-homestead assessment increase cap to 5% to protect small businesses, requiring a five-year residency requirement to protect local taxpayers from sudden out-of-state surges, and explicitly  mandates remaining property taxes must be prioritized for core services like public safety, infrastructure, and flood control.
• Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Utility regulators must prioritize the financial stability of Florida families and small businesses ahead of corporate interests. While tech innovation is important, everyday rate-payers should never be forced to subsidize the massive energy demands of incoming data centers through higher monthly bills. Regulators need to implement strict cost-causation principles: if a data center requires a massive expansion of the power grid or specialized infrastructure, that specific commercial entity must bear those capital infrastructure costs—not the residential consumer. We must remove artificial barriers to reliable, dispatchable power like natural gas and nuclear energy, ensuring our grid’s capacity grows responsibly without compromising energy security.
• What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? The single biggest priority must be the long-term infrastructure, management, and preservation of Florida’s clean water supply, specifically focusing on flood control and the health of our local aquifers. In Central Florida, rapid growth makes it crucial that we protect our natural water resources from runoff and contamination while maintaining modern, resilient stormwater infrastructure. We must focus government efforts on real, tangible conservation and infrastructure projects—such as localized Everglades restoration and updated water treatment facilities—rather than wasting taxpayer funds on globalist green-energy mandates that kill American jobs and do nothing to improve the local environment.

Justin Story

WEBSITE: votejustinstory.com/

Osceola News Gazette Candidate Profile: www.aroundosceola.com/election-2026/voting-osceola-meet-us-congressional-district-9-republican-candidates

• If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them? 
• • Secure our borders and sovereignty. Pass a clear and concise constitutional amendment to end birthright citizenship for children of foreigners with no parental ties to the United States and close the loopholes visa holders exploit to fuel birth tourism. We must also continue strong enforcement of our immigration laws.
  • Reduce the size of government. We must immediately cut wasteful and fraudulent federal spending, eliminate duplicate programs, and pass a balanced budget amendment. We are no longer borrowing from our children’s future, we are purposely stealing from them.
  • Protect our God-given liberties. Aggressively fight every attempt by the federal government to infringe upon our natural rights. Protect our liberties by fighting tooth and nail against any and all encroachments on our Bill of Rights.
• According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? We have to level the playing field. Expand the capital gains tax exclusion on the sale of primary residences so families can keep more of the equity they have built. Limit Wall Street investors and hedge funds from dominating the housing market. Extend the same tax advantages to individual homeowners that are currently given to landlords and developers.
• Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: Yes. Local governments can function effectively without continually raising taxes on homeowners. The data clearly shows that tax relief stimulates economic growth and ultimately strengthens local budgets when paired with spending discipline.
• Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Florida should decentralize its energy markets to increase competition and fast-track natural gas power plants along with the development of Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (SMRs). We must pursue safe, reliable, clean, and affordable energy solutions rather than forcing ratepayers to subsidize the massive power demands of data centers and other power-intensive industries.
• What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? Over-development is destroying our farmland, natural areas, and floodplains due to haphazard and improper planning. Also, leveling farmland or natural areas for federally subsidized solar farms is not, nor ever will be, an environmentally friendly solution.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Republican gubernatorial candidates

The Republican Gubernatorial primary is a statewide race open to all registered Republicans in Florida to decide who will represent the party in the November general election.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates. Where possible, for candidates who did not respond, our collaborative partners sought to fill in details from other sources.

Jay Collins

WEBSITE: www.jayforflorida.com/

If elected, what are the THREE most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them? Lt. Gov. Collins did not answer this question.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Florida families should be able to own a home and build a life, not just survive the bill. I will eliminate taxes on homesteaded property, protect essential services, speed permitting for the housing families actually need, and keep pressure on insurance costs. Local communities should not get run over by bad projects that raise bills and strain roads, water, and schools.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? Yes. I support eliminating taxes on homesteaded property. The current proposal is a step in the right direction, even if it is not as strong as Governor DeSantis wanted. As Governor, I will deliver real homestead property tax relief, protect essential services, and keep working until Florida families fully own their homes.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Regulators should put Florida families first. Data centers and large loads should pay their own way. No shifting infrastructure costs onto households. Protect ratepayers, water, and reliability. Require transparency and enforceable promises. Ordinary Floridians should not get stuck with higher bills for somebody else’s project.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Water. Florida’s aquifers, springs, beaches, and long-term water supply must come first. Big projects should prove they will not drain communities or stick ratepayers with the cost. Protect the Everglades, harden infrastructure for storms, and put Florida families and natural resources ahead of reckless overbuilding.

Byron Donalds

WEBSITE: byrondonalds.com/

This candidate did not respond to our request to fill out this voter guide. To best serve you, we searched candidate websites, social media and interviews they’ve done for the answers to these questions.

If elected, what are the THREE most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them? The topmost priority on Donalds’ campaign website is to “enact the Trump agenda” and “Make America Great Again.” He will protect conservative values, including defending Floridians’ constitutional right to bear arms, protecting life and keeping “radical woke ideology” out of schools, according to his website.

Other top priorities on his website are to fight illegal immigration and make Florida more affordable. Donalds will work with the president to secure the border to keep families and communities safe, end taxpayer “handouts” to illegal immigrants and stop drugs from coming into the state, according to his website.

On the affordability issue, the website said Donalds believes Florida is too expensive for many families and seniors and he will focus on solving the property insurance crisis and lowering housing costs.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Donalds’ campaign ads indicate that he will make Florida more affordable for families by lowering property tax and homeowner’s insurance costs. In an interview on the Cartier Family podcast on July 11, 2026, Donalds said he could potentially lower insurance rates by 20% by reforming the state’s property insurance regulatory framework.

In that same interview, he pointed to a study by the National Association of Homebuilders that said government costs account for about 30% of new home construction. Donalds said modernizing Florida’s permitting and planning processes for new home construction is one avenue he would explore for lowering housing costs for Floridians.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? At a campaign event in Tampa in September 2025, Donalds cautioned that if the state were to eliminate or substantially reduce property taxes, it would cause a spike in sales tax that would make it more expensive for people to travel to Florida and harm the state’s tourism industry.

Speaking at the same event, he indicated he would support raising the homestead exemption from $50,000 to between $300,000 and $400,000.

In comments published in Florida Politics on March 23, 2026, Donalds said on “day one as governor,” he would be “focused on delivering real property tax relief and trying to repeal homestead property taxes overall.”

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? In campaign ads, Donalds pledged to protect Floridians from AI data centers that he said will “jack up” utility rates and make everything else more expensive. He will fight for a ratepayer protection plan to ensure that Florida families do not see an increase in utilities as a result of data centers, according to campaign ads.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Donalds is committed to preserving Florida’s environment, according to his website. This means working to complete Everglades restoration, improve water quality, expand access to water supply and protect Florida beaches and other natural resources, according to his website.

James Fishback

WEBSITE: fishback2026.com/

This candidate did not respond to our request to fill out this voter guide. To best serve you, we searched candidate websites, social media and interviews they’ve done to the answers to these questions.

If elected, what are the THREE most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them? According to his website, Fishback said home ownership is one of his biggest issues. Fishback said private equity firms, including Blackstone and BlackRock, have made it difficult for young families to own by purchasing single-family homes in bulk.

His solution is to bar private equity firms from buying single-family homes and force them to divest the homes they already own over a five-year period. He pairs this with a “Rise and Shine” program – a one-time, zero-interest $10,000 loan toward a home for young married couples where at least one spouse graduated from a Florida high school, at least one works full time, and neither has drawn government welfare in the past year.

Another major issue is homeowners insurance, according to his website.

Fishback frames this argument that fewer claims and more competitors mean lower premiums. He attributes Florida’s insurance costs to four causes: hurricane and flood risk, fraud, too little competition, and insurer conduct – and is proposing a remedy for each.

He would spend 1 billion on drainage infrastructure across all 67 counties to cut flood claims, create a statewide insurance fraud task force to prosecute assignment of benefits abuse and predatory contractors, personally meet with the CEOs of the largest U.S. insurers to draw carriers back into the market and increase competition, and create a no-cost legal advisory service to help homeowners fight wrongful claim denials.

Another priority is public safety and homelessness. Fishback said homeless encampments in communities are “neglect with a bumper sticker on it.” He’s pledged to surge state resources to move people off the streets and into what he describes as structured care and treatment facilities.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Fishback makes affordability his central theme and has said the emphasis was partly inspired by – though opposed in substance to – Zohran Mamdani’s 2025 New York City mayoral campaign.

Beyond his housing and insurance policies, his affordability agenda includes eliminating homestead property taxes for Florida residents. He wants a $50,000 transaction tax on out-of-state buyers of Florida vacation homes, what he calls the “Mamdani Tax,” to keep residents from competing with wealthy nonresidents, according to his X page. He’s also calling for mandated transparency and itemized budgets for HOA and condominium associations, with criminal penalties for self-dealing.

Finally, he wants to end Florida employers’ use of the H-1B visa program, which he ties to suppressed wages for recent Florida graduates. He proposes paying for new spending through a $50 tourism surcharge on hotel stays, rental cars, theme park tickets, airports and cruise ports, which he claims would raise about $7 billion a year from tourists rather than residents, according to his website.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? Fishback’s platform position aligns with eliminating property taxes, but only on the homesteaded properties of Florida residents – explicitly not on second homes, short-term rentals, snowbird properties or high-value estates.

On replacing lost revenue, he claims local governments now collect roughly “$20 billion more in property taxes than five years ago,” and he would work with them to roll spending back to free up that money, which he says more than covers the roughly $18 billion cost of eliminating homestead property taxes. He insists this can be done “without compromising funding for essential services like police, fire, and our public schools,” according to his campaign website.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? According to his website, Fishback wants to ban new data centers in all 67 counties through statewide preemption, stopping county commissions from approving them in the first place, rather than regulating or reforming the industry. He argues data centers raise electric bills, jeopardize the water supply and lower nearby property values, according to his website.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? His biggest environmental issue is overdevelopment and the loss of Florida farmland, according to his website. The concern is closely linked to his opposition to data center construction, plus water quality. Fishback describes himself as a conservationist, pledges to preserve more park space, and has said he supports further Everglades restoration and cleaning the state’s waterways.

Jim Holcomb

WEBSITE: jimholcomb4governor.com/

If elected, what are the THREE most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them? Mr. Holcomb did not answer this question.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? I, Jim Holcomb, know that government waste/regulations can be changed to reduce this problem. In the past, the expense of road curbs did not exist. Standardize construction codes like the SSTD 1093 should be implemented. Constitutional practices where rain that falls on a property stays on that property. Finally, a governor with building construction knowledge should be elected.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? Yes. Property taxes should not be a never-ending property expense. The tourist tax should be used to reduce property taxes. The increased homestead exemption is a very good idea. A percentage of profits from Florida mineral resources could reduce property taxes, similar to the mineral payments/programs in Alaska.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? I, Jim Holcomb, believe that the private Florida utility companies are doing a very good job and should not be interfered with by government. I, Jim Holcomb, believe the utility companies want to help those who need it; maybe the rich politicians could give back their pay and pensions, as I have committed to do if elected governor and everyone’s taxes will be reduced.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Answer. I, Jim Holcomb, believe that nature will fix its own problems even when we are the problem. Somehow, bumblebees can fly. As nasty as an opossum looks, they may eat 50 ticks per day. Fire ants eat termites. If we want clean water, we should leave rain where it falls and stop running stormwater into the aquifer through storm wells.

Arthur Joseph McCaffrey

If elected, what are the THREE most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them? Mr. McCaffrey did not answer this question.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Housing prices are too high. We need to find a way to bring it back down to the way it used to be some years ago. The current ECONOMY has been purposely sky-rocketed, which should not have been done. MINIMUM WAGE is what controls our ECONOMY. Also, the PROPERTY TAX modification that I intend to do will be to reduce certain PROPERTY TAX properties, and be able to repair many houses. There is more...

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? PROPERTY TAXES can be reduced... but not eliminated, because we need the REPAIR FUND to help poor people repair their homes.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? There are many solutions to lower UTILITIES. And it can be done. But the utility companies will be against it. Florida has the right to choose how UTILITIES are created. The UTILITY businesses do NOT own FLORIDA. Florida can choose the way they want it. And that is on my list of over 100 items to be done as GOVERNOR.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? All those VINES on so many trees need to be removed (they are literally taking over the whole State of Florida). Huge trees should not be grown right beside a house (due to HURRICANES). Big trees can be grown the same distance from a house as the tree’s growth height (it won’t be a law though). I feel that Florida has a good environment. The air is good. The water is good. The temperatures are good. Not much rubbish on the ground. If there are any issues, then we will fix them.

Daniel Nokovich

WEBSITE: www.nokovichforgovernor.com/

If elected, what are the THREE most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?

Top problem in Florida is the disunity of purpose and public civility. Solution: Return Florida back to the people and the people back to God.

Problem 2) Toxic water distribution to residents. Solution: Criminalize toxic water sales and distribution by companies and municipalities, and hold ministers of this precious resource accountable.

Problem 3) Florida has the 3rd highest sex/human trafficking statistic in the nation. Solution: focus our great FHP on this blight. Reward citizen involvement.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Florida can expand land possession for individuals unable to access developed housing. Lower insurance rates, provide low-interest loans to individuals willing to be educated in business and counseled in a business venture.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? A yes would be the usual answer if the counties and cities were barred from raising the millage rates. Under the current property tax act, counties and cities are free to double their millage rates to compensate for the loss of tax revenue. [This is not true - see https://www.floridapolicy.org/posts/florida-property-tax-amendment-ballot-language-summary.] Millage rates should be capped and older people should be exempt from millage rates. Cap the millage rates to less than 5% and remove all property tax fees, and I’m in.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Deregulate and decentralize all utilities. Meaning, we should receive the money for solar panels instead of buying them for the likes of FPL. FPL has a monopoly and should be suited for breaking antitrust laws. Utility companies have condemned residential well water, and yet drill their own wells into the same aquifers and then treat the water with chemicals that we have to pay for.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? I would say the biggest environmental issue has to be Atmospheric Air Quality. We must prohibit the use of chemical delivery systems in our skies. We must stop weather modification operations over Florida.

Paul Renner

WEBSITE: voterenner.com/

Top problem/Your suggested solution: Affordability. Florida families are currently squeezed by rising property taxes, utility and housing costs, and insurance premiums. I will eliminate property taxes by shifting the tax burden toward tourists, real estate speculators, and new residents. My plan includes reducing homeowners’ insurance premiums by 20%. Lower electric rates will be made possible through transparency and accountability in the rate-setting process. I plan to pass an immediate moratorium on the construction of Hyperscale AI Data Centers that threaten Florida’s aquifer, land, and power grid, saving Floridians from rising electrical costs. We must make Florida affordable again.

Problem 2/Your suggested solution: Public safety and illegal immigration. Florida must remain a law-and-order state. I plan to stop public corruption by going after self-dealing by elected officials, lobbyists, and appointed officials. We will enforce illegal immigration laws, enact the death penalty for human trafficking of minors, and limit the death penalty appeal process to three years. I will pass an Open Carry law so we can strengthen Second Amendment rights and repeal gun ownership restrictions from the Parkland Bill. Florida will never become a sanctuary state if I am elected Governor.

Problem 3/Your suggested solution: Protect Health Freedom and our Environment. We should strengthen the Medical Freedom Act to end mandates and protect parental rights. I will enforce laws that prohibit geoengineering and weather modification. We will stop digital IDs and strengthen digital data privacy, while expanding Florida’s Wildlife Corridor and keeping a permanent moratorium on the development of state parks.

Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? I have the experience and record to lead Florida. I am a Navy veteran of 23 years, 2 wars, a former prosecutor, and Speaker of the Florida House from 2022-2024. As Speaker, I worked with Governor DeSantis to enact major conservative reforms, which included expanding educational freedom, protecting parents, restrictions on abortion, and measures that defended individual liberty. I don’t just talk about conservative principles; I have produced conservative results.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? My affordability plan eliminates property taxes and reduces insurance costs so that buying a home is not just possible for Florida residents but also makes the home affordable. My plan limits future increases, provides relief for small businesses, and addresses insurance and utility costs. Florida must reduce the government-imposed costs that make homes more expensive while increasing the supply of housing. Most importantly, we must do this for Florida residents, not speculators or snowbirds. I support faster and more predictable permitting, being responsible in our development, protecting private-property rights, and cutting out unnecessary fees.

Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. Yes. Any means of providing property-tax relief is better than the system currently in place, which has allowed tax collections to grow faster than many families’ incomes. However, the proposed amendment does not go far enough. Florida should provide immediate relief without waiting for a constitutional amendment. If I am elected Governor, I will quickly eliminate property taxes on homesteaded property while protecting essential services.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? We must put Florida First, not Big Tech special interests. Residents of Florida should never subsidize the enormous electricity and infrastructure demands of Hyperscale AI Data Centers. I support a statewide halt on AI data-center development.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? Protecting Florida’s water is our most urgent environmental responsibility. Our drinking-water supply, springs, rivers, wetlands, and the Everglades are important to public health, agriculture, tourism, and the quality of life for all Floridians. We must restore natural systems, improve our water infrastructure, prevent pollution and runoff that is harmful.

What is the single biggest issue the government should address when it comes to public education in Florida?

The most important issue is educational outcomes for students. Every child in Florida should graduate with the ability to read, write, reason, and be competitive in the job market. Florida must focus on academic achievement, discipline in the classroom, teacher quality, parental involvement, and supporting educational freedom. Funding matters and I support teacher salaries increases to be competitive with other states. However, the educational outcomes should remain our measure of success in Florida public education.

Do you agree with the current federal and state governments’ approaches to immigration enforcement? Why or why not? Yes, I will continue the proactive enforcement against illegal immigration that Governor DeSantis has established. Also, legal immigration must be orderly, merit-based, and consistent with our economic and security interests. For example, I will prohibit H-1B visas in state employment and state contracts.

Do you believe abortion restrictions in Florida should be more strict, less strict, or stay the same? I support life from the moment of conception through natural death. I was the champion of the Heartbeat Protection Act and an outspoken opponent to Amendment 4. Florida should support expectant mothers, strengthen adoption services, improve maternal healthcare, and support families who are raising children.

Rachel Rodriguez

WEBSITE: rachelforgov.com/

If elected, what are the THREE most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them? Ms. Rodriguez did not answer this question.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? We must make Homeowner insurance affordable, reform HOA regulation to require regular community approval for association, reduce property insurance with balancing Live Local Act rebates for developers, and to relieve the rest of the budget for Floridians, promote food sovereignty and security: update outdated regulations, create tax-free zones for food processing-related companies and basic food needs removed from sales tax, even while all tax moves from production-side to consumption-side tax.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? YES - as a moral matter, real property belongs to the owner and the state should not be able to take it by eminent domain, or redistribute it to a developer, nor force the owner to pay “rent” on its use through property tax with the threat of foreclosure. Property tax penalizes production of wealth, and we should be incentivizing production and capital gains for all Floridians instead.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? The real threat regarding AI data centers is the Surveillance State, and Florida should reject surveilling Floridians. We can compete with technological updates by decentralization of AI development. AS for the centers already built, we must enforce contractual agreement terms and regulations that require the centers not to tax the utility grid. The data centers can be built in an essentially self-contained manner, so any pull on Florida resources of energy and water is unacceptable.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Right now, the disaster prevention infrastructure needs to be updated, as a matter of both environmental protection and the safety and security of Floridians. Additionally, our aquifer system level is at dangerous levels for the environment and for our water supply, and our coastlines need to be protected. We can hold developers to standards of self-sustaining construction and incentivize environmentally protective solutions from our state’s top talent to steward our natural resources.

James W. Shaw

WEBSITE: www.votejim.us/

NOTE: Mr. Shaw did not respond to our request to fill out the survey. What follows is information gleaned from his campaign website.

If elected, what are the THREE most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them? Based strictly on what’s stated on votejim.us (mostly via the homepage content/video titles), he emphasizes:

1. Stopping AI / AI data centers
2. Education “back to basics” + homeschooling
3. Growth/sprawl & land protection

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? The site does not spell out an affordability plan (housing/insurance/taxes, etc.). It does show he’s focused on utility/safety/AI/sprawl/education, but no explicit affordability solutions are stated in the extracted text.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? The site content does not state a YES/NO position on that amendment and does not describe any plan to replace revenue.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? The site strongly signals opposition to AI data centers (“I Will Protect Us… From AI Data Centers”).

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Not stated as a single “biggest” issue, but he emphasizes protecting Florida land and opposing urban/residential sprawl.

Caneste Succe

WEBSITE: succeforgovflorida.com/

NOTE: Mr. Succe did not respond to our request to fill out the survey. What follows is information gleaned from his campaign website.

If elected, what are the THREE most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?

1. Restoring agriculture & self-reliance — strengthen local farming/food security by “encouraging Floridians to grow their own gardens, support local farmers, and create communities that are self-reliant in food resources,” and “restore the homestead focus.”
2. Prison reform through rehabilitation — shift prisons toward “places of transformation” by “investing in effective rehabilitation programs” to reduce relapse into crime, save taxpayer dollars, and build safer communities.
3. Ending paycheck-to-paycheck living (cost of living / economic strain) — “building an economy that works for everyone” by supporting small businesses, creating “equitable infrastructure for families to grow income,” and “opening new avenues for entrepreneurship.”

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? He frames it as “No More Living Paycheck to Paycheck” and says he would:

• Support small businesses (noting they’re being crushed by red tape, unfair competition, and lack of support)
• Create equitable infrastructure for families to grow income
• Open new avenues for entrepreneurshipHe also says Florida should be a place “where hard work pays off” and where people aren’t forced to choose between necessities like rent and food.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? Not stated on the site.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Not stated on the site.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Not stated as an environmental issue; the closest related content is his emphasis on agriculture, land, and food supply resilience, but he doesn’t label a specific environmental priority.

Bobby Williams

WEBSITE: bwflgov.com/

If elected, what are the THREE most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them? Mr. Williams did not answer this question.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Stop big corporations from buying up housing and creating a false real estate and rental market. Replace boards to not allow any increases. Property tax relief. Quit allowing private companies to sell our water and get our water bills cheaper.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? Yes - I use the metaphor of a spoiled, rotten teenager who has access to their parents’ credit cards. When will they ever quit spending? The answer is when you take it away from them. So to stop these counties from wasteful spending, we have to not allow them access to. It’s going to put more money into the taxpayers’ pockets

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? We have to have boards appointed by the governor who is not going to allow these utility companies to keep robbing the citizens of Florida. We have to quit allowing the utility companies to donate to campaigns that get people voted in that will allow them to keep making profits. Also, foreign entities should not own our utility companies.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Stop spraying and allowing corporations to pollute our waters.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Democratic gubernatorial candidates

The Democratic Gubernatorial primary is a statewide race open to all registered Democrats in Florida to decide who will represent the party in the November general election.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates. Where possible, for candidates who did not respond, our collaborative partners sought to fill in details.

Our News Collaborative partners at Central Florida Public Media compiled the candidate responses for the Florida governor’s race.

You can also see the full Central Florida Public Media Voting Guide HERE.

Evelyn Castillo-Bach

WEBSITE: evelynforgovernor.org/

What are the three most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them?

1. Healthcare: Uninsured rate is 10.9%. Solution: Ban medical debt. Create Florida Direct Care -- pay doctors directly for people with no insurance.

2. Housing: Rents up 39% since 2019. Solution: Fund affordable housing via fees on hyperscale data centers and large companies not providing affordable healthcare. Create rental voucher program.

3. Environment: Everglades, water and land threatened. Solution: Empower environmental advocacy groups to protect water, land and Everglades.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Florida families are crushed by property insurance and rent. A 2022 report found insurers’ affiliates made nearly $14 billion while executives paid themselves $680 million in dividends. I will eliminate the middlemen who are the affiliates. For renters, rents are up 39% since 2019. I will create a Florida State Rental Voucher Program and fund affordable housing via mandatory fees on hyperscale data centers, large companies, luxury vessels over $10 million and luxury real estate over $20 million.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? No. Property taxes pay for essential services we all benefit from. The major threat is property insurance, not property taxes. Too many in Tallahassee avoid facing insurance companies by pushing property tax cuts instead. The Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times exposed the affiliate scheme where excessive profits are made on the backs of homeowners while rates soar. I will eliminate the middlemen who are the affiliates. I will tackle taxes by eliminating inefficiency and potential fraud.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Florida utility regulators need to focus on protecting families, not dividends. My administration will direct a cap on utility profits, ban rate increases caused by hyperscale data centers, and add solar tax breaks for homeowners. Hyperscale data centers must pay full cost of electricity, water, roads, sewer, pipelines -- not one dollar shifted to ratepayers or taxpayers. My administration will ban hyperscale data center NDAs, require mandatory fees to fund the Florida Affordable Housing Fund.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? The biggest environmental issue is protecting Florida’s Everglades, land, water, and farmlands. Overdevelopment and corporate exploitation are real threats. Hyperscale data centers threaten our environment on multiple levels: water, noise, and disrupting natural habitats. My administration will empower environmental advocacy groups to protect our Everglades, water, land, and natural habitats from these threats.

Thomas Eloy Fernandez

WEBSITE: www.facebook.com/NovaForFlorida

What are the three most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Mr. Fernandez did not answer this question.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Florida families are facing rising housing costs, insurance premiums, and everyday expenses that are growing faster than wages. We need practical solutions that help people keep more of what they earn. I support expanding affordable and workforce housing, increasing pathways to homeownership, addressing the property insurance crisis, and investing in workforce development. My goal is to help Florida families achieve financial stability and build a stronger future.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? Property taxes help fund essential services such as public safety, schools, roads, and infrastructure. While I understand the frustration many homeowners feel, I do not support eliminating property taxes without a responsible replacement. I support meaningful tax relief for homeowners, seniors, veterans, and working families while ensuring communities continue to receive the services they depend on.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Rising utility costs place an additional burden on Florida families, seniors, and small businesses. Regulators should prioritize transparency, accountability, and consumer protection when reviewing rate increases. As Florida grows, we must invest in reliable infrastructure and efficiency improvements that help control long-term costs. Large energy users, including data centers, should pay their fair share while keeping utility services reliable and affordable.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Florida’s biggest environmental challenge is protecting our water resources and preparing for the impacts of growth and severe weather. Clean water is essential to our health, economy, agriculture, tourism, and quality of life. We must continue investing in Everglades restoration, protecting our waterways, improving infrastructure, and promoting responsible growth so future generations can enjoy the Florida we know and love.

Dayna Marie Foster

WEBSITE: www.fosterforflorida.com/

What are the three most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Ms. Foster did not answer this question.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Florida’s affordability crisis demands we treat housing as a human right, not a speculative asset. To address this critical issue, I will fully fund the Sadowski Trust Fund to expand affordable housing statewide while leveraging private investment, work collaboratively to repeal the state ban on local rent control so communities can stabilize rents, and strengthen protections for renters and mobile home residents against displacement.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? Eliminating property taxes without a clear, sustainable replacement would strip critical funding from our public schools, first responders, infrastructure, and local services that Floridians rely on every day. Instead, we should reform the system; expand homestead protections, limit unfair assessment spikes, and make the tax structure more equitable. Without risking deep cuts or shifting the burden onto more regressive taxes that hit working families hardest.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Regulators should apply strict cost-causation: They should require data centers to fully fund new generation, transmission and interconnection so households aren’t the ones responsible for subsidization. Large-load tariffs must be mandated with minimum bills, long-term contracts, and exit penalties to avoid stranded costs. On-site or contracted power is a must as well as encouraging demand flexibility and strengthening oversight of utility forecasts to protect affordability and reliability.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? The biggest, and most urgent environmental issue is the rapid development of data centers in our state. They are currently being built on natural resources critical to millions of Floridians. As governor, I plan on removing all funding to these facilities and will work to restore ecologically sensitive land to sustainable levels.

David Jolly

WEBSITE: davidjolly.com/

What are the three most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? My top priorities are housing, healthcare, and education. I will lower homeowners’ insurance costs by creating a state catastrophic fund and investing in workforce and affordable housing. I will expand Medicaid and access to primary care through community health clinics, nonprofits, and federally qualified health centers. I will lead a 10-year renaissance in public education by raising teacher pay and ensuring that all publicly funded choice schools meet the same academic and service standards.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Florida’s affordability crisis starts with housing. I’ll work to lower homeowners’ insurance costs by creating a state catastrophic fund that removes hurricane coverage from the private market, reducing premiums. I’ll fully fund the Sadowski Housing Trust Fund to expand workforce and affordable housing, remove unnecessary barriers to increasing supply, and invest in smart growth so working families, seniors, veterans, and young Floridians can afford a place to call home.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? The current ballot language of the proposed property tax elimination amendment is under court consideration. I am concerned that the current effort is rushed and puts critical services and rural counties at risk, while likely shifting the tax burden to renters. We do need property tax relief. As Governor, I would propose moving to greater local control of property taxes, exemptions, and spending, recognizing and better addressing the financial disparity between urban and rural communities.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Florida should place an immediate moratorium on new data centers until regulations address their impacts on electricity demand, water resources, and utility costs. Families should not subsidize massive commercial energy users. I support capping regulated utility profits at the national average to lower bills while maintaining reliable service. We must also accelerate clean, renewable energy to reduce costs and protect Florida’s environment.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Florida must address water pollution and quality throughout the state, continue Everglades restoration, address contamination north of Lake Okeechobee that contributes to unhealthy discharges, protect springs, wetlands, and beaches from overdevelopment, and maintain a ban on offshore oil drilling. We must also strengthen resilient infrastructure to address sea level rise, flooding, and stronger storms while expanding clean energy and smart growth to protect our environment and economy.

Dotie Joseph

WEBSITE: dotiejoseph.com/

What are the three most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Ms. Joseph did not answer this question.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? I’ve filed bills to lower costs for healthcare (increase post-partum coverage from 30 days to 1 year, universal care, and expand Medicaid), housing (Real Affordable Housing Relief Act - HB 1493), gas, and groceries (Florida Economic Prosperity and Immigration Act). I’ll cap insurance premiums, raise wages, and end corporate welfare that rigs our tax system against working families.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? No, eliminating property taxes shifts total funding authority to the State, forcing people to travel to Tallahassee to beg for funding to meet our basic community needs, which are currently served by local governments. Property taxes fund police, fire, trash collection, transit, parks, local road maintenance, senior programs, and rather than give Tallahassee the power to defund our local needs, we should focus on regulating skyrocketing insurance premiums, which fund CEO bonuses.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? We need full transparency before approving energy-intensive data centers, and I filed HB 1517 to address this issue precisely. Before a local government approves a data center, the bill requires facility applications to disclose critical data on electricity use, grid impacts, emissions, and public incentives. To empower the local community, local governments must post disclosures on their websites and issue written notice to nearby residential and commercial landowners and renters.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Florida is ground zero for climate change, and our ability to build climate resilience systems-that protect rather than endlessly exploit our national resources-is the defining environmental issue of our time. I’ve sponsored legislation to advance climate resilience, support farmers with sustainable agriculture incentives, set renewable energy goals, mitigate insurance costs, and strengthen drinking water standards to monitor PFAS.

Kenneth Stephann Norman

WEBSITE: www.sn4flgovernor.org/

What are the three most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Mr. Norman did not answer this question.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? One of my solutions for housing affordability is reducing the rent in Florida. DeSantis and Republicans created and signed into law a bill called the Live Local Act that has prevented any form of rent stabilization or reduction. Under the Norman administration, that will change. My plan is to lower the cost of living in Florida.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? My personal vote is no. The property tax elimination that is currently on the ballot in November is a Trojan horse. The measure is intentionally entrenched in deception for Floridian homeowners because Republicans have not yet found a way to replace that money, which funds not only our social services but our police officers, firemen, and our street construction workers. There is a better way to address property taxes in Florida; this measure on the ballot is the wrong way.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Utility companies in Florida have been price gouging their customers because DeSantis has been appointing commissioners such as in Hillsborough County, where the commissioners have always said yes to TECO, Duke Energy, and other utility companies. AI Data centers have corrupted our environment and our politicians alike. Under the Norman Administration, Florida regulators will stop saying yes to utility and insurance rate hikes and start putting Floridians first.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? The biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida is corporate greed. Issues from overdevelopment to constructing major AI data centers, the crux of the issue is always who is being paid. Moreover, it is the environment and Floridians who are left with the fallout. Under the Norman Administration, this corruption will be addressed and will come to an end, because the current leadership’s corruption seems to have metastasized to the environment. Time for a clean sweep FL!

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Republican CFO candidates

The Republican CFO primary is a statewide race open to all registered Republicans in Florida to decide who will represent the party in the November general election.

The CFO has a large number of duties:

• Managing the state’s finances and collecting state taxes
• Running auditing agencies
• Overseeing insurance regulations
• Overseeing fraud investigations
• Acting as State Fire Marshal
• Overseeing funeral and cemetery services
• Overseeing workers’ compensation

Go to MyFloridaCFO.com to learn about the office and the agencies under it.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates. Where possible, for candidates who did not respond, our collaborative partners sought to fill in details.

Our News Collaborative partners at Central Florida Public Media compiled the candidate responses for the Florida CFO race.

You can also see the full Central Florida Public Media Voting Guide HERE.

Frank William Collige

WEBSITE: www.frankforchange.com/

Why are you qualified to lead the Florida Department of Financial Services?

I am qualified to lead the Florida Department of Financial Services because I have spent my career protecting Floridians, not special interests. As a veteran of the United States Air Force, I learned leadership, accountability, and mission-focused decision-making under pressure. As a former Florida investigator, I understand how government operates, how regulations are enforced, and where oversight too often fails. As a Doctor of Business Administration and a successful business owner, I have experience managing budgets, leading organizations, and making difficult financial decisions. As a licensed public adjuster representing policyholders, I have worked directly with thousands of Florida families and businesses navigating insurance claims, giving me firsthand knowledge of the systemic problems driving our insurance crisis.

Unlike career politicians, I bring practical experience from both the public and private sectors. I understand insurance from the consumer’s perspective, financial accountability from the executive level, and government from the inside. My priorities are simple: restore transparency, conduct real audits instead of political spending reviews, eliminate waste, protect consumers, and ensure that every dollar entrusted to the Department is managed with integrity. The Department of Financial Services should work for the people of Florida, and that is exactly how I intend to lead it.

What changes, if any, do you think are needed in Florida’s regulations on banking and other industries? Florida’s regulations should protect consumers while allowing businesses to compete and innovate. I believe the government should focus on fairly enforcing existing laws, increasing transparency, and holding bad actors accountable rather than creating unnecessary bureaucracy. In the insurance industry, we need stronger financial oversight, greater transparency in rate filings, meaningful audits when insurers seek rate increases, and stronger consumer protections. I also support modernizing financial crime investigations, improving fraud detection, and increasing public access to financial information so Floridians can see how their government spends taxpayer dollars.

In banking and other regulated industries, my priority is ensuring institutions remain financially sound, comply with the law, and protect consumers from fraud and deceptive practices. Regulations should be predictable, consistently enforced, and designed to encourage economic growth without sacrificing accountability. My goal as CFO will be to restore public confidence by making the Department of Financial Services a model of transparency, integrity, and responsible oversight.

What is the main message you would like to see the state communicate to Florida residents when it comes to educating them on insurance or other financial topics? The state’s message should be simple: Insurance is a contract, not a favor. Know your rights before you need them. For too long, consumers have been told to “trust the process,” only to discover after a loss that they never understood their policy, the claims process, or their rights under Florida law. The Department of Financial Services should educate people before disaster strikes, not after.

Every homeowner should know how to read a declarations page, understand deductibles and exclusions, document property before a storm, avoid assignment and contractor scams, recognize claim delays and unfair settlement practices, and know exactly where to turn when an insurance company fails to honor its contractual obligations. Likewise, every Floridian should have access to practical education on fraud prevention, identity theft, financial planning, and avoiding investment scams.

An educated consumer is the strongest form of consumer protection. My goal is to make the Department of Financial Services the most transparent and educational agency in state government, giving Floridians the knowledge they need to protect their property, their finances, and their future, rather than leaving them dependent on insurance companies or government bureaucracies to explain their rights after it’s too late.

What area is in the most need of increased attention when it comes to rooting out fraud? Fraud must be rooted out wherever it exists, regardless of who commits it. That includes individuals, contractors, healthcare providers, financial criminals, and insurance companies. Too often, the conversation focuses on one type of fraud while ignoring others. Floridians deserve equal enforcement under the law.

The area that deserves increased attention is insurance fraud at every level. We should aggressively investigate staged losses, fraudulent claims, contractor scams, and public corruption. At the same time, we must hold insurers accountable for fraud, financial misrepresentation, deceptive claim practices, and misconduct that shifts costs onto policyholders. Fraud is fraud, whether it is committed against an insurance company or by one.

As CFO, I will ensure the Department of Financial Services follows the evidence, not politics or special interests. The goal is simple. Protect honest Floridians, prosecute those who break the law, and restore confidence that our financial and insurance systems operate fairly, transparently, and with accountability.

Blaise Ingoglia - Incumbent

WEBSITE: blaiseforflorida.com/

NOTE: Blaise Ingoglia did not participate in this voter guide. What follows is a mix of information from his campaign website, public filings and news reporting (linked to original sources).

Why are you qualified to lead the Florida Department of Financial Services?

Blaise Ingoglia is the incumbent Florida CFO. Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Ingoglia to the open cabinet post in the summer of 2025. Ingoglia, a homebuilder from Hernando County, was serving in the Florida Senate at the time. He previously also served in the Florida House of Representatives and as the chair of the Republican Party of Florida. He’s been a close ally of Gov. DeSantis.

Ingoglia refers to himself as “a conservative pitbull” and a “MAGA businessman.” He lists his three main priorities as 1) Property tax relief, 2) Holding local governments accountable, and 3) Pushing down property insurance rates.

Since taking on the role of CFO, he has toured the state, targeting what he calls excessive spending by local governments across the peninsula, part of his push for a constitutional amendment that would phase out most local property taxes.

As a lawmaker in the Florida Legislature, Ingoglia also pushed for reform meant to lower property insurance costs for homeowners by cutting down on frivolous lawsuits that line the pockets of “bad actors” in the insurance industry.

What changes, if any, do you think are needed in Florida’s regulations on banking and other industries? Blaise Ingoglia lists property insurance reform among his top priorities. “So far as CFO, Blaise has helped to levy millions of dollars in fines to insurance companies for not doing what they are supposed to be doing, protecting homeowners,” according to his campaign website.

What is the main message you would like to see the state communicate to Florida residents when it comes to educating them on insurance or other financial topics? No answer.

What area is in the most need of increased attention when it comes to rooting out fraud? “We need to hold the insurance companies accountable to do what they say that they are going to do, what they are contractually obligated to pay, because if they don’t they’re going to get fined,” he said while launching his campaign in September of 2025. “I am not here to protect the profits of insurance companies. I am not here to protect the profits of trial attorneys. What I am here to do is protect you, the policyholders, and I will continue do that.”

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Democratic CFO candidates

The Democratic CFO primary is a statewide race open to all registered Democrats in Florida to decide who will represent the party in the November general election.

The CFO has a large number of duties:

• Managing the state’s finances and collecting state taxes
• Running auditing agencies
• Overseeing insurance regulations
• Overseeing fraud investigations
• Acts as State Fire Marshal
• Overseeing funeral and cemetery services
• Overseeing workers’ compensation

Go to MyFloridaCFO.com to learn about the office and the agencies under it.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates. Where possible, for candidates who did not respond, our collaborative partners sought to fill in details.

Our News Collaborative partners at Central Florida Public Media compiled the candidate responses for the Florida CFO race.

You can also see the full Central Florida Public Media Voting Guide HERE.

Earle Ford

WEBSITE: earleforcfo.com/

Why are you qualified to lead the Florida Department of Financial Services? Leading the Florida Department of Financial Services requires deep financial expertise, strict accountability, and the discipline to protect taxpayer dollars. My career embodies these.

As an attorney who worked within the IRS Estate and Gift Tax Program, where I routinely audited trusts and estates well over $100M, I developed the forensic financial skills and legal skills required to navigate complex entities, while having a robust understanding of government. I have also been fortunate enough to spend time at the State Attorney’s Office, where I enforced the law and held bad actors accountable. Finally, my service as a U.S. Army paratrooper instilled the decisive leadership and values that are desperately needed in Tallahassee. As a father of two, my mission is to ensure Florida’s economic foundation remains secure, transparent, and built to support the next generation. My belief is that my status as a non-career politician/candidate, my 15 years of professional experience allow me to truly comprehend the struggles of Floridians. I will bring the same tenacity to the investigation the insurance fraud, corruption, and financial crimes targeting vulnerable Floridians that I have during my career. I believe this skill set helps me ensure rigorous compliance and oversee Florida’s auditing functions with precision.

What changes, if any, do you think are needed in Florida’s regulations on banking and other industries?

1) Property Insurance (Maximize Transparency and Enforcement). Florida’s property insurance market is broken because Tallahassee has consistently allowed the insurance lobby to write the rules. We need a CFO who serves as a watchdog for working families, not a lapdog for industry. I would push to force insurers to open their books before they are granted any further rate hikes, demand complete transparency on claims data to aggressively investigate bad-faith denials, and ensure more oversight of affiliate profit shifting. While also pushing to expand consumer advocacy across the board.

However, the job of CFO is also to pursue aggressive enforcement of the law. We need to ruthlessly pursue the bad actors--fraudulent roofers, abusive litigators, and shady adjusters--who are also contributing to rising premiums for hardworking families. I would push to expand the resources of the DFS Criminal Investigations Division to increase arrest rates for insurance fraud.

2) Predatory Lending, Junk Fees, and Scams. Working Floridians are being squeezed by predatory financial practices. We need to aggressively expand the Office of Financial Regulation’s consumer protection mandate to crack down on undisclosed “junk fees” in banking, subscriptions, and loans. I would advocate for stricter caps on interest rates for payday loans and cash advances, which disproportionately trap low-income families and communities of color in endless cycles of debt. This involves partnering with financial entities to counter scammers who disproportionately target older adults, the young, and those with limited financial resources, who are often subject to more risk.

3) Fair Lending and Economic Fairness. The Department of Financial Services must actively combat systemic financial discrimination. I would prioritize enforcing fair lending laws, specifically targeting modern-day redlining and algorithmic bias in mortgage lending and insurance underwriting. We must also actively support credit unions, minority-owned banks, and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) to ensure that capital flows equitably into historically underserved communities, giving more Floridians the opportunity to buy a home or start a business.

What is the main message you would like to see the state communicate to Florida residents when it comes to educating them on insurance or other financial topics? Lack of transparency and accountability is driving Florida’s affordability crisis. By explaining the true hidden costs behind skyrocketing insurance premiums, we empower residents to see past industry spin and demand real legislative accountability. Under my watch, I want to give Floridians unprecedented access and encourage them to seek what is going on behind the scenes.

Teaching Floridians to spot financial fraud is accountability in action. When an educated public knows the red flags for contractor scams and predatory billing, they become our eyes and ears. This intelligence actively allows the state to hunt down, audit, and prosecute financial predators. Ultimately, consumer education is the foundation of government accountability. We are giving you the tools to follow your money, while setting a strict, zero-tolerance standard for true waste, fraud, and abuse.

What area is in the most need of increased attention when it comes to rooting out fraud? Insurance Fraud & Bad-Faith Practices. Florida’s property insurance crisis is the heaviest tax on working families, yet the state rarely investigates the industry itself. We need to investigate carrier insolvency, internal corporate fraud, and systemic third-party bad-faith practices aggressively. When insurance companies systematically underpay, delay, or deny legitimate homeowner claims to pad their bottom lines, that is fraud. Again, the CFO also acts as a referee, ensuring accountability works both ways by enforcing the law to ensure we have a fair system for everyone involved.

Annette Taddeo

WEBSITE: annettetaddeo.com/

Why are you qualified to lead the Florida Department of Financial Services? As a small business owner who has paid Florida’s skyrocketing insurance premiums for more than 30 years and served five years on the Florida Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, I understand the challenges Florida families and businesses face every day. In the Florida Senate, I earned a reputation for working across the aisle, holding our government accountable, and fighting for consumers when Floridians needed help, including during the collapse of Florida’s unemployment system during the pandemic. I will bring that same independent leadership to the Department of Financial Services as a watchdog for taxpayers and consumers.

What changes, if any, do you think are needed in Florida’s regulations on banking and other industries? Florida’s regulations should protect consumers, not powerful interests. That starts with stronger oversight of the insurance industry to ensure homeowners are treated fairly, claims are handled promptly, and insurance companies are held accountable for their actions. As new technologies like artificial intelligence become more common, we also need safeguards to ensure important decisions aren’t made by algorithms without meaningful human review and a clear appeals process. Just as importantly, Florida needs stronger accountability in government. The Department of Financial Services’ F.A.C.T.S. database was created so taxpayers can see how their money is being spent, yet too often contracts -- including no-bid contracts -- are kept out of public view by being classified as purchase orders. That’s not transparency. As CFO, I’ll enforce the law, ensure contracts are publicly accessible as intended, and shine a light on how taxpayer dollars are spent because accountability is the best safeguard against waste and corruption.

What is the main message you would like to see the state communicate to Florida residents when it comes to educating them on insurance or other financial topics? Floridians deserve to know they’re not on their own. The Department of Financial Services should empower people with clear, practical information about their insurance coverage, their financial rights, and where to turn if they need help. Too often, consumers feel like they’re fighting insurance companies or navigating government on their own. The CFO’s office should be their advocate. My priorities are affordability, accountability, and anti-corruption. That means giving consumers the tools they need to make informed decisions, ensuring insurance companies play by the rules, and making government more transparent. Taxpayers should be able to easily see how their money is being spent through resources like the Department’s F.A.C.T.S. database, and there should be no hiding contracts or taxpayer spending behind loopholes. An informed public is one of the strongest safeguards against waste, abuse, and corruption.

What area is in the most need of increased attention when it comes to rooting out fraud? Florida needs stronger oversight at the state level, especially when it comes to no-bid contracts and the misuse of taxpayer dollars. Too often, politically connected companies receive lucrative contracts with little public scrutiny, while required audits go undone and transparency laws are ignored. Taxpayers deserve to know who is receiving government contracts, how those contracts are awarded, and whether public dollars are being spent responsibly.

The diversion of Hope Florida funds and the billion dollars spent on Alligator Alcatraz underscore why independent oversight matters. As Chief Financial Officer, I will follow the money, enforce transparency through the Department’s F.A.C.T.S. database, conduct the audits required by law, and ensure every taxpayer dollar is spent in the best interest of Floridians -- not political insiders.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Republican commissioner of agriculture candidates

The Republican commissioner of agriculture primary is a statewide race open to all registered Republicans in Florida to decide who will represent the party in the November general election.

The commissioner of agriculture has a large number of duties:

• Inspects and tests food products
• Helps protect crops and livestock
• Promotes Florida agriculture
• Manages state forests
• Handles gun licenses
• Serves as a clearinghouse for consumer complaints

Go to the agency’s website HERE to learn about the office and the agencies under it.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates. Our News Collaborative partners at Central Florida Public Media compiled the candidate responses for the Florida Commissioner of Agriculture race.

You can also see the full Central Florida Public Media Voting Guide HERE.

Wilton Simpson - Incumbent

WEBSITE: wiltonsimpson.com/

NOTE: Candidate did not respond to survey; information obtained from candidate website:

AGRICULTURE: Florida farms are legacy businesses that contribute to our nation’s food supply and billions of dollars to our state’s economy. Laws are frequently updated to recognize changes in other industries, and Wilton has made it clear our hardworking Florida farmers will not be left behind. As more and more people leave densely populated areas of the country and relocate to rural areas of our state, residential development encroaches on our rural areas. Friction between these competing land uses can lead to frivolous lawsuits that threaten the survival of legacy farming communities. Wilton wants to make certain we continue to preserve existing farms, which create critical jobs our agricultural communities have relied on for generations.

ENVIRONMENT: As a member of the Florida Cabinet, Wilton stood with Governor Ron DeSantis in May 2023 to approve the preservation of approximately 18,279.38 acres of working agricultural land through cost-effective conservation easements totaling nearly $58 million. The preservation efforts will prevent future development of the land and allow agricultural operations to continue to contribute to Florida’s economy and the production of food, timber, and other resources vital to the prosperity of the Sunshine State. These nine acquisitions are the largest through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’s Rural and Family Lands Protection Program ever approved in the history of the program.

Matt Taylor

WEBSITE: treadback.com/

NOTE: Candidate did not respond to survey; information obtained from candidate website, other sources.

Why are you qualified to lead the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services? Florida’s growing fast, but not in the right ways. We’re losing farmland, clean water, and the small-town way of life that built this state. I’m running for Commissioner of Agriculture to stand up for the people who work the land, not the ones paving it over.

What changes, if any, do you think are needed in Florida’s regulations on agriculture and consumer services? I’m against overdevelopment. Too much of our farmland is being turned into subdivisions and solar fields, and once it’s gone, it’s gone for good.

I’ll fight to:

• Expand programs to help farmers who want to keep their land in agriculture instead of selling to developers.
• Stop industrial and solar projects from taking over productive farmland.
• Give tax relief to family farms and timber owners who protect their property.
• Make sure state funding supports smart growth and local voices, not unchecked sprawl.

Farming should be profitable, not a fight to survive. I’ll work to:

• Launch a Florida Grown First program that directs state agencies, schools, and public institutions to buy Florida-grown food whenever possible.
• Get disaster relief and crop insurance to small farms faster.‚Ä¢ Cut pointless regulations and fees that drive up costs.

Our kids deserve real, healthy food and our farmers deserve steady markets. I’ll push to:

• Provide school meals made with Florida-grown produce and whole milk.
• Connect schools directly with local farms through stronger farm-to-school programs.

Florida’s land and water are being stretched thin by overdevelopment, neglect, and the over-spraying of dangerous chemicals. Here’s what I’ll do:

• Use the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program to help landowners get paid for keeping their land in agriculture instead of selling to developers.
• Expand voluntary conservation programs that help farmers protect soil and water without adding more red tape.
• Push the Cabinet to prioritize conservation easements and block bad land deals that destroy working land or water resources.
• Hold corporate polluters and irresponsible developers accountable when they abuse land or water, and make sure the state isn’t rewarding bad behavior with tax breaks.

Consumer Protection: Everyday Floridians should get what they pay for. I’ll:

• Modernize inspections at gas pumps and grocery stores.
• Crack down on price gouging.
• Keep the Department transparent and accountable.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Democratic commissioner of agriculture candidates

The Democratic commissioner of agriculture primary is a statewide race open to all registered Democrats in Florida to decide who will represent the party in the November general election.

The commissioner of agriculture has a large number of duties:

• Inspects and tests food products
• Helps protect crops and livestock
• Promotes Florida agriculture
• Manages state forests
• Handles gun licenses
• Serves as a clearinghouse for consumer complaints

Go to the agency’s website HERE to learn about the office and the agencies under it.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates. Where possible, for candidates who did not respond, our collaborative partners sought to fill in details.

Joey Mendoza Atkins

WEBSITE: www.joeyforflorida.com/

Why are you qualified to lead the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services? I am seeking this office because I believe the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services deserves leadership that is competent, accountable, and focused on results. The Commissioner oversees one of the largest and most diverse agencies in state government, and that responsibility requires sound judgment, integrity, and a commitment to serving the public.

As a Florida attorney, I have built my career solving complex problems, interpreting and applying the law, and holding individuals and institutions accountable. Those experiences have prepared me to lead a department responsible for protecting consumers, supporting Florida agriculture, conserving our natural resources, and enforcing the laws that keep our markets fair and our food supply safe.

My graduate education in international economic development broadened my understanding of the relationship between agriculture, economic growth, conservation, and public policy. It reinforced my belief that a strong agricultural economy and responsible stewardship of our natural resources go hand in hand. Throughout my career, I have sought practical solutions that strengthen communities and expand opportunity.

I also understand that leadership begins with listening. Florida’s farmers, ranchers, foresters, consumers, and small businesses are the experts on the challenges they face every day. As Commissioner, I will work collaboratively with those stakeholders, rely on sound science and data, and ensure the Department remains transparent, efficient, and responsive.

My goal is simple: to lead a Department that protects consumers, supports Florida’s agricultural community, manages our natural resources responsibly, and earns the public’s trust through competence, fairness, and results.

What changes, if any, do you think are needed in Florida’s regulations on agriculture and consumer services? Florida’s regulatory system should be modern, efficient, and focused on results. I do not believe the goal should be more regulation or less regulation simply for the sake of ideology. The goal should be smart regulation that protects consumers, supports Florida’s agricultural economy, and allows honest businesses to thrive.

For Florida’s agricultural community, that means making regulatory requirements clear, predictable, and efficient while reducing unnecessary bureaucracy for producers who consistently comply with the law. The Department should be a partner to farmers, ranchers, foresters, and agricultural businesses by providing timely guidance and responsive service.

At the same time, consumer protection must remain a core responsibility of the Department. Floridians should have confidence that the food they purchase is safe, fuel pumps are accurate, businesses are operating honestly, and those who engage in fraud or deceptive practices will be held accountable. Enforcement resources should be focused on bad actors rather than creating unnecessary burdens for businesses that follow the rules.

I also believe the Department should continue investing in conservation efforts that protect Florida’s soil, water, and forests while embracing technology and data-driven decision-making to improve efficiency and transparency. Strong agriculture, responsible stewardship of our natural resources, and effective consumer protection are complementary goals that strengthen Florida’s economy and improve quality of life.

What changes do you think are needed in regulating Florida’s agriculture industry, conserving soil and water resources, managing state forests, protecting consumers from unfair trade practices, and ensuring the safety and wholesomeness of food in the marketplace? Florida’s Department of Agriculture should be a partner to the state’s agricultural community while remaining a strong advocate for consumers. I believe our regulatory system should be modern, efficient, and predictable. It must focus on helping honest farmers and businesses comply with the law while holding bad actors accountable. We should continue investing in conservation efforts that protect Florida’s soil, water, and forests because these resources are essential to our agricultural economy and quality of life. Smart conservation and responsible land stewardship are not obstacles to economic growth--they help ensure Florida agriculture remains productive for generations to come. Consumer protection must remain a top priority. Floridians deserve confidence that the food they purchase is safe, fuel pumps are accurate, and businesses operate honestly. The Department should aggressively enforce laws against fraud, deceptive trade practices, and unsafe products while making government more responsive and transparent. Above all, I believe the Department should be results-oriented: reducing unnecessary bureaucracy where possible, embracing innovation and technology, supporting Florida producers, and ensuring government works efficiently for both consumers and the agricultural community.

Donald Prichard

WEBSITE: www.donprichardforfl.com/

Candidate did not respond to survey. Information obtained from various sources.

Why are you qualified to lead the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services? From his website: Don Prichard has built a reputation as someone who leads with conviction, accountability, and a deep respect for the people he serves. In 1998, then 17-year-old Don Prichard joined the Florida Army National Guard. Two years later, he began his career with the Broward Sheriff’s Office.... Don’s responsibilities placed him at the center of public safety operations, strategic planning, crisis management, budgeting, and community engagement. He became known for bringing people together, improving efficiency, and finding practical solutions that protected both taxpayers and the communities he served.

What changes, if any, do you think are needed in Florida’s regulations on agriculture and consumer services? Could not find anything on his website that answered this question. However, in a news release announcing his candidacy on June 8, Prichard said he would focus more on the consumer protection side of the agency, including “aggressively shutting down telephone scams and consumer fraud to ensuring that the food sold in grocery stores is safe and free from pesticides. On his website, he says he will also advocate for a data center moratorium and to lower the state gas tax.

What changes do you think are needed in regulating Florida’s agriculture industry, conserving soil and water resources, managing state forests, protecting consumers from unfair trade practices, and ensuring the safety and wholesomeness of food in the marketplace? Could not find anything on his website that answered this question.

Some 27 million metric tons of self-sustaining sargassum have been recorded in the Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico in July, according to a report released Friday by the University of South Florida’s Optical Oceanography Lab.

The prickly seaweed covers miles of coastline, releasing a foul smell as it rots onshore.

This year marks the first time that scientists have observed sargassum growing in large quantities in areas including the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, instead of being swept into those areas by ocean currents.

The algae usually reproduces asexually as it travels from Western Africa, said Brian Barnes, a marine scientist and research assistant professor at the University of South Florida. “None of this is normal,” he said. “Every year is a little bit of a new story.”

The Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt has been growing since 2011, dumping an increasing amount of seaweed along coastlines in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. Experts have said that agricultural runoff, warming waters and changes in wind, current and rain could be factors.

The sargassum that began reproducing in the region earlier than usual this year stems from a record 40 million metric tons reported last year.

“The 2025 bloom was so big it never really left,” Barnes said. “It was enough to start a new bloom locally.”

Seaweed threatens tourism

Sargassum levels in the Caribbean reached record levels in June, while the amount present in the Gulf hit 5 million metric tons in June, nearly double last year’s record, according to the University of South Florida.

Scientists expect 2026 to be the second largest amount of sargassum recorded in the Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, noting that June alone saw 34 million metric tons, which was only 10% lower than the year-earlier period.

Mexico said Thursday it plans to invest $115 million to tackle the blooming algae, which poses an environmental and economic threat. The government estimates that up to 9,000 tons reach its Caribbean coastline on the worst days. Given current resources, Mexico says it can only gather 1,200 tons of sargassum a day.

On a recent evening, Alan Vázquez closed the restaurant where he works as a waiter in the popular tourist town of Playa del Carmen because there were no customers. He had resisted closing for several hours, hoping he would receive a tip and salvage the day, but vast quantities of decomposing sargassum are turning the famed turquoise waters black, driving away tourists.

“It’s sad that such a beautiful and lively place...has ended up like this,” Vázquez said.

He fears suffering the same fate as four of his colleagues who were laid off two months ago due to a drop in tourism that has devastated hotels and businesses in the state of Quintana Roo, one of Mexico’s tourism gems, where sales fell 30% in the first half of the year, according to estimates from local businesses.

In Puerto Rico, sargassum blankets the waters around popular tourist areas, including La Parguera.

“I don’t recall ever having that much concentration in so many places at once,” said Waldemar Quiles, the U.S. territory’s natural resources secretary.

Much of the record sargassum reported last year ended up along Puerto Rico’s coastline, prompting the governor to declare a state of emergency.

It surpassed the previous record set in 2022 with a peak of some 22 million metric tons.

“It’s not a one-off event anymore,” said Emmanuel Maldonado González, an environmental sociologist at East Carolina University. “It’s becoming a growing hazard.”

Experts warn proliferation will worsen

Patches of sargassum in open waters provide a healthy breeding ground for wildlife, including turtles, fish and seabirds, and can be “a bit of an oasis of life in the middle of the ocean,” Barnes said.

But once it’s closer to shore, it reduces oxygen in the water, smothers mangrove roots and blocks sunlight from reaching coral and sea grass.

Once it washes ashore it can prevent newly hatched sea turtles from reaching the ocean, while the heavy machinery used to remove it from beaches risk destroying fragile turtle nests, scientists say.

“The coastlines are not built for this,” Barnes said.

In the U.S. Virgin Islands, people are walking up to 25 feet (seven meters) on mats of seaweed before even reaching the water, according to Amy Dempsey, an environmental consultant.

“This is by far the worst I’ve seen it in the last five years,” she said. “We are getting slammed in the Virgin Islands.”

The smell of rotten eggs permeates communities where large piles of decaying sargassum emit ammonia and hydrogen sulfide.

“The effects of these gases on people can be severe,” warns the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, noting it can cause nausea, headaches and lung irritation.

Used in composting and bioenergy production

Officials on the French Caribbean island of Martinique recently opened a shelter to temporarily house those affected by the toxic gases after residents protested.

So far this year, crews in Martinique have collected more than 11,500 tons of sargassum — including 638 tons in four days alone this month — according to government data. Sea barriers catch some of the seaweed, while crews on shore collect the remainder by hand, storing and processing it for composting and bioenergy production.

Researchers at the University of South Florida and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration used artificial intelligence and found that from 2003 to 2022, macroalgae blooms increased by more than 13% per year in the tropical Atlantic and Western Pacific.

Overall, the blooms reached 16.9 million square miles (43.8 million square kilometers), according to a study published earlier this year.

___

Associated Press reporter María Verza in Mexico City contributed.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Florida Senate District 10 Democratic candidates

The Florida Senate District 10 election is a Democratic primary for registered Democrats living in the district. The winner will move on to the general election in November to face incumbent Republican State Sen. Jason Brodeur.

Florida Senate District 10 represents Seminole County and part of Orange County in Central Florida.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

Our News Collaborative partners at Oviedo Community News compiled the candidate responses for Florida Senate District 10. Below is an excerpt of each candidate’s profile. To see the full responses, go to the Oviedo Community News candidate page link for each candidate.

You can also see the full Oviedo Community News Voting Guide HERE.

H. Alexander Duncan

WEBSITE: duncan2026.com/

Oviedo Community News candidate profile: oviedocommunitynews.org/profile/h-alexander-duncan/

Candidate Q&A: The questions below are based on voter questions and expressed priorities. Each of the candidates within a race was asked the same questions and given the same amount of time to respond. The candidates’ answers were fact-checked, checked for spelling and grammar but otherwise unedited.

If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?

1. Government: Increased transparency of government. From budgets to actions, to create greater accountability of elected officials and honesty in public service and to both increase citizens’ accessibility to government and to simplify more government services for everyday citizens. To increase government production, while we decrease government corruption.
2. Environment: Locally, protection of the Seminole County rural boundary and greater preservation of natural lands. Statewide, to increase protections for conservation lands and a return of more robust Home Rule powers to increase local control and say in environmental issues.
3. Affordability: To reduce government taxes and fees on individuals, families and small businesses. To bring down healthcare, childcare and elder care costs for working families. To address out-of-control insurance rates from cars to homes, and to address home prices and rent.

For incumbents: Why do you deserve re-election to this race? For challengers and open seats: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? I’ve never sold the public a false image. I’ve always just been me. Nothing more, nothing less. I don’t carry a briefcase, I wear a backpack. I’m not a suit-and-tie type of guy but I try to dress for the occasion. I’m not clean-cut; I have nearly a half-dozen tattoos. I don’t speak in legalese and political jargon, I just talk straight and in plain English. I’m not into being politically correct nor a politician. I’ve been elected, arrested, a protester and the protested. I meet with citizens in churches, mosques and temples, but I also visit citizens in trap houses, on street corners and at trailer parks. In my life – I’ve drank heavily, smoked good and partied hard. In my service – I’ve worked late, been honest and cut no deals. I’ve always loved politics, but I’ve always hated “politicking.” So, in my efforts to return OUR government to “We The People” by “leading by example,” I say: I’m just me. Nothing special, not a saint. I’m as flawed as anyone, but I’m never afraid. When it all hits the fan and I’m under attack, I’m being accused, questioned and drug through the mud? That’s cool. I’m doing it for the right reasons: my community, my fellow countrymen, our future generations.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? To reduce taxes and fees on residents; reform the state insurance industry and to address healthcare costs and childcare costs for Florida families. To implement new and innovative methods in housing construction (to reduce new home construction costs) and home loans (for both new homeowners and renewed homeowners).

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes, and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? I would have to vote no. The bill is poorly written, partisan-centered and currently off-base in addressing lost funding concerns, nor does it seem forward-leaning in being flexible to unforeseen future changes in political, social and economic terms.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Reality says we must stop these data centers. We must protect our natural resources, mainly our waters. This is a question of high-tech fracking, basically. These utilities, starting with the state commission itself, must be investigated, held accountable and then reformed in concern to rising costs to consumers.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? As the former Vice Chairman of the Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District, I’d say: land conservation and preservation and the protection of water resources.

John Lowndes

WEBSITE: www.johnlowndesforflorida.com/

Oviedo Community News candidate profile: oviedocommunitynews.org/profile/john-lowndes/

Candidate Q&A: The questions below are based on voter questions and expressed priorities. Each of the candidates within a race was asked the same questions and given the same amount of time to respond. The candidates’ answers were fact-checked, checked for spelling and grammar but otherwise unedited.

If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?

1. Affordability. Families are being squeezed by rising costs for housing, insurance, healthcare and utilities. I’ll focus on lowering those costs by increasing accountability in the insurance market, promoting more affordable housing options, protecting consumers from unnecessary utility rate increases and making government work more efficiently.
2. Protecting local communities from overreach and irresponsible growth. As Mayor, I’ve seen how local leaders understand their communities best. I’ll fight to restore local decision-making, protect Seminole County’s rural boundary and support responsible growth that preserves our quality of life.
3. Strengthening public education. Every child deserves a great public school. I’ll work to ensure public schools have the resources they need, support raises for teachers and make sure taxpayer dollars are spent in ways that improve student outcomes.

For incumbents: Why do you deserve re-election to this race? For challengers and open seats: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? I’ve spent more than a decade serving our community on the Maitland City Council and as mayor, solving problems instead of creating political fights. My career as an attorney working on land use, utilities, infrastructure and public policy has given me a practical understanding of how government works. I’m running because families need someone focused on lowering costs and delivering real results, not partisan talking points.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Housing affordability starts with increasing supply in the right places while protecting existing neighborhoods and natural resources. We should encourage workforce housing, streamline permitting where appropriate, invest in infrastructure that supports smart growth and address the insurance and utility costs that are making homeownership increasingly unaffordable. Housing isn’t affordable if you can’t afford the insurance or utility bill that comes with it.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes, and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? I have concerns about the amendment as currently proposed because it doesn’t identify a responsible way to replace the revenue that funds local services like police, fire protection, parks and roads. Floridians have worked hard and they deserve relief, but property taxes aren’t the core affordability problem facing most Floridians; skyrocketing insurance premiums are. Any tax reform should provide meaningful relief without simply shifting costs onto taxpayers through service cuts or higher fees. For those reasons, I will be voting no.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Utilities should demonstrate that new infrastructure primarily serving large industrial users, including data centers, does not unfairly shift costs onto residential customers. Regulators should require transparency, encourage energy efficiency and ensure investments are necessary and cost-effective. Families shouldn’t end up subsidizing private development through higher monthly utility bills.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? Florida’s natural lands are one of our greatest assets, and once they’re gone, we can’t get them back. We need to protect Seminole County’s rural boundary, preserve Florida’s wild spaces, and safeguard the lakes, rivers, wetlands and aquifers that support our communities and economy. Growth should happen where infrastructure already exists — not at the expense of our natural lands and water resources. We can accommodate growth while preserving the quality of life that makes Central Florida such a great place to live.

But most of the people who made the crossing soon returned voluntarily, the Spanish government said, after the sudden arrival of so many migrants triggered chaos and a humanitarian crisis.

Some migrants swam several miles through the sea and faced down authorities who tried to turn them back with water cannons, tear gas and warning shots. Those who died included some who drowned or were killed in a stampede to cross a breakwater barrier near a border checkpoint.

Spain deployed its armed forces and additional police to restore order in Ceuta, which sits on the Strait of Gibraltar at the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea and has been a Spanish possession since 1580. On the Moroccan side of the border, security forces clashed with migrants. The chaos also had ripple effects abroad, with Italy and France pledging to tighten their controls on people arriving from Spain.

“The situation that Ceuta is going through is absolutely unsustainable,” Ceuta President Juan Jesús Vivas told journalists.

Meanwhile, migrants from Morocco also attempted to cross into Melilla, Spain’s other territory at the tip of North Africa, where they clashed with police.

Spanish prime minister condemns border breach

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited Ceuta on Friday and condemned the border breach, which he described as “a violation of Spain's territorial integrity.”

Sánchez blamed human smugglers for the crisis, saying they “deceive so many young people and ultimately lead many of them to their deaths," whether in the ocean or in the city.

The Spanish Interior Ministry released its own figures shortly after Vivas spoke, estimating that some 50,000 people had crossed from Morocco since Thursday. It added that 48,300 had already returned to Morocco by Friday evening, with hundreds more going back by the hour.

Rachid Sbihi, who leads a local workers association representing Civil Guard officers, described the situation as a “serious humanitarian crisis,” saying thousands of migrants, including unaccompanied children, were left sleeping in parks and on sidewalks, while others roamed the streets aimlessly.

“It’s chaotic,” Sbihi said.

The Moroccan Interior Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the migrant figures released by the Spanish authorities.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the images from Ceuta "are unacceptable.”

“We cannot allow anyone to come to our Union without abiding by our rules,” she said Friday in an online statement. “Dangerous crossings must stop immediately. Smuggling networks must be dismantled. And returns must be swift, as our rules allow.”

Dozens died in the chaos

Some of the 57 people who died had drowned, Sbihi said, but some were also killed in a stampede to cross the breakwater fence at Tarajal Beach, an urban beach near a border checkpoint with Morocco. The waters near the border fence were littered with buoys, shoes and other abandoned belongings.

Many young Moroccans who crossed into Ceuta told The Associated Press that they had hoped to find better work opportunities in Spain but were returning given the mayhem in Ceuta.

“There’s nothing at home. I’d have to work 12-hour shifts for a meager wage. That’s why I came here,” said 21-year-old Abdulah Buji, who hails from the city of Tetouan. “But I haven’t found any opportunities here either, so I have to go back.”

Moroccan police used water cannons and fired warning shots into the air to prevent migrants from crossing into Ceuta, according to rights groups in Morocco.

Morocco’s ambassador to Spain said the situation in Ceuta had unfolded against Morocco’s wishes.

“We have always prioritized legal, orderly and safe migration for all,” Karima Benyaich said. She did not comment on what prompted the migrants to cross into Ceuta.

To reach Ceuta, on the northern African coast, migrants often swim from the Moroccan town of Fnideq, covering about 3 miles (5 kilometers) to reach Spanish territory. Others attempt the crossing from the nearby town of Belyounech, where the distance is shorter.

Border surge linked to Supreme Court ruling

The authorities in Ceuta and Madrid have linked the border surge to a recent decision by the Spanish Supreme Court, which ruled that migrants arriving by sea could not be summarily deported, unlike those who cross by land or climb the border fence.

Sánchez said migrant smugglers misinterpreted the ruling.

The interpretation of the Supreme Court’s ruling “spread like wildfire over the past few hours through the networks of human trafficking organizations,” triggering the surge, Sánchez said.

Spain has bucked anti-immigration trend

Sánchez has bucked the anti-migration trend that has gained ground across Europe and in the U.S.

Earlier this year, his government moved to give residency and work permits to hundreds of thousands of migrants already living in the country without permission.

Sánchez, a Socialist, argued that it would be good for the economy and the demographics of an aging Spain. Migrants who entered irregularly after Jan. 1 this year were not included.

His critics have jumped at the opportunity to attack his policy, saying it encouraged more migrants to come.

“Sánchez allows Spain to be invaded through Ceuta,” Spanish conservative politician Isabel Díaz Ayuso wrote on X.

The U.S. expressed its support for “the people of Spain, and all Europeans, against this egregious violation of their sovereignty and human rights.”

In a post on X, the State Department added that “this unacceptable incident is the direct result of the Spanish Government’s deliberate efforts to enable and facilitate mass illegal migration into Europe.”

Sánchez on Friday defended his migration policy and distanced it from the events in Ceuta.

In the tumult, Italy temporarily suspended its open-border Schengen agreement with Spain, re-imposing border controls for air and sea. The Interior Ministry said the decision amounted to a “closure” of the borders, but experts said it was merely a resumption of border controls. The agreement allows travelers to fly between the two countries without presenting passports.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said France would also strengthen border checks with Spain.

The crisis in Ceuta "has nothing to do with the regularization of migrants adopted by the Government of Spain, as is being falsely claimed by some,” the Spanish government said in a statement late Thursday after Meloni's announcement.

Pressure grows on second Spanish territory in Africa

Migrants from Morocco also attempted to cross into Melilla, the other Spanish territory at the tip of North Africa.

There was widespread chaos in Bni Nsar, the Moroccan town bordering the Spanish territory, where migrants clashed with police, throwing rocks and setting police vehicles ablaze, according to local media and rights groups. They reported injuries among security forces and the arrest of dozens of people attempting to cross.

Like Ceuta, Melilla is a self-governing Spanish city. Many Moroccans consider both cities to be occupied territory.

___

Naishadham reported from Madrid. Brito reported from Barcelona, Spain. Associated Press journalists Joseph Wilson in Barcelona, Spain; Akram Oubachir in Casablanca, Morocco; and Antonio Sempere in Ceuta, Spain, contributed.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Florida House District 21 candidates

The Florida House District 21 election is a universal primary to determine who will represent District 21 in Tallahassee. Since only Democrats qualified to appear on the ballot, the election is now open to all registered voters.

Florida House District 21 represents part of Marion County in Central Florida, as well as Alachua County.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities. Where possible, for candidates who did not respond, our collaborative partners sought to fill in details from other sources.

Our News Collaborative partners at Central Florida Public Media compiled the candidate responses for Florida House District 21.

You can also see the full Central Florida Public Media Voting Guide HERE.

Sylvain Dore

WEBSITE: sylvaindore.us/

Central Florida Public Media Candidate Profile:

• What are the two most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.
• • Top Issue: Marion and Alachua residents face rising costs, limited access to decisions, untrust and uncertainty about the future. On Day 1, I will file vetted bills on healthcare, education, housing affordability, transparency, and accessibility. I will protect renters and owners from being priced out, lower insurance and utility burdens, and bring resources home. These issues are not red or blue. At UF, I helped deliver accountability, student housing, childcare, safety, and facilitate collaborations.
  • Issue #2: Public safety depends on trust, prevention, and accountability. At UF and with local partners, I helped secure de-escalation and taser police training, speed humps on University Ave, and no-turn-on-red signals. I will expand evidence-based safety standards at school, work, place of worship, home, bike path and road, support law enforcement, and invest early in mental and preventive health, veterans, youth, reentry, and workforce programs. I propose live portals showing how tax dollars are used.
• According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? As a small real estate business owner, I know Florida’s market pressures firsthand. We need a strategic plan to increase supply, fix zoning barriers, cut needless fees, and make housing attainable near jobs and schools. I will protect the Sadowski Housing Trust Fund, support accountable affordable units, and pursue insurance reform that passes savings to consumers. Housing is essential infrastructure, not just an investment product.
• Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? No. Eliminating property taxes would primarily benefit owners of the most expensive homes, while shifting costs to renters and local services. A rushed repeal could create a ~$25B gap for schools, fire rescue, law enforcement, parks, roads, and libraries. We should reform wisely: protect seniors and struggling families, close loopholes for large speculators, lower energy costs, and make sure insurance savings reach consumers.
• Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? The Public Service Commission must put Florida consumers first. Data centers and high-energy users should meet clear public needs and pay their fair share for grid, road, water, land, and health impacts. I would create a reserve funded by major energy users to support resilient energy, statewide charging, universal high-speed internet, and local vocational training so Floridians build, staff, and benefit from these projects.
• What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Protecting our environment is personal. On Lake Santa Fe, my kayak dock now sits on dry land; runoff and failing septics can flip into an algae-choked bay. Our fragile/iconic aquifer and springs/lakes face stress from overdevelopment. I propose strict planning, wastewater management and promote sensitive eco-tourism for local jobs. I plan to set up independent data portals tracking PFAS, E.coli , radon, boil notices, air quality, zoonotic risks, predatory zoning and keep our communities livable.

Antione Fields

WEBSITE: www.fieldsforflorida.com/platform

Central Florida Public Media Candidate Profile:

EDITOR’S NOTE: This candidate did not respond to our request to fill out this voter guide. To best serve you, we searched candidate websites, social media and interviews they’ve done to provide answers to the following questions.

• What are the two most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.
• • Top Issue: From Fields’ website: The cost of living is the biggest issue facing Florida families. Rent, insurance, groceries, utilities, healthcare, and childcare have all become harder to afford. Wages have not kept up, and too many people are working hard but still falling behind. I believe Florida should lower everyday costs, raise wages, and hold corporations accountable when they use their power to make life more expensive for everyone else.
  • Issue #2: From Fields’ website: Healthcare should be a right, not something tied to your job or your ability to pay. I support universal healthcare because nobody should have to skip medicine, delay care, stay in a bad job, or go broke because they got sick. We also have to address the Black maternal health crisis. Black women are too often ignored or dismissed in the healthcare system, and Florida needs stronger postpartum care, more support for doulas and midwives, better data, and real accountability when patients are mistreated.
• According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? In an Instagram post from May 3, 2026, Fields said the following in the caption to a video posted by the campaign about issues of affordability: Families across our community are paying more for rent, gas, healthcare, and groceries, and too many politicians in Tallahassee have sold working people out to the highest bidder. That is why this campaign is all about taking power back for working-class people.
• Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? In an interview published by Main St. Daily News out of Gainesville, Florida, before state lawmakers voted to put the property tax amendment on the ballot, Fields is quoted as saying the following when asked what would guide him through the upcoming special session on property tax reform: I would go into that special session focused on whether this actually lowers costs for working families in a real way. Floridians are getting hit from every direction. Housing costs are up. Insurance costs are out of control. Utility bills are high. Wages have not kept up. People need relief. But I am not interested in fake fixes that sound good for five minutes and then gut funding for schools, fire rescue, roads, storm prep, and basic local services. Property tax reform cannot become another excuse to weaken local government while pretending families are getting help. If lawmakers want to change the system, they need to come with real numbers, a serious plan, and honesty about the tradeoffs. Local communities should not get stuck paying the price later because politicians wanted a headline today. As someone who worked in the Legislature, I have seen firsthand how the decisions made in Tallahassee hit people back home. I would be guided by whether working-class Floridians.
• Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Fields, on his campaign website, says the following about AI data centers driving up utility costs for Floridians and AI in general: AI is moving fast, and Florida should not let tech companies write the rules for themselves. Data centers can use huge amounts of water and energy, and local communities should not be forced to carry the cost while big tech gets the profits. The simple truth is that people do not want massive data centers in their backyard if it means more pollution, higher utility bills, and risks to their drinking water. People are also rightfully worried about privacy, scams, discrimination, and jobs being taken away by AI.
• What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? From Fields’ website: Clean water, farmland, and rural land are part of what makes this district special. Our springs, aquifer, wetlands, and farmland are under pressure from pollution, sprawl, and development that does not always come with the infrastructure communities need.

Xavier Monroe

WEBSITE: xavierforflorida21.com/

Central Florida Public Media Candidate Profile:

• What are the two most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.
• • Top Issue: The most pressing issue facing North Central Florida is affordability. Families are struggling with rising housing, insurance, grocery, and healthcare costs. Growing up in East Gainesville and with family roots in Williston, I understand these challenges firsthand. I will focus on expanding affordable and workforce housing, addressing the property insurance crisis, investing in workforce development, supporting small businesses, and lowering healthcare costs.
  • Issue #2: Healthcare is the second issue I hear about most from voters. Too many families are delaying care because they cannot afford it or cannot find a provider close to home. We need practical solutions that expand primary care, preventive care, mental health services, telehealth, and community clinics while strengthening Florida’s healthcare workforce. In Tallahassee, I’ll focus on bringing people together to deliver results.
• According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Housing costs have risen much faster than wages, making it difficult for teachers, nurses, first responders, young families, and seniors to live in the communities they serve. I support expanding affordable and workforce housing, encouraging responsible growth, reducing unnecessary barriers to construction, and addressing rising property insurance costs. People who work in North Central Florida should have the opportunity to live, raise a family, and retire here.
• Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? NO. Floridians deserve tax relief, but eliminating property taxes altogether would create a significant loss of funding for our schools, law enforcement, fire protection, roads, libraries, and other essential local services. I believe in solving problems responsibly. We can provide meaningful tax relief by improving government efficiency and addressing the real drivers of affordability, especially housing and insurance costs, without weakening the services our communities rely on every day.
• Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Florida families and small businesses should not be asked to subsidize unchecked growth or the energy demands of large corporate users. Data centers may bring economic opportunities, but growth must be planned responsibly. Utility regulators should require transparent planning, ensure costs are allocated fairly, and invest in grid modernization and energy efficiency. Consumers and working families must come first.
• What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Protecting our water is the single biggest environmental challenge facing North Central Florida. Our springs, aquifer, rivers, and drinking water are essential to our health, economy, and quality of life. We can support responsible growth while ensuring development does not outpace infrastructure or threaten these irreplaceable resources. Protecting clean water and our natural beauty must remain a top priority.

Malik Moore

WEBSITE: www.mooreforfl.com/

Central Florida Public Media Candidate Profile:

• What are the two most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.
• • Top Issue: Affordability is the most pressing issue facing District 21. Families are struggling with rising housing costs, soaring property insurance premiums, and the increasing cost of everyday necessities. I will prioritize legislation that increases transparency and accountability in the insurance market, expands access to affordable housing, reduces barriers to homeownership, and creates economic opportunities so Floridians can build wealth instead of simply struggling to get by.
  • Issue #2: Education is the second most pressing issue facing District 21. Every child deserves a quality education regardless of ZIP code or income. I will fight to fully fund public schools, increase teacher pay, provide classroom resources, and keep politics out of education. I also support expanding career and technical programs and apprenticeships so students are prepared for college, military service, or high-demand careers.
• According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Housing affordability is one of the greatest challenges facing District 21. I support reducing or eliminating documentary stamp taxes for first-time home buyers to lower the cost of purchasing a home. I also believe we should strengthen the Live Local Act by giving local governments a greater role in the program and providing resources to develop more workforce and affordable housing that meets the unique needs of our communities.
• Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? No. I do not support eliminating property taxes because it would significantly reduce funding for essential local services like law enforcement, fire rescue, libraries, parks, and infrastructure. Floridians deserve meaningful tax relief, but it should not come at the expense of local communities. I support targeted relief that lowers costs while protecting local governments and ensuring they have the resources needed to provide critical public services.
• Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? District 21 families are already burdened by high utility costs. Regulators should require utilities to publicly justify rate increases and ensure rates are fair and reasonable. Data centers must undergo rigorous review to assess impacts on utility costs, infrastructure, and the environment. Local governments and residents should have a meaningful voice before projects that significantly affect their communities are approved.
• What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? The biggest environmental issue facing District 21 is protecting our water quality and conserving our natural resources. We must continue investing in efforts to transition communities from septic systems to sewer to protect our aquifers, fully fund Florida Forever to preserve environmentally sensitive lands, and ensure the Department of Environmental Protection has the resources needed to enforce environmental protections and provide lawmakers with recommendations to safeguard Florida’s future.

Jacquelyn Randall

WEBSITE: https://jackieforflorida.com/

Central Florida Public Media Candidate Profile:

EDITOR’S NOTE: This candidate did not respond to our request to fill out this voter guide. To best serve you, we searched candidate websites, social media and interviews they’ve done to provide answers to the following questions.

• What are the two most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.
• • Top Issue: On Randall’s website: Jacquelyn will fight to rein in rising insurance premiums, utility costs, and everyday expenses, and oppose policies that pad corporate profits at the expense of working families. Jackie knows that strong communities start with good jobs and thriving local businesses. She’ll fight to attract responsible economic development, support small businesses, and make sure working families earn fair wages so they can build their futures right here in North Central Florida.
  • Issue #2: On Randall’s website: As a college professor, and someone who once helped rally parents to save her community local school from closure, Jackie has always fought for our children’s future. She will work to ensure public schools have the resources they need, support teachers as trusted professionals, and invest in career training and higher education so every student can succeed. She knows that our schools are the cornerstone of our communities and will fight budget cuts to close rural schools.
• According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Randall did not fill out the questionnaire and nothing on her candidate website states how she would tackle housing affordability in her district. However, while mayor of Hawthorne, she is credited with moving forward and affordable housing project called Bella Meadows, which included the option of rent-to-own. SOURCE: https://jackieforflorida.com/accomplishments; Neighborhood Housing and Development Corporation.
• Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? According to the Main Street Daily News, Randall has come out in opposition to the push to slash property taxes. On her last day as mayor of Hawthorne, Randall sent a letter to the state noting opposition from the city. Randall noted “smaller communities face the steepest impact.”
• Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Randall did not fill out the questionnaire and we could not ascertain where she stands on this issue.
• What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Randall did not fill out this questionnaire, but her campaign website says the following about the environment: Jackie believes protecting Florida‚Äôs natural resources is both an environmental and economic priority. She‚Äôll work to preserve clean water, safeguard farmland, and invest in sustainable infrastructure that supports our tourism, agriculture and local farmers, and future generations of Floridians.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Florida House District 23 candidates

The Florida House District 23 election is a Republican primary for registered Republicans living in the district. The winner will move on to the general election in November

Florida House District 23 represents part of Marion County in Central Florida, as well as Citrus.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

Our News Collaborative partners at Central Florida Public Media compiled the candidate responses for Florida House District 23.

You can also see the full Central Florida Public Media Voting Guide HERE.

Tod Cloud

WEBSITE: www.cloud4flhouse.com/

Central Florida Public Media Candidate Profile:

• What are the two most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.
• • Top Issue: Affordable homeowners’ insurance. I would think outside the box and make Florida’s Citizens Insurance the first choice and not the last choice. I would also explore the possibility of backs self-insuring their loans.
  • Issue #2: Water quality. Stop the spraying of herbicides in our waterways by the F.W.C. and limiting the spraying by the power companies to control vegetation. We also need to stop selling our natural water resources to bottling companies.
• According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? We need more programs like Habitat for Humanity. Or find other Federal Grants to help build affordable housing.
• Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? No! The ballot Amendment is not what the Governor had in mind. The House and Senate made it too complicated, instead of keeping it simple.
• Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? No Data Centers. Unless the Data center is built next to a power company, like they could have done in Citrus County and they could also use the Gulf of America/Gulf of Mexico for its water-cooling system.
• What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Overdevelopment is a very big problem in our district. We need to stop the overdevelopment of our Nature Coast. We also need to stop the Toll Roads.

J.J. Grow

WEBSITE: www.votejjgrow.com/

Central Florida Public Media Candidate Profile:

EDITOR’S NOTE: This candidate did not respond to our request to fill out this voter guide. To best serve you, we searched candidate websites, social media and interviews they’ve done to provide answers to the following questions.

• What are the two most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.
• • Top Issue: Grow lists as the first issue on his campaign website the following: Cutting your taxes and fiscal responsibility. There is nothing more important than putting money back into the pockets of hard-working Florida families. JJ Grow voted to cut BILLIONS in taxes, including sales taxes holidays for school supplies, tools, and hurricane preparedness items and voted to place historic property tax relief on the ballot this November, potentially saving homeowners thousands of dollars a year in property taxes. JJ also voted to shrink the size of state government, voting for back-to-back balanced budgets that reduced spending, paid off early one billion in debt and put billions in the state’s Rainy Day Fund.
  • Issue #2: Grow lists insurance second on his campaign website under issues: Florida’s insurance market needs continued reforms to make sure we have a thriving, stable, and AFFORDABLE marketplace. Because of the reforms, passed a few years ago that targeted frivolous lawsuits and needless litigation, our insurance market is showing signs of improvement. We‚Äôve seen OVER 30 homeowners‚Äô insurance companies DECREASE their rates, we’ve seen OVER 40 auto insurance companies DECREASE their rates and we’ve had nearly two dozen new insurance companies come into Florida more competition helps lower prices. We have to remain vigilant and make sure that insurance companies are doing the right thing, paying out claims, and not hiding profits so homeowners and drivers can enjoy continued reductions in rates.
• According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Grow believes reducing property taxes is a means to keeping Floridians in their homes. On his campaign website, he says he will preserve and expand property tax exemptions for seniors, veterans, and working families while also ensuring governments are using tax dollars efficiently.
• Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? Grow voted in favor of putting the property tax measure to voters in November. He did not respond to the survey, so it is unclear whether he will vote yes or no.
• Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Grow did not respond to this questionnaire. However, he did, this past legislative session, vote in favor of a bill that supporters say will prevent utilities from shifting the cost of large-scale data centers onto small businesses and residential customers. That legislation, SB 484, is now law.
• What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Grow did not respond to this questionnaire; however, he describes himself as an avid outdoorsman. Grow also states in a video on his website that in part, he’s running to make sure that we “take care of the conservation and the tourism being blessed with the natural resources that we have.”

The week before the Jacksonville Jaguars opened training camp, Hunter was photographed wearing a police vest posing with Sheriff T.K. Waters and members of the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department. It had the look of a ride-along, though Hunter wasn't saying.

“I was just out there just having fun with Sheriff T.K.,” Hunter said Friday.

Hunter, the Heisman Trophy winner out of Colorado whom the Jaguars made the No. 2 pick in last year's draft, has enough to keep him occupied in training camp. Hunter is returning from injury, his rookie year ending two months into the season when he tore knee ligaments during noncontact drills.

In seven games, he played 324 snaps at receiver and 162 snaps at cornerback. The plan to use him on both sides of the ball has not changed, especially after the Jaguars shored up the core of their secondary by re-signing Montaric “Buster” Brown in March.

Hunter has been wearing a teal jersey for offense in three days of camp, with a white bib and his No. 12 he can slip on when he plays in the secondary.

“How do we balance his reps here, knowing that we’re trying to ease him in, but he also at some point needs to get double the amount that a normal player gets,” coach Liam Coen said. “And so what does that ramp-up look like? We have it all kind of mapped out ... on every single practice schedule, his reps are highlighted in here — where he’s in, what plays he’s in, where he’s at on the field. We’ve been extremely intentional about it.”

Hunter, who had surgery Nov. 11 to repair the lateral collateral ligament in his right knee, was limited during offseason workouts. But he used that time to build up some 10 pounds of muscle in his upper body and managed to get even faster.

He was clocked running at 22.6 mph at the team's facility last week.

“I was a small guy coming in. Everybody was like, ’Gain weight, gain weight,’” Hunter said. “I was scared at first. I'm like: ‘Dang, I’ve never played at this weight. I'm going to feel heavy, not going to be able to do what I do.' Training and being able to put those months in — not just on the grass but in the weight room — just putting in extra work, it made me feel lighter on my feet when I finally touched the grass.”

He looked like he was flying on grass when he ran the 22.6 mph — no pads, no one around him, not in a game — but it was another indication all was well.

“I'm trying to hit 23 now,” Hunter said. “That's the next goal.”

The Jaguars could use the production considering how much they gave up in a trade to get the second pick in 2025 — their No. 5 pick last year and No. 1 pick this year. They won nine of their last 10 games last year after Hunter was injured to win the AFC South.

For his part, Hunter feels like last year never happened in terms of his health.

“I put nine months in, so it doesn’t feel like I’m coming off an injury,” he said. "Just get the rust off right now. I’ve been gone for nine months, not able to be out here with my teammates for nine months, so finally being able to hit the grass, knock the rust off and just continue to click with the quarterbacks and click with the defense.”

Defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile said Hunter is getting back into the flow, and the added muscle in his upper body is noticeable.

“You never want to see anybody get injured, but I think he really put his best foot forward in the weight room as he was recovering from a lower-body injury,” Campanile said. “He just looks really physical in the team work and in the individual period. So he's done a good job.”

And now it's all football, though the Engine 36 B-Shift crew said in its Facebook post for Hunter to let them know when he was ready for a ride-along.

“We promise, it's just as hot as training camp,” the post said.

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Here are the most important developments across the Middle East today:

Gaza: Deal reached for Hamas to disarm, Israel to withdraw

Hamas said it will begin disarming as part of a deal announced by U.S. President Donald Trump that also requires Israel to end its strikes and withdraw from Gaza.

Hamas also said that laying down its heavy weapons, which would come later in the process, was contingent on the creation of a Palestinian state, something Israel’s current government adamantly rejects.

Reflecting the hurdles of the potential disarmament, a series of Israeli airstrikes shook Gaza again on Friday, killing at least one Palestinian and wounding at least four, including a child, according to officials in hospitals near the attacks. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the agreement, calling it the only good news in recent days from a troubled region. The deal must be implemented “without any questions, skepticism, or determination to undermine it,” he told reporters.

Israel has not officially commented on the Hamas deal, which is part of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire announced last October. That agreement called for Hamas to disarm and hand over power to an independent Palestinian administration. Israel was to withdraw and an International Stabilization Force was to be deployed.

But progress stalled, with Israel saying everything hinged on Hamas disarming, and Hamas accusing Israel of violating the agreement by continuing to carry out regular strikes on Gaza.

The war in Gaza began after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killed around 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage. Israel’s retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians, including those killed since the ceasefire, Gaza’s Health Ministry says.

The Associated Press is tracking the progress of Trump's plan to end the Israel-Hamas war.

Latest developments on the Iran conflict

No U.S. strikes were reported in Iran on Friday. Iran fired drones at Kuwait, a Gulf country hosting U.S. forces, and said it had also fired at oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global oil and gas shipments, which has been largely closed by the fighting.

1. Kuwait's Defense Ministry said Friday its armed forces had shot down drones inside Kuwaiti airspace. It said the Iranian attacks had targeted several vital military facilities, causing material damage from falling shrapnel but no casualties. It did not specify how many drones were intercepted. Iranian state media said Iran had targeted an air base in Kuwait with drones in retaliation for U.S. strikes on Thursday.

2. Iran's Revolutionary Guard claimed to have hit two oil tankers attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state media said four other tankers had turned around. The report did not provide further details on the tankers' ownership, or whether there were any casualties.

Elsewhere in the region:

3. Saudi Arabia has announced a plan for a defense alliance of 14 countries to strengthen maritime security, safeguard freedom of navigation and secure international trade routes and energy supply corridors in the Red Sea region. The Iran war has severely disrupted global shipping. Yemen's Houthi rebels have declared a blockade on Saudi Arabia over a separate but related conflict, putting at risk another major trade corridor .

4. Saudi Arabia's Defense Ministry said Thursday that the coalition is “defensive in nature,” and that access “remains open to all willing countries.” Oman and the United Arab Emirates were the only two Gulf countries that did not back Saudi Arabia’s statement. Turkey, Egypt and Pakistan were among those that joined the proposed alliance.

5. A Houthi official, speaking Friday on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to brief the media, said the Saudi initiative won't protect its vessels — that would happen only after the Saudis lift their blockade on Yemen. Large crowds of Yemenis, meanwhile, took to the streets in the capital, Sanaa, and other Houthi-controlled areas to show support for the Iran-backed rebels and their Red Sea attacks against Saudi Arabia. The rallies were organized by the Houthis.

6. In southern Lebanon, Israeli forces set off explosions Friday to destroy an underground tunnel network under the Crusader-built Beaufort Castle that Israel says had been used by Hezbollah militants as a command center. The 12th-century castle, also known as Al-Shaqif, was seized by Israeli forces in May. It was recently added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List over Israel’s objections.

7. Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun said the Israeli operation sent “negative messages” ahead of upcoming talks in Rome. Israeli and Lebanese negotiating teams are set to meet again there to continue hammering out a plan under which Israel would withdraw from southern Lebanon in exchange for Hezbollah’s disarmament.

___

Associated Press writer Fatma Khaled contributed to this report from Cairo. Becatoros contributed from Athens, Greece.

Trump began the meeting by noting it was “something very unique.”

“It's Camp David, and this room is a very, very special room,” Trump said, as the White House spent Friday morning highlighting that the meeting was the first televised Cabinet meeting at the storied presidential retreat.

He then segued into his usual talking points about the economy, the border and Iran — but then referred to the recent surge of migrants into Cueta, a tiny territory of Spain, suggesting that the moment should be taken as a warning to voters ahead of the U.S. midterms.

“You know I saw Spain yesterday, and I watched the catastrophe that took place. It looks like an invasion of a country by hundreds of thousands of people,” Trump said. “And that same thing is going to happen to us if the Republicans don’t get elected. Except worse, much bigger.”

Other Cabinet officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, also spoke before Trump fielded questions from journalists, who left the meeting after nearly an hour.

It was the first Cabinet meeting at Camp David in Trump's second term after an earlier attempt in May was scuttled because of bad weather. During his first term, Trump held a Cabinet meeting at the retreat.

The public portion of Trump's Cabinet meetings has lasted as long as three hours, with the president letting everyone at the table update him on their departments or agencies — with added praise for him personally and his leadership thrown in. In a departure from other presidents, he has allowed the news media to stay for the duration of the meetings, a move that Leavitt has said proves his commitment to transparency.

More recently, however, Trump has commented on how lengthy the meetings have become. He has begun urging speakers to keep their comments brief, and he has limited the number of oral reports.

“Everybody around here has got a lot to say. But we did that once, and it lasted for like four or five hours. It was a little much,” Trump said at the May meeting.

Camp David was established in 1942 during Franklin Roosevelt's presidency and has been used by every president since.

Roosevelt had enjoyed relaxing aboard a presidential yacht, but the military and the U.S. Secret Service began to worry about his safety on open water during World War II. As a result, Roosevelt asked the National Park Service to find sites within 100 miles (160 kilometers) of the White House that he could use for rest.

He chose what is now known as Camp David. He gave it the original name of Shangri-La, from James Hilton’s novel “Lost Horizon.” President Dwight Eisenhower renamed it Camp David, after his grandson and father.

Trump spent more weekends at the retreat in his first term but has visited sparingly in his second, most recently in June for Father’s Day.

In 2019, during his first term, Trump announced on social media that he had canceled a secret weekend meeting at Camp David with Taliban and Afghanistan leaders — scheduled for just days before the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks — after a bombing in the capital of Kabul killed a dozen people, including a U.S. soldier.

Presidents throughout history have turned to Camp David when they needed security and privacy for sensitive diplomatic talks with foreign leaders. Jimmy Carter took the leaders of Egypt and Israel there in 1978 for talks that produced the Camp David Accords, a peace agreement between the two countries.

Camp David is also where Carter huddled in 1979 with representatives of a cross-section of American society. He later delivered a nationally televised speech on energy policy that became known as the “malaise” speech — even though he never said the word.

The camp's primary purpose is to provide presidents a place to rest, relax and recharge.

The 180-acre (73-hectare) retreat, which is run by the Navy and guarded by Marines, has a cabin named Aspen that’s reserved for the president, plus about a dozen other cabins for guests. A main lodge has conference rooms, a dining room and an office for the president.

Guests can take advantage of a range of indoor and outdoor amenities, including a fitness center, a bowling alley, a movie theater, a heated swimming pool and tennis and basketball courts. A chapel offers religious services.

___

Superville and Kim reported from Washington.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Florida House District 24 candidates

The Florida House District 24 election is a universal primary to determine who will represent District 21 in Tallahassee. Since only Republicans qualified to appear on the ballot, the election is now open to all registered voters.

Florida House District 24 represents part of Marion County in Central Florida.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

Our News Collaborative partners at Central Florida Public Media compiled the candidate responses for Florida House District 24. Below is an excerpt of each candidate’s profile.

You can also see the full Central Florida Public Media Voting Guide HERE.

Ryan Chamberlin - Incumbent

WEBSITE: ryanchamberlincampaign.com/

Central Florida Public Media Candidate Profile:

EDITOR’S NOTE: This candidate did not respond to our request to fill out this voter guide. To best serve you, we searched candidate websites, social media and interviews they’ve done to provide answers to the following questions.

• What are the two most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.
• • Top Issue: We could find no information about what Chamberlain believes to be the most important issues in his district.
  • Issue #2: Again, Chamberlain did not respond to this questionnaire and we could find no information about what he believes to be pressing issues in his district.
• According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Chamberlain did not respond to this questionnaire.
• Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? Chamberlain did not respond to this questionnaire, so we are unable to say how he will vote on the ballot measure. However, he has said that if lawmakers and the governor could get something on the ballot this year, he would be in full support. Chamberlain is on record as supporting the elimination of all property taxes. Earlier this year, he was behind an effort to get a citizen-led constitutional amendment on the 2028 ballot that would have done just that. Chamberlain has suggested replacing the property tax, in part, with funds that could come from charging tourists who may need to use local services.
• Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? We were unable to ascertain through readily available information where Chamberlain stands on this issue.
• What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? We were unable to ascertain through readily available information where Chamberlain stands on this issue.

Scott Wilkins

WEBSITE: www.facebook.com/people/Scott-Wilkins-for-FL-House-District-24/61590219422365/

Central Florida Public Media Candidate Profile:

• What are the two most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.
• • Top Issue: The most pressing issue for District 24 is education. Marion County ranks 58 out of 67 counties and recently received a C grade for our schooling. Our children deserve better than this and I would put forward legislation focusing on stronger literacy goals in K-6. I would work to support our teachers and administrators more, however that may be.
  • Issue #2: The second most pressing issue for District 24 is the lack of a strong growth management plan. Currently, overdevelopment, or rather a lack of strategic planning, is negatively impacting Marion County. If elected I would put forward legislation to slow urban sprawl and hold builders more accountable for infrastructure before building new developments. We also need to focus on more individual home needs, such as providing bigger lots, instead of building blanket communities.
• According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Home buying is an American dream that is slowly slipping out of reach for the middle and lower class. I believe there should be more incentives for first-time home buyers, such as if you can show a certain amount of years consecutively paying a certain amount of rent on time that you should be able to get a house with a monthly mortgage at that amount. Credit and a high down payment should not be deciding factors.
• Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? Yes property tax should be eliminated but only if we have a strong plan in place to help relieve some of that revenue lost for counties. I believe this can be done by leaning more on the tourist industry and a hospitality tax for out-of-state residents. It can also be managed by charging developers a high-impact fee to build and ensuring that that money paid goes back into the community.
• Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Data centers should not be allowed in our state for the toll it takes on the environment. As for utility companies, the taxpayers should not have to pay higher prices for the use of those utilities. Meters should be monitored more frequently for accuracy and reliability. They could look into utilizing solar power more without it costing the high price it currently does.
• What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? The loss of trees and the drain on our local water sources. As we continue to develop, we lose a lot of our natural canopy which in turn provides less shade and makes it hotter. The continued development also draws on natural springs and the aquifer which is depleting those bodies of water. We need to hold developers accountable to plant more trees when they build, we need to invest in technology to find better ways to use water, and incentivize for more local farms.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Florida House District 25 Republican candidates

The Florida House District 25 election is a Republican primary for registered Republicans living in the district. The winner will move on to the general election in November.

Florida House District 25 represents part of Lake County in Central Florida.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

Our News Collaborative partners at Central Florida Public Media compiled the candidate responses for Florida House District 25. Below is an excerpt of each candidate’s profile.

You can also see the full Central Florida Public Media Voting Guide HERE.

Tom Vail

WEBSITE: tom4florida.com/

NOTE: This candidate did not respond to our request to fill out this voter guide. To best serve you, we searched candidate websites, social media and interviews they’ve done to provide answers to the following questions.

What are the most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.

It is unclear what Vail believes to be the most important issues facing his district. However, on his campaign website, he does list the principles that underlie his legislative intent. Those principles are as follows:

• Preserve/restore/expand freedom
• Preserve and defend US Constitution and Constitutional Rights, protect speech, limit surveillance.
• Reduce size/spending/regulation of government.
• Stop Sharia law.
• Keep local control of development.
• Require development to pay for its own infrastructure, water, sewage treatment, electricity, rather than offloading expansion costs to current users.
• Control housing costs, insurance, taxes (restrictions on large investor purchases of single-family housing).
• Defend families.
• Stop Marxism.
• Expel illegal aliens.
• Defend law enforcement.
• Remove activist judges.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Vail did not respond to this questionnaire. However, on his campaign website, he does talk about the Live Local Act. Vail believes the following: The costs of building new infrastructure, electrical, sewage treatment, water must be borne by those investing and developing, NOT by the existing residents. This is why local control of government and local control of zoning is important.

Citizens MUST pay attention to the development in their own communities and make sure that their local officials follow their wishes.

State legislation should support this. The Live Local Act is one of the ways that local zoning control is removed from cities and counties in Florida, and is controlled in Tallahassee. This should be repealed.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? Vail did not respond to this questionnaire and we were unable to find an answer to this question.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Vail did not respond to this questionnaire and we were unable to find an answer to this question.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Vail did not respond to this questionnaire and we were unable to find an answer to this question.

Taylor Yarkosky - Incumbent

WEBSITE: www.tayloryarkosky.com/

NOTE: This candidate did not respond to our request to fill out this voter guide. To best serve you, we searched candidate websites, social media and interviews they’ve done to provide answers to the following questions.

Central Florida Public Media Candidate Profile:

What are the most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below. On his campaign website, Yarkosky said that public safety is his highest priority. He supports law enforcement, first responders and policies that hold criminals accountable.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Yarkosky, on his campaign website, says families should be able to keep more of what they earn. He says he is committed to lowering the cost of living by expanding tax relief, reducing housing costs and continuing reforms that make insurance more affordable.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? Yarkosky did not respond to this questionnaire. It is unclear how he will vote on this issue but he did vote in favor of putting the measure on the November ballot.

In a Facebook post from June 1, Yarkosky said the following: One thing I know for certain in politics is this: when we trust the people and listen to the people, we get it right. The citizens of Florida have entrusted us with the privilege of serving them, and I will always support giving voters a direct voice on issues that impact their homes, families, and financial future.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Yarkosky did not respond to this questionnaire and it is unclear where he stands on this issue.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Yarkosky did not respond to this questionnaire and it is unclear where he stands on this issue.

The proposal from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation spares Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Wyoming from facing mandatory cuts for now. But it’s a temporary fix as the states that rely on the river still fight over a long-term management plan for the dwindling resource that powers huge swaths of the Western U.S.

Under the plan, the Lower Basin states could face collective cuts up to 3 million acre-feet (130 billion cubic feet) through 2036, “subject to hydrology,” according to a press release by the Department of the Interior. That’s about enough water to serve more than 25 million people a year.

The plan would also allow annual releases between 5 million and 12 million acre-feet from Lake Powell, the basin’s second-largest reservoir. Under the 10-year federal framework, water management decisions will be made every two years.

“This framework provides the flexibility to respond to changing hydrologic conditions while preserving the opportunity for the Basin States to continue working toward durable, consensus-based solutions,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum in the press release.

The proposed cuts in the Lower Basin states of California, Arizona and Nevada would be the biggest to date and could have huge impacts across cities and farms — higher water prices, increased groundwater reliance, more agriculture out of production and conservation mandates in places where none have existed before.

The federal plan comes after years of deadlocked negotiations and a record-dry winter that tipped Colorado River reservoirs to combined record lows. Federal officials are expected to finalize the plan in the coming days.

More than 40 million people in seven U.S. states, several tribal nations and Mexico, as well as farmers, wildlife, industries and hydropower, rely on the dwindling 1,450-mile (2,334-kilometer) Colorado River. Years of overuse combined with rising temperatures and drought have severely depleted flows in the Colorado today compared with decades past.

___

This story has been updated to correct the Interior Secretary’s first name. He is Doug Burgum, not Dough Burgum.

___

The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of AP’s environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in those elections. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Florida House District 31 Republican candidates

The Florida House District 31 election is a Republican primary for registered Republicans living in the district. The winner will move on to the general election in November.

Florida House District 31 represents part of Brevard County in Central Florida. The current incumbent, Republican Tyler Sirois, is term-limited.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

Our News Collaborative partners at Central Florida Public Media compiled the candidate responses for Florida House District 31. Below is an excerpt of each candidate’s profile.

You can see the full Central Florida Public Media Voting Guide HERE.

Mindy Gibson

WEBSITE: votemindygibson.com/

This candidate did not respond to our request to fill out this voter guide. To best serve you, we searched candidate websites, social media and interviews they’ve done to provide answers to the following questions.

• What are the most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.
• • Gibson did not respond to this questionnaire and we could not ascertain what she believes to be the top issues in her community.
• According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Gibson did not respond to this questionnaire, but according to her campaign website, she supports policies that lower taxes, eliminate burdensome regulations and foster an economy where small businesses and families can thrive. Gibson says she will champion economic growth, job creation, and financial security. At a forum put on by Space Coast Daily, when asked about the Live Local Act, which was created to help with this issue of making housing more affordable, Gibson says it was designed with larger cities in mind. Gibson says Satellite Beach doesn’t need an affordable housing project but it is getting one. She says she would repeal the section of Live Local that allows projects to be built with local input. Gibson noted that vacation rentals are the real cause for this issue and local governments should be allowed to regulate them.
• Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? Gibson is on record as opposing this amendment in its current form, stating it penalizes communities with high homestead rates. In a forum put on by Space Coast Daily, Gibson said that for an area like Satellite Beach where 85% of the homes are homesteaded, it would lose 25% of its revenue in the first year. She says services and quality of life would be diminished.
• Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Gibson did not respond to the questionnaire and we were unable to ascertain her thoughts on the issue.
• What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Gibson did not respond to this questionnaire, but in a Q&A on her campaign website, Gibson talks about protecting water quality and the Indian River Lagoon. She says she supports the half-cent sales tax renewal, responsible investment in stormwater infrastructure and resilience projects, septic-to-sewer projects that reduce nutrient pollution and new emerging technologies that deliver solutions more efficiently and with less burden on taxpayers.

Robyn Hattaway

WEBSITE: www.votehattaway.com/

• What are the most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.
• • Top Issue: The biggest challenge in District 31 is managing rapid growth without sacrificing our quality of life. We need smart infrastructure investments that improve roads, water systems, public safety, and environmental resilience while supporting job creation. As a former Port Commissioner, I’ve seen that thoughtful planning -- not bigger government --delivers lasting results.
  • Issue #2: Affordability: Government can’t spend its way to affordability. Florida should continue lowering taxes, reducing regulations, addressing the insurance crisis, and ensuring utilities remain affordable. Families deserve policies that let them keep more of their paycheck while protecting the quality of life that makes Brevard special.
• According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Housing affordability deserves attention, but it’s only one part of the affordability crisis. Government should look for opportunities to reduce the cost of living across the board--from insurance and healthcare to groceries, utilities, and housing. That means cutting unnecessary regulations, supporting Florida farmers and ranchers, keeping taxes low, and making government more efficient so families can keep more of what they earn.
• Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? No. Keep taxes as low as possible? Always. Eliminate waste before asking taxpayers for another $. Property taxes fund law enforcement, infrastructure & public schools. Eliminating them without a sustainable replacement simply shifts costs elsewhere or weakens essential services. Replacing taxes with fees doesn’t lower costs--it just changes the name. Real tax reform reduces the cost of government through efficient, transparent spending, not by simply renaming the bill in the mail.
• Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Government should protect consumers by ensuring utility rates are fair, transparent, and justified. Families and small businesses should not subsidize major industrial users. Utilities should demonstrate efficiency before seeking rate increases, and regulators should encourage competition and innovation wherever practical to keep costs affordable.
• What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Protecting our waterways, notably the Indian River Lagoon, is the most important environmental issue in District 31. We should invest in water quality, stormwater improvements, lagoon restoration, and resilient infrastructure while holding polluters accountable.

Marcus Herman

WEBSITE: www.marcusherman.com/

This candidate did not respond to our request to fill out this voter guide. To best serve you, we searched candidate websites, social media and interviews they’ve done to provide answers to the following questions.

• What are the most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.
• • Top Issue: Herman, on his campaign website, says that helping working families and seniors is top priority. One way he says he’ll do this is by lowering insurance rates. Herman says skyrocketing insurance premiums are a threat to financial security and that he’ll fight for lower premiums to keep Brevard affordable.
  • Issue #2: Herman did not respond to this questionnaire. From the information available, it is unclear what he believes to be the second most pressing issue in his district.
• According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Herman did not respond to the questionnaire but says that he will fight to lower insurance rates that threaten financial stability to keep Brevard affordable. When asked about the Live Local Act at a Space Coast Daily forum, Herman spoke of an affordability crisis in Florida that encompasses the cost of renting an apartment; that impacts both young people and the elderly.
• Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? Herman did not respond to this questionnaire but in a forum hosted by Space Coast Daily, Herman called it a tax shift and not a tax break. Herman believes that if Amendment 3 passes, it will take years to undo the damage. Herman recommends people do their research and notes that it’s concerning. Herman says he is undecided on whether he will vote in favor of the measure.
• Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Herman did not respond to this questionnaire. It is unclear where he stands on this issue.
• What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? On his campaign website, Herman says that a healthy lagoon and clean beaches are important for residents, visitors, sportsmen and wildlife. Herman says he’ll work to develop sensible ideas to protect these critical assets.

Matt Woodside

WEBSITE: www.woodsideforflorida.com/

• What are the most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.
• • Woodside did not respond to our questionnaire. We could not find anything that would give us insight into his view on the subject.
• According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Woodside did not respond to this questionnaire but in a forum with Space Coast Daily, Woodside said, when asked about the Live Local Act, that it was passed with good intent to increase housing supply but that the focus should be on single-family homes and not density. Woodside believes it took a one-size-fits-all approach that goes too far. He noted that he supports a targeted approach using incentives and streamlining permitting for affordable housing in appropriate inland locations with adequate infrastructure.
• Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? This candidate did not fill out this questionnaire however, in a forum put on by Space Coast Daily, he noted that as a lower-tax fiscal conservative, he agrees with the heart of this but that there are ‘bugs’ that need to be fixed that are going to hurt municipalities that rely on property tax. Woodside says local governments are going to be squeezed and will have to cut and things like impact fees will have to be raised. He also says he would help to increase state funding in some areas. Woodside is undecided on whether he will vote yes or no on the measure.
• Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Woodside did not respond to our questionnaire. We could not find anything that would give us insight into his view on the subject.
• What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Woodside did not respond to our questionnaire. We could not find anything that would give us insight into his view on the subject.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Florida House District 32 Republican candidates

The Florida House District 32 election is a Republican primary for registered Republicans living in the district. The winner will move on to the general election in November.

Florida House District 32 represents part of Brevard County in Central Florida.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

Our News Collaborative partners at Central Florida Public Media compiled the candidate responses for Florida House District 32. Below is an excerpt of each candidate’s profile.

You can see the full Central Florida Public Media Voting Guide HERE.

Brian Hodgers - Incumbent

WEBSITE: brianforflorida.com/

Central Florida Public Media Candidate Profile:

• What are the two most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.
• • Top Issue: The biggest issue in House District 32 is affordability, especially rising property taxes. During my first term, I passed HB895, which saves families significant time and money by simplifying the trust process after the loss of a loved one. I will continue fighting for meaningful property tax relief, reducing wasteful spending, and keeping Florida affordable while ensuring government lives within its means.
  • Issue #2: The second-most pressing issue is property insurance affordability. As the only insurance professional elected to the Florida House, I worked during my first term to educate legislators on reforms that can further reduce insurance costs. The 2023 tort reforms have stabilized the market, but more work remains. I will continue supporting responsible reforms, increasing competition, reducing fraud, and lowering costs for Florida homeowners.
• According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Housing affordability is driven by supply and demand. We must address the shortage of skilled construction workers and an aging contractor workforce. We have to streamline planning, zoning, and permitting to eliminate costly delays, reduce construction costs driven by inflation, and increase the housing supply to meet Florida’s rapid population growth. Increasing the supply while lowering construction costs is the best long-term solution to making housing more affordable.
• Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? Yes. Property taxes have become an increasing burden on Florida homeowners, many of whom are being taxed out of homes they have already paid for. I support giving voters the opportunity to reduce that burden while ensuring essential services remain funded. Any transition must be fiscally responsible, protect public safety and education, and require government to prioritize spending and eliminate waste before asking taxpayers to pay more.
• Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? The legislature took an important step this year by passing SB484, which I voted for, and Governor DeSantis signed into law, ensuring utility companies CANNOT pass the costs of serving large AI data centers on to Florida consumers. Utility regulators should continue enforcing this law, protect residential ratepayers, and require large commercial users to pay their fair share, and maintain a reliable, affordable electric grid.
• What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? The Indian River Lagoon is our district’s greatest environmental priority. Brevard’s half-cent sales tax has generated significant revenue. I believe more of that revenue needs to be directed to the infrastructure improvements needed to protect the Lagoon. As a state legislator, I am working on legislation to require those tax dollars be used as intended for wastewater, septic, and stormwater infrastructure that will improve water quality and restore the Lagoon.

Mark Lightner

WEBSITE: votelightner.com/

Central Florida Public Media Candidate Profile:

• What are the two most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.
• • Top Issue: The biggest challenge facing our district is the rising cost of homeownership. The average first-time homebuyer is now 38, and too many young families are being priced out while seniors on fixed incomes struggle to stay in their homes. I’ll fight to eliminate property taxes on homesteaded homes, lower homeowners’ insurance through market reforms, and ban private equity firms from buying single-family homes.
  • Issue #2: The second-most pressing issue is a lack of integrity in government. In Florida, we often win elections by electing Republicans, but too often those leaders do not govern with integrity or put Florida first. My children and I have a long future ahead of us in Florida, and we must ensure it is a prosperous one by electing leaders we can trust. Nearly every challenge we face can be traced back to poor leadership. Integrity is the foundation of good government.
• According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Affordability starts with responsible government. I’ll fight for balanced budgets, lower taxes, fewer unnecessary regulations, and greater accountability for every taxpayer dollar. Government should live within its means just like Florida families do. Fiscal discipline creates a stronger economy, lowers the cost of living, and leaves more money in the pockets of the people who earned it.
• Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? Yes. Property taxes make homeownership more expensive every year, even after you’ve paid off your mortgage. Eliminating them would lower the cost of owning a home. Brevard County’s budget has grown from about <strong>$1 billion in 2018 to more than $2.3 billion today</strong>, even though population growth has not kept pace. Government spending is out of control. We must get the government back to the basics: education, public safety, and infrastructure.
• Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Florida’s utility regulators should put ratepayers first. Residential customers should not be subsidizing the massive energy demands of data centers or other large industrial users. New infrastructure should be paid for by those creating the demand, not shifted onto families and seniors through higher utility bills. Florida should also continue investing in reliable, affordable energy sources, including nuclear power, to meet future demand while keeping costs under control.
• What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? The Indian River Lagoon is our district’s most important environmental priority. It is vital to our quality of life, economy, tourism, and wildlife. We must continue investing in projects that reduce nutrient pollution, improve water quality, modernize aging infrastructure, and restore natural habitats. Protecting the Lagoon is not just an environmental issue; it’s an investment in Brevard’s future.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Florida House District 34 Republican candidates

The Florida House District 34 election is a Republican primary for registered Republicans living in the district. The winner will move on to the general election in November.

Florida House District 34 represents Indian River County and part of Brevard County in Central Florida.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

Our News Collaborative partners at Central Florida Public Media compiled the candidate responses for Florida House District 34. Below is an excerpt of each candidate’s profile.

You can see the full Central Florida Public Media Voting Guide HERE.

Robert Brackett - Incumbent

WEBSITE: www.voterobertbrackett.com/

This candidate did not respond to our request to fill out this voter guide. To best serve you, we searched candidate websites, social media and interviews they’ve done to provide answers to the following questions.

• What are the most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below. It is unclear what Brackett believes to be the most pressing issue in his district, but on his campaign website, he does speak of fiscal responsibility. He says the following: It’s pretty simple math: reduce government spending and we can reduce taxes. There are some in Washington who have yet to learn that. We must take a proactive stance at making the government accountable for the trillions of dollars they spend on programs that neither benefit the population nor promote economic growth. Inflation is at an all-time high right now and the radical media says things are looking up. On the Lori Davis show, Brackett said that if reelected, he plans to focus on getting out of the way of small businesses.
• According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Brackett did not respond to the questionnaire but on the Lori Davis show, he said the affordability issue is really one of supply and demand, though he says things are starting to improve. Brackett says more home insurers are now doing business in Florida, making rates more affordable. He also says that hopefully, Florida doesn’t get hit by a hurricane this season because two without hurricane claims would be great.
• Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? Brackett did not respond to the questionnaire; however, on the Lori Davis show he stated the following: We’ve got to rein it in. In 2014 we collected about $28 billion statewide in property taxes and this year we’ll collect just under $60 billion. Brackett says Florida does have an issue with property taxes but he’s not sure whether the amendment is the answer. He says we have to ask ourselves what services we have to have. He says public safety will be taken care of. Brackett did not say whether he will vote yes or no on the amendment.
• Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Brackett did not respond to the questionnaire and we were unable to ascertain where he stands on this issue.
• What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Brackett did not respond to the questionnaire but on his campaign website, he says the following about water and utilities: Continue the good progress we’ve made in updating our water and utility infrastructure and fighting for clean waterways and beaches. I will promote legislation that will fund programs that continue to better our infrastructure system. I will also seek to preserve our beaches, springs, rivers, and waterways as they are an important part of our tourism dollars. In 2020, during an editorial board interview with TCPalm, Brackett (Vero Beach Mayor) spoke about septic-to-sewer to help those waterways.

Paul Sohi

WEBSITE: paulsohi.com/

This candidate did not respond to our request to fill out this voter guide. To best serve you, we searched candidate websites, social media and interviews they’ve done to provide answers to the following questions.

• What are the most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below. It is unclear what Sohi believes to be the top issue in his district but on his campaign website, the first issue listed is government transparency and accountability. Sohi says the following: Too many people feel shut out of local government. Decisions are often made behind closed doors, public officials become inaccessible, and taxpayers are left wondering where their money is going. Paul Sohi believes government works for the people, not the other way around. He supports greater transparency in county spending, open communication with residents, easier public access to government information, and stronger oversight of taxpayer dollars. He believes elected officials should be visible, accessible, and accountable to the citizens they represent. Public office is a public trust, not a lifetime entitlement.
• According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Sohi did not respond to this questionnaire but on his campaign website, he does address housing affordability with the Live Local Act. He says the following: The Live Local Act was meant to make housing more affordable for Floridians. Instead, it is being misused in ways that hurt our communities. Developers are taking advantage of the system by offering lower rents initially, only to raise them to market rates shortly after. At the same time, counties and cities are left without real oversight or the ability to step in. This is not affordability. It is a loophole being exploited. Even more concerning, the Act is pushing families toward long-term rentership instead of home ownership. True opportunity comes from owning a home, building equity, and creating stability for future generations. My position is clear. We must amend the Live Local Act to focus on home ownership, not rental loopholes, and restore accountability so local communities have a voice.
• Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? The candidate did not respond to this questionnaire. On his campaign website, Sohi says the following about taxes: Families, retirees, and small business owners throughout Florida are facing increasing financial pressure from rising property taxes and skyrocketing insurance premiums. Paul Sohi believes government must practice fiscal discipline and protect taxpayers from being priced out of their homes and communities. He supports property tax relief, insurance reform, and greater accountability in government spending.
• Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? The candidate did not respond to the questionnaire. It is unclear where he stands on this issue.
• What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Sohi did not respond to the questionnaire but on his campaign website he says the following: The Indian River Lagoon, local waterways, beaches, and natural resources are among District 34’s greatest assets. Paul supports responsible environmental stewardship based on science, accountability, and common sense. He believes protecting water quality requires better infrastructure, responsible growth management, and proactive environmental maintenance. Protecting our environment also protects public health, tourism, recreation, and future generations. Economic growth and environmental responsibility can, and must, work together.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Florida House District 36 Republican candidates

The Florida House District 36 election is a Republican primary for registered Republicans living in the district. The winner will move on to the general election in November.

Florida House District 36 represents part of Seminole County in Central Florida.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

Our News Collaborative partners at Oviedo Community News compiled the candidate responses for Florida House District 36. Below is an excerpt of each candidate’s profile. To see the full responses, go to the Oviedo Community News candidate page link for each candidate.

You can also see the full Oviedo Community News Voting Guide HERE.

Rachel Plakon

WEBSITE: www.rachelplakon.com/

Oviedo Community News Candidate Profile: oviedocommunitynews.org/profile/plakon-rachel/

Candidate Q&A: This candidate did not respond to multiple requests to answer questions that were based on voter questions and expressed priorities. Each of the candidates within a race was asked the same questions and given the same amount of time to respond. OCN reporters emailed, texted and called the candidate, who was given several weeks to respond.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue?

Plakon did not respond to this questionnaire. On her website, Plakon wrote that she would “fight for tax cuts and inflation relief to help seniors and families,” but no more details were provided.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes, and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions?

Plakon did not respond to this questionnaire. Plakon did vote yes to put Amendment 3 on the ballot.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond?

Plakon did not respond to this questionnaire. Plakon did vote in favor of a bill that would allow local governments to make decisions about data centers.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida?

Plakon did not respond to this questionnaire. In 2024, though, she did sponsor a bill that would have increased screening for 1,4 Dioxane, a potentially cancer-causing chemical that has previously been found in Seminole County’s water. Her campaign website does not mention environmental issues, but she is a proponent of keeping the rural boundary in Seminole County.

Joshua Sorto

WEBSITE: N/A

Oviedo Community News Candidate Profile: oviedocommunitynews.org/profile/joshua-sorto/

Candidate Q&A: The questions below are based on voter questions and expressed priorities. Each of the candidates within a race were asked the same questions and given the same amount of time to respond. The candidates’ answers were fact checked, checked for spelling and grammar but otherwise unedited.

• What are the three most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.
• • Top Issue: Unaffordable homeowner’s insurance; bring in the national insurance carriers.
  • Issue #2: Lower grocery bills: Solve the supply chain issues and help Florida farmers make food affordable again.
  • Issue #3:
  • Affordability: Ban dynamic pricing before groceries start costing more on Sunday vs. Wednesday.
• For incumbents: Why do you deserve re-election to this race? For challengers and open seats: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? The incumbent has been in office for four years and has sponsored zero bills on affordability. They literally haven’t even tried.
• According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? It takes time to build homes, so in the short term we need to decrease the number of people moving to Florida. This could be done by putting a tax on people and using those funds to build more homes at affordable prices.
• Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? No, I am against giving large corporations like Disney a tax cut. Any waste that occurs at the local level is peanuts compared to the waste, fraud and abuse coming from Tallahassee.
• Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Ban data center construction. There is no benefit to having a data center in your city versus having it 1,000 miles away.
• What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Keeping our coasts pristine and a major tourist destination.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in those elections. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Florida House District 38 Republican candidates

The Florida House District 38 election is a Republican primary for registered Republicans living in the district. The winner will move on to the general election in November. The current incumbent, David Smith, is term-limited.

Florida House District 38 represents part of Seminole County in Central Florida.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

Our News Collaborative partners at Oviedo Community News compiled the candidate responses for Florida House District 38. Below is an excerpt of each candidate’s profile. To see the full responses, go to the Oviedo Community News candidate page link for each candidate.

You can also see the full Oviedo Community News Voting Guide HERE.

Emily Duda Buckley

WEBSITE: www.emilydudabuckley.com/

Oviedo Community News Candidate Profile: oviedocommunitynews.org/profile/emily-duda-buckley/

Candidate Q&A: The questions below are based on voter questions and expressed priorities. Each of the candidates within a race was asked the same questions and given the same amount of time to respond. The candidates’ answers were fact-checked, checked for spelling and grammar but otherwise unedited.

If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them? — Top problem and your suggested solution:

1. Affordability and the rising cost of living. Central Florida families are being squeezed by rising property taxes, insurance premiums and housing costs. My solution is direct relief: Property tax relief for homeowners paired with disciplined, live-within-your-means budgeting, and lowering the government-imposed costs — permitting delays, impact fees, and unnecessary regulation — that quietly drive up the price of a home.
2. Housing supply and attainability. Too many young families, teachers, first responders and seniors are getting priced out of the communities they serve. I would build on the Live Local Act by streamlining and digitizing the permitting process with clear deadlines, encouraging targeted zoning reform such as accessory dwelling units where they fit the community, expanding down-payment assistance for first-time buyers, and clearing the way for employer-sponsored workforce housing.
3. A cost of doing business that is choking job creation and pushing good jobs out of reach. My solution is to keep Florida pro-business by cutting red tape, streamlining permitting and licensing, and investing in workforce pathways — from the skilled trades to healthcare — through partnerships with local employers, technical schools, and our state colleges, so parents can find good jobs close to home.

For challengers and open seats: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? I’m a lifelong Central Floridian, a mother and an external affairs professional with my family’s longtime Florida company, A. Duda & Sons. I’ve spent my career at the table with state agencies, the Legislature, and regulated industries — including service with the Florida House Appropriations Committee and as Legislative Affairs Director for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services — and my community service has centered on children and families, including board roles with the Florida Association of Foster and Adoptive Parents, 4Roots Foundation, and Kids House of Seminole. That combination of deep roots here, hands-on policy experience, and a heart for this community is what I bring to this race. Mine is a grassroots, voter-contact-driven campaign, and I’ll be an accessible, principled representative focused on keeping Central Florida affordable.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Affordability comes down to two things: expanding supply and lowering the costs government adds. I support building on the Live Local Act to:

• Streamline and digitize permitting, with clear deadlines and automatic approvals when local governments miss them, so supply catches up with demand;
• Open additional zoning tools, including accessory dwelling units, where they fit the character of a community;
• Expand employer-sponsored workforce housing so families can live near where they work;
• Encourage homeownership through down-payment assistance for first-time buyers;
• Deliver property tax relief and reduce impact fees and regulatory costs that inflate the price of a home.

On insurance, I support building on the recent reforms that reduced fraud and frivolous litigation, encouraging more carriers to compete here, and strengthening mitigation programs like My Safe Florida Home so families can harden their homes and earn lower rates.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes, and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? Yes. Rising property taxes are among the top concerns I hear at the door, and government too often treats homeowners as the default funding source for every new line item. I support meaningful, structural property tax relief for Florida homeowners. I would not replace it by shifting the burden onto renters or commercial property — that just raises the price of everything from groceries to rent — and I don’t support new or increased taxes to backfill it. The right offset is the standard Florida families live by: living within our means. Florida’s economy is growing and local revenue is growing with it; that organic growth, paired with real spending discipline — eliminating waste, ending duplicative programs, and prioritizing core services like public safety — is how we protect essential services without breaking household budgets. Any relief should be phased in responsibly so local governments can adjust.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Florida’s utility regulators should put ratepayers first. Large industrial users like data centers place enormous new demand on the grid, and residential customers should not be forced to subsidize the cost of the generation, transmission, and water capacity those facilities require. I would expect the Public Service Commission to ensure large users pay the full, fair cost of the infrastructure they drive, to demand real transparency and scrutiny in rate cases rather than rubber-stamping increases, and to prioritize reliable, diverse, and affordable generation. Utilities should be held accountable for keeping rates as low as possible while keeping the lights on.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? Protecting Florida’s water comes first for me. Our wetlands, watersheds, springs, and the aquifer are the resources our children and grandchildren will depend on. I support continued investment in water quality and wastewater infrastructure that keeps pace with our growth, and I support restoring Florida’s authority over Section 404 permitting — no one has a greater stake in safeguarding our waters than the state itself, and state administration brings efficiency and predictability while upholding strong protections. Safeguarding our water is ultimately about protecting the families who will call Florida home for generations.

Marcus Hyatt

WEBSITE: www.marcushyatt.org/

Oviedo Community News Candidate Profile: oviedocommunitynews.org/profile/marcus-hyatt/

Candidate Q&A: This candidate did not respond to multiple requests to answer questions that were based on voter questions and expressed priorities. Each of the candidates within a race was asked the same questions and given the same amount of time to respond. OCN reporters emailed, texted and called the candidates, who were given several weeks to respond. Where information was available, we tried to fill in the gaps.

If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them? During an interview on the Roger Franklin Williams Show, Hyatt said the top issue is affordability – property taxes, gas, and even going to the movies. He said he would like to increase the homestead exemption for seniors. He also wants to address health care and issues with the Affordable Care Act as well, but didn’t expand how. He also said school vouchers have been a success and should be continued.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Hyatt did not respond to this questionnaire. Hyatt told the Roger Franklin Williams show that the key to lowering costs is to increase the number of homeowners’ insurance companies doing business in Florida. “If we want prices to go down, we have to increase competition,” Hyatt said. “Those are basic conservative principles. The more competition you have in the market, that’s when you see some of those prices go down. We’re already starting to see that.”

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes, and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? Hyatt didn’t say whether he would vote for Amendment 3, the homestead exemption expansion amendment. But he did say people are interested in the amendment, and he wants local governments held accountable for spending. You can read more about Hyatt here.

The deadline is Monday at 6 p.m. EDT.

Skubal — a 29-year-old left-hander who will be a free agent this offseason — is in the midst of another strong year for the Detroit Tigers after winning back-to-back Cy Youngs in 2024 and 2025. The left-hander missed about five weeks earlier in the season because of surgery to remove loose bodies in his elbow, but he has bounced back quickly.

He's been excellent over his last five starts, with a 2.03 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 31 innings.

One thing complicating Skubal's availability is the Tigers have played better of late and they're hanging around the American League wild-card race, just 4 1/2 games back for the final playoff spot going into Friday's games — albeit with five teams ahead of them. But if a juicy offer is presented, it'll be hard to say no.

Detroit's uncertain playoff fate is a common problem for teams as the deadline approaches.

There is a handful of obvious buyers at the deadline like the Yankees, Rays, Brewers, Braves and Dodgers. There is also a small group of obvious sellers like the Rockies, Giants, Angels, Mets, Athletics and Royals.

But that leaves nearly 20 other teams who are in the middle and could be buyers, sellers or a combination of both.

Here's a look at some of the top trade candidates as Monday's deadline approaches.

The starting pitchers

— Peralta, Mets: The right-hander has had a disappointing season, which is a common refrain for the Mets, but his strikeout numbers are still good. He was excellent for the Brewers over the previous three seasons. If he can fix his command issues, he could help a contender.

— Joe Ryan, Twins: Another powerful arm, the right-hander has been an All-Star in each of the past two seasons. It's unclear if the Twins are buyers or sellers in a crowded American League race — they added reliever A.J. Minter from the Mets on Friday, so continued buying seems more likely. If the Twins decide to move Ryan, though, it could bring back a solid return.

— Foster Griffin, Nationals: The veteran lefty has been outstanding in his return to MLB after spending three seasons in Japan with a 12-2 record and 2.76 ERA. The Nationals are still in the mix for a playoff spot in the National League, but they will likely still be willing to listen to offers.

— Reid Detmers, Angels: The left-hander has been a bright spot in a mostly dismal season for the Angels with 145 strikeouts in 125 innings. Los Angeles will want a sizable return for the 27-year-old, who is still under team control for the next two seasons.

— Clay Holmes, Mets: The 33-year-old made a successful transition from reliever to starter in 2025 and was having another solid season before he fractured his right fibula on a comeback liner in May. The right-hander is in the midst of a minor-league rehab assignment and nearing his return.

— Robbie Ray, Giants: The two-time All-Star and 2021 Cy Young winner doesn't have the wipeout, strikeout stuff that he possessed early in his career, but he's been very good for San Francisco this season with a 10-6 record and 3.08 ERA.

The relief pitchers

— Miller, Padres: The game's most dominant closer, Miller has a jaw-dropping 85 strikeouts over 45 2/3 innings, 28 saves and an 0.79 ERA. Relievers usually don't command huge returns during trade deadline deals, but Miller is an exception, particularly because the 6-foot-5 righty is still under team control for three more years.

— Adrián Morejón, Padres: The left-handed Cuban has been a key part of the Padres' bullpen for the past three seasons. He's a free agent after the season which means he could be on the move.

— Luke Weaver, Mets: The veteran righty has found his niche after making the full-time move to the bullpen in 2024. He's not necessarily a closer, but he does have some experience in the role. He was very good for the Yankees in the playoffs during their run to the World Series in 2024.

— Jeff Hoffman, Blue Jays: The right-hander lost his job as the team's closer earlier this season, but his strikeout numbers are still excellent with 72 punchouts over 46 innings.

Position players

— Luis Arraez, Giants, 2B: The three-time batting champion and four-time All-Star is in the midst of one of his best seasons and has flashed improved defense at second base. He is an elite contact hitter who rarely strikes out and is a free agent after the season.

— Ryan Jeffers, Twins, C: Jeffers recently returned from the injured list and has a career-high .928 OPS this season. His ability to provide pop from the right side will make him a popular trade target, though the Twins might not be willing to make a deal since they're still in the playoff hunt.

— Daulton Varsho, Blue Jays, OF: The 30-year-old slugger is one of the game's better athletes and won a Gold Glove in 2024. He's an upcoming free agent, but he has playoff experience and can still provide great defense with some left-handed power.

— CJ Abrams, Nationals, SS: Washington will want a big return for the All-Star shortstop, who is in the midst of his best year and is under team control for the next two seasons. But if a contender is willing to offer a big package of prospects, the ascending Nationals will likely listen.

— Zach Neto, Angels, SS: Neto has been one of the Angels' best players over the last three seasons. He's a solid defender and provides a good amount of right-handed power, though his strikeout numbers have been high this season.

— Luis García Jr., Nationals, 1B: The left-handed slugger has quietly put together his best season with 23 homers and 76 RBIs. He doesn't walk much, but has one more year of team control and is still just 26 years old.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Florida House District 39 Republican candidates

The Florida House District 39 election is a Republican primary for registered Republicans living in the district. The winner will move on to the general election in November.

Florida House District 39 represents parts of Orange and Seminole counties in Central Florida.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

Our News Collaborative partners at Oviedo Community News compiled the candidate responses for Florida House District 39. Below is an excerpt of each candidate’s profile. To see the full responses, go to the Oviedo Community News candidate page link for each candidate.

You can also see the full Oviedo Community News Voting Guide HERE.

Doug Bankson - Incumbent

WEBSITE: www.dougbankson.com/

Oviedo Community News Candidate Profile: oviedocommunitynews.org/profile/doug-bankson-2/

Top issues in your race

If elected, what are the THREE most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them? In the boxes below, please list each issue and how you will address them:

YOUR NUMBER 1 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Affordability - 1. Continue my work to reduce insurance costs for both property and auto through maintaining the tort reform and increasing OIR oversight by holding insurance company presidents that bankrupt companies accountable and unable to simply start a new company. 2. Regarding supplementing the lost tax revenue for local governments, there is a statewide 35% reduction in revenue, although disproportionate among municipalities, especially in more rural settings. This will require a trust fund to be established from which grants will be allocated, and equitable standards for grant application protected from political motivations. That being said, there are several ways we can approach this: a minimal 1% sales tax increase, 6% sales tax at the time of purchase with proceeds set into a trust fund for more affected cities, a small surcharge on tourism stays that supply the trust fund, and an effort to combine first responder services, and other various revenue streams such as a front-facing license plate on vehicles, tiered on-ramp approach to replace dependency on homestead tax revenue, and at minimum we should match the 1980 homestead exemption of $25,000 when the average home cost $45,000 making it a 56% exemption at the time. In 2026, the average home is $382,000, so had we maintained a percentage basis, that would have been $214.000. This is another justification for the necessity to increase the homestead exemption. 3. A reduction in property tax would make first-time home buying more attainable and ease the pressure on the rental market, thus bringing a market-based solution to the rental problem. 4. Utilize 3P (public-private partnerships) for addressing housing needs and aim funding for demonstrated positive ROI partners

YOUR NUMBER 2 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Pro business - 1. Focus on job creation by supporting small business protections, reduce red tape, and promote jobs and economic development incentive such as our successful removal of business rent tax 2. Address workforce needs through education opportunities and continued interaction with industry to match their need 3. Oppose duplicative regulations that create unnecessary red tape, increase costs, and add burdensome layers of bureaucracy. If property tax reforms are approved in November, I will rely on input from industry leaders to understand their needs and work to ensure that businesses are not subjected to onerous tax shifts or unintended financial burdens. 4. We need to provide affordable and attainable housing for the workforce, and this coincides with my former point of supporting public-private partnerships and uniting all levels of government. We can further accomplish this with tax relief and proper utilization of Sadowski funds.

YOUR NUMBER 3 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Transportation - 1. Build on my work in the area of evtol technology and vertiport development to alleviate the pressure on our ground infrastructure 2. Advocate for increased transportation funding for central FL and work with CRX to make sure revenues are spent to extend local exit arteries

FOR INCUMBENTS: Why do you deserve to be re-elected in this race? Having served six years at the local level and now four years in Tallahassee, I’ve grown in a depth of understanding both at the local and state levels. I believe in working together to solve real-world issues that my constituents face. I served for 19 years on our local Chamber of Commerce as both a board member and past chairman; I’m familiar and supportive of business and entrepreneurial needs. Over the past two legislative sessions, I have passed 20 bills, and I have built a reputation and proven track record of working hard to advance meaningful legislation that promotes economic opportunity, public safety, workforce development, and educational advancement. I am passionate about ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to succeed. When it comes to appropriations, I work diligently to ensure that state funding does not simply flow south to Miami. I strive to highlight Central Florida’s role as an emerging leader in innovation and next-generation technology, while promoting our region as a healthy, affordable, and desirable place to call home. It is an incredible honor to serve the people of my district, and I believe in working together wherever possible to get the job done.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Answered in question 1

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions Yes as I agree that homesteads should be owned and protected, and I also believe that through reducing government waste and replacing lost revenue, we can work together to do the right thing and still fund the things that are important to Floridians. It will be incumbent upon the next legislature to delve into the implementation phase of tasked by Florida citizens. I’ve answered this question in prior responses in this survey above, and also in my answer to the next survey question regarding data centers.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? First, we should make sure that regulations are in place to protect neighborhoods from intrusion against quality of life issues. We must also require data centers to be net-neutral in closed-loop systems for water usage to not harm our water needs. Finally, I believe in pursuing micro nuclear power and requiring data centers to produce their own power supplies, both protecting our public power grids, and being a source to backfeed into the power supply in times of emergency. I believe this could create a great source of revenue to help replace our reduced property tax revenues and position us to lead when it comes to increased AI and data center necessities.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? I have a passion to see Lake Apopka restored to its pristine beauty for future generations. Water issues should top the list so that our aquifer is protected and our waterways are enjoyed for posterity.

Carlos F. Johary Sr.

WEBSITE: www.carlosjohary.com/

Oviedo Community News Candidate Profile: oviedocommunitynews.org/profile/carlos-f-johary-sr/

Candidate Q&A: The questions below are based on voter questions and expressed priorities. Each of the candidates within a race were asked the same questions and given the same amount of time to respond. The candidates’ answers were fact-checked, checked for spelling and grammar but otherwise unedited.

If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?

1. Reduce government wasteful spending — more audits and reviews.
2. Reduce taxes. Eliminate (taxes) totally for food like before — push for legislation.
3. More state-owned green lands and parks, due to all the influx of new residents and neighborhoods — push for legislation.

For incumbents: Why do you deserve re-election to this race? For challengers and open seats: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? N/A

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? More affordable housing, possibly in abandoned schools or building complexes.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes, and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? Will vote yes. Reducing spending is the solution. Computers will eliminate a lot of the wasted manpower hours on taxpayers’ money.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Reduce rates because volume and profits will increase.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? Creating more wetlands due to increased construction and housing. Forest and green lands are disappearing.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Florida House District 43 Democratic candidates

The Florida House District 43 election is a Democratic primary for registered Democrats living in the district.

The winner will move on to the general election in November. The incumbent, Johanna López, is running for Orange County Commission.

Florida House District 43 represents part of Orange County in Central Florida.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

Our News Collaborative partners at Central Florida Public Media compiled the candidate responses for Florida House District 43. Below is an excerpt of each candidate’s profile.

You can see the full Central Florida Public Media Voting Guide HERE.

Daisy Morales

WEBSITE: daisyforflorida.com/

• What are the two most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.
• • Top Issue: The biggest challenge facing Florida House District 43 is affordability. Families are struggling with rising housing, insurance, grocery, and everyday costs. As a former State Representative, I know how to deliver results. I will secure state funding for local projects, pass legislation that lowers costs, support a responsible state budget, and hold job fairs that connect residents with good-paying careers.
  • Issue #2: The second-most pressing issue is preparing our students and workforce for better-paying careers. As your State Representative, I will support strong public schools, career and technical education, workforce training, and partnerships with local colleges and employers. I’ll also work to secure funding for education and hold job fairs to connect residents with employment opportunities.
• According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Affordability is the top challenge facing Florida House District 43. As your State Representative, I will pass legislation, fight for a responsible state budget, secure funding for local projects, expand affordable housing, lower property insurance costs, and create job opportunities so families can afford to live, work, and succeed in our community.
• Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? Yes--if it can be done responsibly. Property tax elimination should not shift the burden to working families or reduce funding for public safety, education, and essential local services. I will support responsible tax reform that provides meaningful homeowner relief while ensuring local communities have sustainable funding.
• Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Florida’s utility regulators should require greater transparency, hold utilities accountable, and approve only rates that are fair and justified. Families should not bear the cost of unchecked increases or subsidize large energy users. As your State Representative, I will fight for stronger oversight and consumer protections while ensuring data centers pay their fair share of infrastructure costs.
• What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? The biggest environmental challenge in our district is protecting our water resources while managing growth responsibly. I will support investments in clean water, stormwater infrastructure, flood mitigation, conservation, and protection of our lakes and wetlands. We must balance economic growth with preserving our natural resources for future generations.

Samuel Vilchez Santiago

WEBSITE: www.samuelforflorida.com/

Central Florida Public Media Candidate Profile:

• What are the two most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.
• • Top Issue: The most pressing issue facing families in House District 43 is affordability. Too many people are struggling with the rising costs of housing, healthcare, property insurance, groceries, and other essentials. My family relied on Medicaid and food stamps, so I understand these challenges firsthand. In Tallahassee, I will focus on lowering costs by expanding affordable housing, addressing the insurance crisis, expanding Medicaid and healthcare access, and creating pathways to good-paying jobs.
  • Issue #2: The second-most pressing issue facing our district is the attack on public education. Families have already seen the impact through the closures of McCoy Elementary, Chickasaw Elementary, and Union Park Middle School. These closures disrupt communities and weaken neighborhood schools. We should be investing in public education by increasing school funding, raising teacher pay, expanding student support services, and investing in post-secondary, dual-enrollment, career and technical programs.
• According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Affordability requires action on multiple fronts. We must fix Florida’s property insurance crisis by holding insurance companies accountable and addressing the factors driving skyrocketing premiums. I also support restoring toll relief and savings programs for commuters, expanding Medicaid to lower healthcare costs, increasing the supply of affordable and workforce housing, and investing in job training programs that lead to good-paying jobs. Floridians need leaders focused on lowering costs.
• Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? No. While I support targeted property tax relief, including increasing homestead exemptions for seniors and first-time homebuyers, I oppose eliminating property taxes entirely. Property taxes fund essential local services such as public schools, fire rescue, law enforcement, parks, and infrastructure. Eliminating them without a realistic replacement would undermine local governments and likely shift the tax burden onto working families through higher sales taxes, fees, or other taxes.
• Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Florida’s utility regulators must ensure that residential customers are not forced to subsidize the costs of new data centers and other large energy users. Data centers should bear the full cost of the infrastructure and energy demand they create, rather than passing those costs on to families and small businesses. We should also invest in clean, renewable energy sources and grid modernization to increase supply, improve reliability, and help reduce long-term energy costs.
• What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? The biggest environmental issue facing our community is ensuring access to clean water, clean air, and protected green spaces as our region continues to grow. We must invest in water quality improvements, protect our lakes and waterways from pollution, expand parks and urban green spaces, and support clean energy solutions that reduce harmful emissions. We have a responsibility to preserve our natural resources so future generations can enjoy a healthy environment and a high quality of life.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Florida House District 46 Democratic candidates

The Florida House District 46 election is a Democratic primary for registered Democrats living in the district. The winner will move on to the general election in November.

Florida House District 46 represents part of Osceola County in Central Florida.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

Our News Collaborative partners at Central Florida Public Media compiled the candidate responses for Florida House District 46. Below is an excerpt of each candidate’s profile.

You can see the full Central Florida Public Media Voting Guide HERE.

Jose Alvarez - Incumbent

WEBSITE: electjosealvarez.com/

• What are the most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.
• • Top Issue: Transportation and Infrastructure. Osceola County continues to grow, and we are not keeping up with the demands. We need to work collaboratively with partners at the federal and local levels to address the concerns and priorities of the district.
  • Issue #2: Attainable housing is a serious issue throughout this region. The costs of property taxes, property insurance, and increased construction costs are passed on to the consumer. We need a comprehensive approach that increases the supply of attainable and workforce housing and encourages responsible development. By working with local governments and public, private, and nonprofit partners, we can help ensure working families can afford to live in the communities they serve.
• According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? I support streamlining the permitting process, encouraging mixed-income and workforce housing near jobs and transit, and partnering with the private sector and nonprofit organizations for options. We need to ensure growth pays for itself without placing an unfair burden on current residents. We also need to tackle the rising costs, including property insurance, property taxes, and infrastructure costs. People who work in Osceola County should be able to afford to live in Osceola County.
• Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? I will vote no on the proposal. This will severely impact counties, municipalities, and schools if this passes. Public safety and infrastructure projects will be very hard hit, along with the services that residents have come to expect.
• Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Data center developers should pay for the upgrades needed to electric, water, sewer, and transportation systems so existing residents are not left subsidizing new development. Regulators should require water-efficient cooling technologies along with impacts on the aquifer before approval. They should be located in commercial/industrial areas and should be encouraged to invest in energy efficiency and on-site backup generation that meets environmental standards.
• What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Protecting our natural resources, as we are located in the headwaters of the Everglades. It is essential to preserve our natural resources as we face increasing pressure on our aquifer, wetlands, wildlife habitat, and water quality. It is essential to preserve Florida’s ecosystems and ensure clean water for future generations with smart growth policies that preserve environmentally sensitive lands, strengthen stormwater management, and reduce nutrient pollution in our waterways.

Robert LeWayne Johnson

WEBSITE: www.ourfuturefordistrict46.com/

This candidate did not respond to our request to fill out this voter guide. To best serve you, we searched candidate websites, social media and interviews they’ve done to provide answers to the following questions.

• What are the most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.
• • Top Issue: Johnson, on his campaign website, lists his top issue as eradicating homelessness. He does not specify how he will solve this issue. However, since leaving the military in 2016, Johnson has focused a lot of his attention on veteran homelessness.
  • Issue #2: Johnson lists his second issue as increasing salaries for teachers. He does not suggest how this should be done.
• According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Johnson did not respond to this questionnaire and we could not ascertain his policies on this issue from the available information. Johnson did, however, run for this seat two years ago and listed affordable housing as a priority.
• Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? Johnson did not respond to this questionnaire and we could not find any information about where he stands on property taxes and the ballot measure.
• Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Johnson did not respond to this questionnaire and we found no information about his thoughts on this issue.
• What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? As a candidate for House Seat 46 two years ago, Johnson listed cleaning up Central Florida lakes and waterways as a priority.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation on Friday jointly announced the proposed changes to the Community Reinvestment Act, a law that requires regulators to document how well banks do in lending to low-to-middle income neighborhoods. It would be the first major revision of the law’s rules and regulations in nearly three decades.

Under the proposed revisions, bank examiners would put more weight on the lending banks do in certain communities and geographies, and less on how many branches they open or how much in deposits they take in from a local community.

The number of banks that would need to comply with the law would be reduced as well. The definition of a small bank will increase from banks with under $412 million in assets to banks with $1 billion in assets. Banks between $1 billion and $10 billion in assets will now be classified as an intermediate bank.

This would reduce the number of banks who need to comply with parts of the CRA by 800 banks. Only 86 banks, or roughly 3% of all institutions, would be subject to the full extent of CRA under the new regulations.

Another change that is likely to be fought over relates to how banks give money to community development groups. Under the CRA, banks can donate money to local organizations that do poverty or low-income housing work in their communities to show they are providing resources to a local community. The new regulations could narrow the groups and programs that banks could donate to in order to meet those obligations.

In a summary of the changes, the bank regulators said these changes would ensure community development grants “are not diverted to activist causes or consumed by excessive operating costs.” Banks would also need to collect more detailed information on who gets their community grants, including addresses, which would give more transparency to who is receiving grants from banks.

That change could negatively impact groups like the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, an umbrella group for community development groups that often receive money from banks under the CRA. The new rules discourage banks making grants to national organizations and instead focus their grants on local groups.

Jesse Van Tol, the CEO of NCRC, said that it was “unfortunate” that the bank regulators were politicizing grant making under the CRA.

“CRA was created to work for low-to-middle income people. A lot of these changes are going to discourage banks from making grants, particularly in rural areas, where I expect there will be significant drops in activity,” Van Tol said.

The proposal announced Friday by the OCC and FDIC did not include the other major bank regulator, the Federal Reserve. Banking groups had been pushing for a joint proposal from all three regulators, to make sure all three were aligned on the same requirements under the CRA.

The CRA was passed in 1977 to combat redlining, a practice whereby banks would discriminate against the poor and minorities by choosing not to lend or open branches in minority-majority neighborhoods or in poor neighborhoods.

The law is complex, requiring banks to document how they do business in the cities and areas they operate in. Banks must sit for regular examinations to see whether they are complying with the law. A bad CRA examination could restrict a bank’s ability to open new branches or merge with another bank or have other consequences. The data collected through CRA is also used by the Department of Justice in redlining cases.

The last major revision of the CRA’s regulations happened in 1995, and there have been repeated attempts by administrations of both parties to update the rules to reflect how banking and financial services have changed in the past 30 years. But those revisions have repeatedly failed, either due to opposition from other regulators, the banks, or community groups, or have been blocked by courts. The Biden administration tried its own revisions of the CRA rules but those changes were blocked by courts in Texas.

The proposed rules will now go out for a 60-day comment period where they will be finalized after banks, community groups and other parties have a chance to weigh in on the changes.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Florida House District 47 candidates

The Florida House District 47 election is a universal primary to determine who will represent District 47 in Tallahassee. Since only Democrats qualified to appear on the ballot, the election is now open to all registered voters.

Florida House District 47 represents parts of Orange and Osceola counties in Central Florida.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

Our News Collaborative partners at Central Florida Public Media compiled the candidate responses for Florida House District 47. Below is an excerpt of each candidate’s profile.

You can see the full Central Florida Public Media Voting Guide HERE.

Jorge Figueroa

WEBSITE: jorgefigueroaforflorida.com/

Central Florida Public Media Candidate Profile:

EDITOR’S NOTE: This candidate did not respond to our request to fill out this voter guide. To best serve you, we searched candidate websites, social media and interviews they’ve done to provide answers to the following questions.

• What are the two most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.
• • Top Issue: The biggest challenge in House District 47 is affordability. Families are struggling with rising housing costs, property insurance, and everyday expenses. I will work to increase workforce housing, reform Florida’s property insurance market, expand workforce training, and support small businesses that create good-paying jobs. My focus is on practical solutions that make Central Florida more affordable and create greater economic opportunity.
  • Issue #2: Education and workforce development are critical to our district’s future. We need stronger public schools, expanded career and technical education, and better partnerships between schools, colleges, and local employers. By preparing students for high-demand careers and supporting lifelong learning, we can strengthen our workforce, help businesses grow, and create more opportunities for families across Central Florida.
• According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Housing affordability starts with increasing supply. I support streamlining permitting, encouraging responsible workforce housing, and protecting funding dedicated to affordable housing. We also need meaningful property insurance reform, because insurance costs continue to drive up rents and homeownership costs. Together, these solutions will help make housing more attainable for working families across Central Florida.
• Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? No. I support meaningful property tax relief, but eliminating property taxes entirely would reduce funding for essential local services like public safety, roads, and parks. I favor targeted relief for homeowners while pursuing long-term affordability through property insurance reform, increased workforce housing, and responsible budgeting that protects the services our communities depend on.
• Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Florida’s utility regulators should prioritize affordability, transparency, and reliability. As demand grows, including from data centers, utilities should ensure costs are not unfairly shifted onto residential customers and small businesses. Investments in grid modernization, energy efficiency, and diverse energy sources should help meet future demand while keeping utility bills as affordable as possible.
• What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Protecting our water resources is the biggest environmental challenge in House District 47. As our region continues to grow, we must safeguard lakes, wetlands, and groundwater while planning responsibly for future development. I support investing in water quality projects, protecting conservation lands, and promoting smart growth that balances economic development with environmental stewardship.

Anthony Nieves

WEBSITE: nievesforflorida.com/

Central Florida Public Media Candidate Profile:

• What are the two most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.
• • Top Issue: The cost of living is squeezing families from every direction. I still drive a 2007 Kia Rondo with over 250,000 miles because I’d rather spend my money on my family than a new car payment. Meanwhile, people working full time are wondering how they’ll afford groceries, rent, or childcare. That’s not a personal failure. It’s a failure of leadership. We need a government that’s focused on lowering costs for working families instead of protecting special interests making life more expensive.
  • Issue #2: People have every reason to be frustrated with government. When I’m knocking on doors, I hear the same thing over and over: people don’t think anyone in Tallahassee is listening. They’re right. Too many politicians in Tallahassee listen to special interests instead of the people they were elected to serve. That’s why I don’t accept corporate PAC or special interest money. When I cast a vote, it won’t be because someone bought it. I’m not for sale.
• According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? I’ve raised my family here, and it shouldn’t be harder for the next generation to build a life than it was for mine. Housing isn’t just expensive anymore. It’s becoming unattainable. Working full time should be enough to afford rent, a mortgage, or the insurance premiums that come with owning a home. We need more affordable housing, stronger protections for renters, real accountability for the insurance industry, and an end to corporations buying up neighborhoods while families get pushed out.
• Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? No. I understand why people are looking for relief, but eliminating property taxes without replacing that funding would hurt our schools, libraries, firefighters, law enforcement, and local services. I’d rather fix what’s driving families to the breaking point in the first place: rising insurance costs and the overall cost of living.
• Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Every time a utility bill goes up, I think about the families I’ve talked to who are already deciding what they can afford to go without. Groceries, medicine, rent...something has to give. Regulators should be protecting people, not just approving higher rates. Utility companies shouldn’t be able to keep shifting costs onto everyday Floridians while their profits grow.
• What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? The biggest environmental issue here is how quickly we’re losing conservation land and wetlands to overdevelopment. I’ve fought against toxic coal ash being dumped into Osceola County and stood with efforts to protect Split Oak Forest. I lived through Hurricane Ian in Kissimmee after it had weakened to a tropical storm; it still dumped more than a foot of rain, flooding entire neighborhoods. We can’t keep paving over the land that protects our communities.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Fifth Circuit Judge – Group 27 candidates

The Fifth Judicial Circuit of Florida handles state civil and criminal cases for Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion and Sumter counties. These are nonpartisan races, open to all voters.

Of the 11 groups up for election this year, only Group 27 drew more than one candidate. Nicole Morris and Lisa Yeager are running to be the judge for this seat. Morris is the chief assistant public defender in Citrus County, and Yeager has served as an assistant state attorney for the Fifth Circuit.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

Our News Collaborative partners at Central Florida Public Media compiled the candidate responses for Florida House District 47. Below is an excerpt of each candidate’s profile.

You can see the full Central Florida Public Media Voting Guide HERE.

Nicole Morris

WEBSITE: electmorris4judge.com/

What is your occupation?

I am currently the Chief Assistant Public Defender in Citrus County. I have worked at the Public Defender’s Office in both Lake County and Citrus County since 2021. Before that, I was an Assistant State Attorney in Citrus County for a little over 5 years.

What is your education?

I graduated from South Lake High School in Lake County, FL, where I was Valedictorian in 2008. Then, I attended the University of Florida, where I received a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. After that, I attended Stetson University College of Law and graduated Cum Laude with my Juris Doctor in 2015.

What role should personal values play in judicial decision-making?

Personal values such as integrity, fairness, and respect are important because they guide a judge’s professionalism and temperament. However, judicial decisions must be based on the facts, the law, and the Constitution--not personal opinions or preferences. A judge’s duty is to apply the law impartially, treat everyone with dignity and respect, and ensure every person receives a fair hearing.

What professional experiences have best prepared you for the bench?

My experience serving on both sides of the courtroom has best prepared me for the bench. As a former prosecutor and now Chief Assistant Public Defender, I have gained a broad perspective on our justice system while handling a wide range of cases. Those experiences have reinforced the importance of fairness, impartiality, and applying the law as written. Combined with my leadership and courtroom experience, they have prepared me to serve effectively as a Circuit Judge.

How do you balance precedent with evolving societal standards?

A judge’s role is to follow the law and apply binding precedent, not to create new law based on changing societal views. As societal standards evolve, it is the responsibility of the legislature to enact laws that reflect those changes. The judiciary’s role is to apply those laws as written and follow controlling precedent, while ensuring every person is treated fairly, impartially, and with respect.

What steps do you take to avoid conflicts of interest?

As a judge, I would avoid conflicts of interest by carefully reviewing each case to identify any personal, professional, financial, or prior involvement that could affect--or appear to affect--my impartiality. As Chief Assistant Public Defender, I routinely review conflicts involving both my own cases and those of the attorneys I supervise. When a conflict exists, I would make the required disclosures and recuse myself when appropriate to maintain public confidence in the judiciary.

What barriers to justice do you see in the current system, and how would you address them?

One of the biggest barriers to justice is that many people find the legal system confusing and difficult to navigate, especially those without legal representation. Delays in resolving cases can also create significant hardships. While judges do not make policy, they can promote fairness by managing cases efficiently, treating all parties with respect, and ensuring everyone has a meaningful opportunity to be heard.

Lisa Yeager

WEBSITE: www.facebook.com/p/Lisa-Yeager-for-Circuit-Court-Judge-61586569805880/

What is your occupation?

Attorney

What is your education?

• University of Central Florida - BA in Legal Studies - 1993
• University of Florida - Juris Doctorate - 2000

What role should personal values play in judicial decision-making?

Personal values should not influence judicial decision-making. A judge’s responsibility is to apply the law faithfully and impartially, not to create or reshape it based on personal beliefs. Lawmaking belongs to the legislature. While my conservative values are important to me personally, they should have no role in the judicial decisions I would make. In that role, my duty would be to follow the law as written and apply binding legal authority fairly.

What professional experiences have best prepared you for the bench?

I am a well-rounded attorney with experience in public service, private practice, courtroom advocacy, leadership, and client-centered representation. During my nearly sixteen years with the State Attorney’s Office, I handled a range of cases. My most recent docket handling sex crimes, crimes against children, and internet crimes against children. During my time in private practice, I handled criminal defense, civil, dependency, and family law.

How do you balance precedent with evolving societal standards?

A judge’s role is to follow established precedent. When societal standards evolve, it is the legislature’s responsibility to decide whether the law should be changed. Even while applying binding precedent, a judge may note disagreement in the order. For example, the judge could include a footnote explaining that the precedent was followed because it was controlling, even though the judge disagreed with its reasoning or outcome.

What steps do you take to avoid conflicts of interest?

To avoid conflicts of interest, I would follow clear ethical policies, maintain transparency, and take prompt action whenever a potential conflict arises.

• Disclose any personal, financial, or professional interest that could affect, or appear to affect, impartiality.
• Evaluate potential conflicts carefully under the applicable rules and standards.
• Recuse myself immediately from any case in which my impartiality could reasonably be questioned.

What barriers to justice do you see in the current system, and how would you address them?

Practical barriers can limit access to the judicial system.

• Cost of litigation: Legal expenses and lengthy proceedings can discourage people from pursuing relief. Efficient docket management reduces delays and promotes timely outcomes.
• Access to court proceedings: Brief hearings can still require people to miss work. Remote hearings can reduce that burden by allowing participants to attend short proceedings with less disruption.

The S&P 500 rose 0.6% after veering between an earlier gain of 0.7% and drop of 0.5%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 282 points, or 0.5%, as of 1:44 p.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.8% higher after briefly losing all of an early 1.3% jump.

The market initially seemed to be heading for healthy gains as Amazon leaped 14.9% after reporting much stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. Its profit more than tripled from a year earlier, thanks in part to an acceleration of growth in its cloud computing business.

Analysts said that could be a signal Amazon’s huge investments in artificial-intelligence technology are paying off, and Amazon increased its forecast for how much it will spend on investments this year.

The stock reaction was similar to what Microsoft got a day before, when it soared to its best day in nearly 18 years on signals that its AI investments may also be yielding higher profits.

Worries have been high on Wall Street that companies pouring billions of dollars into AI data centers may not get enough profit and productivity to make all the investments worth it. That weighed on the broad U.S. stock market, causing its sharp swings throughout July, along with worries that stock prices shot too high for companies selling the processors and computer memory that such “hyperscalers” are scrambling to buy.

Chipmakers swung sharply again on Friday. Micron Technology, for example, went from an early jump of 6.4% to a loss of 2.5%.

More firmly on the losing end of Wall Street was Apple, which dropped 9.6% despite reporting stronger profit for the latest quarter than expected. Its forecast for growth in the current quarter fell short of expectations, which executives pinned on a supply crunch in components getting vacuumed up in the AI boom.

Also pressuring stocks was another rise in oil prices as uncertainty continues about when the war with Iran will allow crude to flow freely again from the Middle East.

The price for a barrel of Brent crude rose 1.4% to $88.06 after careening between $72 and $102 earlier in July.

Higher oil prices have pushed the cost for a gallon of regular gasoline to an average of nearly $4.11 across the United States, up from $3.85 a month ago, according to AAA. More expensive oil also puts upward pressure on prices for virtually every product that rides on a ship, plane or truck before it gets to a customer.

The worries about inflation sent yields in the bond market even higher.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury jumped to 4.74% from 4.68% late Thursday and from just 3.97% before the war with Iran sent oil prices shooting higher. That's a notable move for the bond market, and the yield moves higher when investors' expectations for inflation, economic growth and other factors in upcoming years are rising.

The leap has already sent the average long-term U.S. mortgage rate to its highest level in a year.

Longer-term yields jumped on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve's chair, Kevin Warsh, promised again to get inflation back down to 2% but did not say how he plans to get it there. The Fed voted again to keep its main interest rate steady on Wednesday, even though inflation continues to remain well above 2%.

Higher interest rates could keep a lid on inflation, but they could also slow the economy and undercut prices for stocks and other investments. President Donald Trump, who nominated Warsh to lead the Fed, has lobbied for lower interest rates instead of higher.

Warsh has clearly told financial markets that he does not want to give hints about what the Fed will do with interest rates, saying he wants to get direct, “unfiltered” messages from them rather than echoes back of what the Fed has suggested.

But “without clarifying why action was or wasn’t taken already, it’s hard to see how statements about being committed to hitting its inflation target aren’t just a bluff,” according to Brian Jacobsen, chief economic strategist at Annex Wealth Management.

“The Fed is facing a growing credibility problem,” economists at Bank of America wrote in a report. Unless data comes in showing less pressure on inflation in the interim, “it is imperative for the Fed to pass the September test by hiking rates and delivering an internally consistent narrative.”

In stock markets abroad, the swings were even wilder for chip stocks.

Seoul’s Kospi index soared 17.9% for its best day in history. The index is dominated by two tech giants, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, which both surged at least 26.8% on Friday.

The Kospi, though, still lost 22% in July despite Friday’s historic move. That’s after it more than doubled in the first six months of the year.

___

AP Business Writers Chan Ho-him and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed to this report.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Seventh Circuit Judge – Group 26 candidates

The Seventh Judicial Circuit of Florida handles state civil and criminal cases for Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns and Volusia counties. These are nonpartisan races, open to all voters.

Of the 13 groups up for election this year, only Group 26 drew more than one candidate. Carleen Leffler and Jeane Stratis are running to be the judge for this seat. Leffler is a civil law attorney, while Stratis is an assistant state attorney.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

Our News Collaborative partners at Central Florida Public Media compiled the candidate responses for the Seventh Circuit Court race. Below is an excerpt of each candidate’s profile.

You can see the full Central Florida Public Media Voting Guide HERE.

Carleen Leffler

WEBSITE: www.lefflerforjudge.com/

What is your education?

• Webber International University -- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, December 2008
• Jacksonville University -- Master of Business Administration, December 2011
• Florida Coastal School of Law -- Juris Doctor, December 2011

What role should personal values play in judicial decision-making?

Personal values should play a role in how a judge performs the duties of the judicial office, but they should not determine the outcome of a case. Values such as integrity, impartiality, humility, diligence, and professionalism help ensure that every person is heard, every case is carefully considered, and every decision is grounded in the rule of law. Judicial decisions should be based on the facts presented, the applicable law, and governing precedent, not on a judge’s personal beliefs or preferences.

What professional experiences have best prepared you for the bench?

The professional experiences that have best prepared me for the bench are the breadth of my legal experience, owning and operating my own law practice, and my leadership in professional and community organizations. Throughout my career, I have represented individuals, families, and businesses in probate, estate planning, corporate, and real estate matters, helping clients through some of the most significant moments of their lives. Practicing in small and large law firms, as well as operating my own law practice, has given me an appreciation for the perspectives of clients and attorneys alike and an understanding of the practical challenges faced by those who come before the court. My leadership in professional and community organizations has further strengthened my commitment to professionalism, preparation, and public service. Together, these experiences have equipped me with the perspective to thoughtfully consider each case with an open mind and faithfully apply the law to the facts presented.

How do you balance precedent with evolving societal standards?

I believe a judge’s responsibility is to faithfully apply the law, including binding precedent, to the unique facts of each case. Precedent promotes consistency, stability, and predictability in our legal system. As societal standards evolve, the law can evolve through legislative action or decisions of higher courts. Throughout my legal career, staying current with changes in the law has been an essential part of my practice. As the law has evolved, I have adapted my advice to clients and my advocacy to reflect those changes. Likewise, a circuit judge must remain informed of developments in the law and faithfully apply the law as it exists, while setting aside personal opinions or preferences. In that way, precedent and evolving societal standards are balanced by faithfully applying the law as it exists while recognizing changes that occur through the legislative process and binding decisions of higher courts.

What steps do you take to avoid conflicts of interest?

I avoid conflicts of interest by remaining mindful of my ethical obligations and identifying potential issues, including circumstances that could create the appearance of impropriety, as early as possible. Throughout my legal career, I have conducted thorough conflict checks, carefully evaluated potential conflicts, and complied with my professional responsibilities. Those same principles apply to the responsibilities of a circuit judge. Taking appropriate steps to identify and address conflicts of interest, including making appropriate disclosures and taking any action required under the Code of Judicial Conduct, is essential to maintaining public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary.

What barriers to justice do you see in the current system, and how would you address them?

There are a number of barriers to justice, but the top three I have observed throughout my practice are the cost of obtaining legal services, the challenges faced by self-represented parties, and access to technology.

Many legal matters, including probate proceedings, often require the assistance of an attorney even when they are not adversarial. While a circuit judge cannot eliminate those costs, I would address this barrier by being well prepared, managing cases efficiently, and minimizing avoidable delays, which can help reduce unnecessary expenses.

Self-represented parties often face difficulties navigating court procedures and understanding the legal process. Through my probate practice, I have worked with self-represented beneficiaries and have seen those challenges firsthand. While a judge must remain impartial and cannot provide legal advice, I would address this barrier by conducting proceedings in a clear, organized, and respectful manner and communicating the process as clearly as possible.

Finally, technology has improved the efficiency of our courts through electronic filing, e-service, and virtual proceedings, but not everyone has reliable internet access or the technological skills to navigate those systems. I would address this barrier by remaining mindful of those challenges, making appropriate use of technology, and striving to ensure court proceedings remain as accessible and understandable as possible while complying with the applicable rules.

Jeanne Stratis

WEBSITE: stratis4judge.com/home

What is your education?

• JD from Florida Coastal School of Law
• BS from University of South Florida

What role should personal values play in judicial decision-making?

Absolutely zero. A judge’s role is to follow the law as it is written.

What professional experiences have best prepared you for the bench?

I’ve been an Assistant State Attorney for 25 years. Currently handling Homicides, Sex Crimes, Internet Crimes Against Children, Prison Releasee Reoffenders, and other high-profile cases. I have 25 years of courtroom experience, running dockets, managing caseloads, making serious and well-reasoned decisions that follow the law.

How do you balance precedent with evolving societal standards?

As a circuit judge, my role would be to follow the law, as it is written. The legislature is tasked with writing/revising laws.

What steps do you take to avoid conflicts of interest?

Get off the case.

What barriers to justice do you see in the current system, and how would you address them?

Rule on motions in a timely manner so both sides know how to proceed with their cases. Keep personal opinion out of the courtroom.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Brevard County School Board District 1

The Brevard County School Board has five districts. These are nonpartisan races, so they are open to all voters.

School Board District 1 encompasses voters in the northern part of the county, including Titusville, Mims and Cocoa. You can see a map of the area HERE.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

Our News Collaborative partners at Central Florida Public Media compiled the candidate responses for Brevard County School Board District 1.

You can also see the full Central Florida Public Media Voting Guide HERE.

Tara “Coach” Gibson

WEBSITE: www.vote4tara2026.com/

NOTE: This candidate did not respond to our request to fill out this voter guide. To best serve you, we searched candidate websites, social media and interviews they’ve done to provide answers to the following questions.

TOP ISSUES

What are the three most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.

The Brevard County Republican Forum recently held a candidate forum. Video was posted to Facebook by the Brevard News.

During the forum, Gibson listed the following as her top concerns.

• Approving the Brevard School District millage rate (November ballot)
• Voucher schools, which Gibson said are draining the life out of public schools.
• Hiring of a CFO. Gibson says the previous one resigned earlier this year and operating without one will be detrimental.

How should the district handle teacher shortages? Gibson did not respond to this questionnaire; however, in a forum hosted by the Brevard County Republicans, Gibson stated that if the district does not pay teachers better, they will leave. Gibson says teachers should make $100,000 and that she’s already working on a pathway for them to do so, leaning on her resources. She later clarified that teacher pay would not start at $100,000 but could reach that benchmark with her idea.

Florida ranked last for academic growth in reading. How would you improve that? The candidate did not respond to the questionnaire, but on June 19, Gibson posted to Facebook, asking people to approve the additional millage on the November ballot. Gibson believes the money helps to pay for staff who are helping students improve test scores. Gibson said the following on her Facebook page:

“For years, parents, teachers, and advocates have argued that our schools are understaffed. This presentation provided some of the strongest evidence yet that when schools receive the personnel they need, students benefit. There is another piece of this story that should not be overlooked. Many of those literacy coaches and interventionists were funded through the voter-approved local millage. They were not funded through new state dollars. They were not funded through increased district revenues. They were funded because the citizens of Brevard County voted to invest additional local resources in their public schools. Many of the current Brevard School Board members even campaigned AGAINST the millage referendum. But the millage investment produced results. In other words, funding matters. As we approach the upcoming millage renewal vote, voters should remember what those dollars helped accomplish. They helped put additional instructional professionals in schools and classrooms. They helped provide targeted academic support. And according to district leadership’s own presentation, those efforts contributed to measurable student achievement gains.”

Tara Gibson

What changes, if any, would you make to school safety policies? The candidate did not respond to the questionnaire; however, during a forum hosted by the Brevard County Republicans, Gibson said that the district is doing a good job protecting children, though she is worried about the psychological impacts of metal detectors and school resource officers carrying guns. Gibson stated that she would like to see the schools look less like prisons.

How should book challenges and library removals be handled? The candidate did not respond to the questionnaire and we could not ascertain where she stands on this issue.

What outside organizations or endorsements are supporting your campaign? The candidate’s campaign website does not list any endorsements.

If elected, what policy would you try to pass in your first year? The candidate did not respond to our questionnaire and it is unclear what policy she would try to pass in her first year.

Megan Wright - Incumbent

WEBSITE: wrightforbrevard.com/

NOTE: This candidate did not respond to our request to fill out this voter guide. To best serve you, we searched candidate websites, social media and interviews they’ve done to provide answers to the following questions.

TOP ISSUES

What are the three most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below. On her campaign website, Wright lists the following priorities:

Empowering parents -- Megan is committed to protecting parental rights, increasing access to information, and ensuring families remain partners, not bystanders in their child’s education.

Safe and disciplined classrooms-- Megan believes discipline supports teachers and protects students who are ready to learn.

Supporting our teachers-- Megan supports competitive teacher pay, stronger classroom resources, and high standards for excellence.

How should the district handle teacher shortages? The candidate did not respond to the questionnaire and it is unclear what she believes the best way to solve this issue.

Florida ranked last for academic growth in reading. How would you improve that? The candidate did not respond to the questionnaire but has made public statements about where Brevard stands academically. The statement below was taken from a July 18, 2026 Instagram post.

“You may have seen a scary stat: ’40% of students are below grade level in reading and math.’ Here is the context they leave out.<br><br>That same data earned Brevard an A from the state three years in a row, with zero D or F schools district-wide and a graduation rate of 92.7%, a district record and above the state. Here is the manipulation. Any proficiency number can be flipped to sound like a failure. In reading, Brevard ranks 17th out of 67 Florida districts and scores above the state average. In math, Brevard is above the state average too. No district anywhere is at 100%. As much as I would love to see 100% reading proficiency, that is just not a realistic goal. There will always be students still working toward grade level, in every district in Florida, because that is how the math works. And like I have said before, sometimes kids CAN read, but they test poorly. There is no way to capture that in these state assessments. What matters is direction and where we stand, and Brevard’s overall performance ranks in the top 20 while earning 68% of all possible points, up from 65%. Same numbers, two very different stories. One is designed to scare you. The other is the truth. Is there still work to do? Always. And I will continue to prioritize our students’ achievements in these core subjects.”

Megan Wright

What changes, if any, would you make to school safety policies? Wright did not respond to the questionnaire but on her campaign website, she states the following: A safe school is the foundation for academic success. During Megan’s tenure, Brevard implemented OpenGate weapons detection systems in all high schools, expanded the School Guardian Program, strengthened partnerships with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, and reinforced consistent discipline policies district-wide. The result: safer campuses and stronger learning environments. Megan believes discipline supports teachers and protects students who are ready to learn. She will continue fighting for policies that keep classrooms focused, structured, and secure.

How should book challenges and library removals be handled? Wright did not respond to this questionnaire; however, looking over previous votes by the Brevard School Board, it is clear that she has voted both with and against recommendations made by the committee that reviews book challenges. It is unclear how Wright believes removals should be handled.

What outside organizations or endorsements are supporting your campaign?

According to her campaign website, endorsements include:

• Sheriff Wayne Ivey
• Senator Tom Wright
• Property Appraiser Dana Blickley
• Commissioner Micah Loyd
• Former Speaker Steve Cristifulli
• Congressman Mike Haridopolos
• Associated Builders and Contractors
• Trailblazers of Tomorrow

If elected, what policy would you try to pass in your first year? Wright did not respond to the questionnaire. However, in a video posted on July 23 to her reelection Facebook page, she said her focus over the next four years would be to change the narrative about Brevard Public Schools. She posted the following:

“Here’s my main focus for the next four years: changing the story we tell about Brevard Public Schools. Because the good far outweighs the bad. Every single day I watch teachers show up and pour themselves out for our kids in ways that genuinely move me. That’s the real story. But it’s not the one that gets told. People hear about the one-off problem and that becomes their whole picture of our schools. It isn’t the truth. So here’s what I tell parents who are on the fence: go see for yourself. Set up a tour. Walk in the door, meet the people who would be teaching your child, and see what’s actually there. I’ve watched parents do exactly that and come away blown away. Some came right back to public school. I want the next four years to be about that, showing people the truth of what we’ve built, and then pushing even harder on academics to see just how far our kids can go. The good is real. I want everyone to see it.”

Megan Wright

Until now, the answer has been a doting home health aide from Haiti named Martha Nelson. But with the Supreme Court sanctioning a White House immigration crackdown, Nelson’s permission to stay in the country appears likely to be yanked within days, leaving French worried.

“She’s with me all the time,” says French. “Life would be impossible.”

As the Trump administration unwinds years of protections for hundreds of thousands of people from Haiti, twin populations of vulnerable people find themselves in the crosshairs: caregivers in jobs to which those immigrants have flocked, and the older adults and disabled people who rely on them.

Around the U.S., care homes and home health agencies are bracing for the loss of workers with TPS, which stands for temporary protected status, even as they continue to reel from other immigration policy changes that have squeezed an already short-staffed industry.

For businesses, it is a predicament that could hurt bottom lines and tax remaining workers. For their clients, it threatens to upend every aspect of their lives.

“They have become like family,” says Katy Sanchez, who lives in a group home for disabled people in Nanuet, New York, run by The Arc Rockland, which stands to lose 19 caregivers with TPS, on top of 20 others it lost in immigration changes last year. “If they are forced to leave, it would be devastating.”

Supreme Court ruling paved the way

The Supreme Court sided with the Trump administration last month, saying it could end temporary protected status. The ruling specifically pertained to 350,000 Haitians and 6,000 Syrians, but immigration advocates and legal observers say it could be applied to a broader group of 1.3 million people from 17 countries.

The justices' move has been met with weeks of confusion. Immigration officials subsequently granted several extensions to TPS holders that carried through Monday. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued guidance Wednesday affirming TPS was over, though some attorneys and labor unions have argued work authorization remains intact until lower courts lift an injunction.

The Department of Homeland Security made light of the TPS expiration, referencing lyrics from a 1998 hit song: “It’s closing time, which means you don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here.”

Fearful they might be in breach of the law, some employers have begun terminating TPS holders, to the dismay of their clients.

Anna Fischbein grew accustomed to visits to her home in Sunny Isles, Florida, from the same kindly Haitian health aide every week for the past 10 years. But Jewish Community Services of South Florida terminated the aide along with 17 others when their TPS lapsed.

“I lost not only a lady working for me,” the 87-year-old Holocaust survivor says, her voice broken by sobs. “I lost a friend.”

Facilities scramble to come up with replacement workers

Around 1 in 5 workers in the U.S. is foreign born, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but immigrants are overrepresented in caregiving roles. Among home health aides, for example, one-third are immigrants, according to PHI, a nonprofit focused on the caregiving workforce.

In lives upended by age or disability, a cherished caregiver is a lifeline. For someone living in their own home, they may be the last line of defense before institutionalization. For those in a care facility, they may be their strongest advocate, who notices subtle changes before anyone else, ensures small comforts like dollar-store word search books, and brings a sense of humanity to the humiliation of being incontinent.

“They are the first people they see when they wake up in the morning and they’re the last ones that they see before they go to bed,” says Simone Smith, vice president of human resources at Cabrini of Westchester, a nursing home in Dobbs Ferry, New York, where eight Haitians with TPS await word of their fate.

Like similar facilities around the country, Cabrini is prepared to scramble to secure replacement staffers from nursing agencies and plead with remaining workers to take overtime shifts. Cabrini’s workforce is about 75% immigrant. Among those with TPS, Smith senses “almost a hopelessness.”

A Haitian who loses TPS faces an unbearable choice: Attempt to stay in the U.S. and find underground work, tiptoeing through life with fear that authorities will eventually find and remove them. Or return to a country so plagued by gang violence and poverty that many believe it would amount to a death sentence.

“I’m afraid all the time,” says a Haitian man working at a Brooklyn nursing home who asked for anonymity because of concerns for the safety of himself and his family. “I pay tax to the country. I’m a good person. … All I want is to work. When you work, you are a person.”

Families wonder what they will do

Outside a simple brick house in Queens, Nelson stands guard as French steps through her door. On the porch, you might mistake the two for old friends, their bond as much an illustration of what is at risk as it is of how much things have changed.

The women made the same journey, from Port-au-Prince to New York, four decades apart.

French was drawn here in 1970 by the potential opportunities she saw. She built businesses as a hairdresser and seamstress. Her late husband made his way as an electrician and contractor. They bought their home. Their children got good educations. They believed they achieved the American dream.

Nelson came after an earthquake flattened Haiti in 2010. At home, she ran a butcher shop, but after arriving in New York she found work in caregiving roles. She began working for French about three years ago after French fell and broke her hip. Nelson, now 69, has been with her nearly every weekday since.

Both women felt welcomed by the U.S. when they arrived. But French is saddened to see how views on immigrants have evolved.

“America is a good country,” French says, “but it has changed.”

Nelson brings leftovers, tends to French’s chores and is a source of companionship. They watch the news together and talk in Haitian Creole about their families. On weekends, Nelson calls to make sure French has gotten up from bed and nags her to eat.

“On my days off, I think about her,” Nelson says.

French says Nelson has become like family. Nelson agrees, saying she sees French as if she’s her own mother, a show of affection and the source of the pair’s one ongoing dispute.

“You’re not like my daughter,” French protests. “You’re like my sister.”

For now, the two continue their routine, knowing each shift may be Nelson's last. She keeps a copy of her work authorization zipped in a black cloth pouch that she carries everywhere, in case she is stopped. Each Sunday, she sinks to her knees in church, praying for an answer. She worries for herself and for French.

“It makes me feel depressed,” Nelson says. “It could be difficult for her without me.”

___

Salomon reported from Miami.

___

Matt Sedensky can be reached at msedensky@ap.org and https://x.com/sedensky

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

18th Circuit Judge – Group 4 candidates

The 18th Judicial Circuit of Florida handles state civil and criminal cases for Brevard and Seminole counties. These are nonpartisan races, open to all voters.

Of the 11 groups up for election this year, Group 4 and Group 13 drew more than one candidate. You can read about the Group 13 race HERE.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

Our News Collaborative partners at Central Florida Public Media compiled the candidate responses for the 18th Circuit Court race. Below is an excerpt of each candidate’s profile.

You can see the full Central Florida Public Media Voting Guide HERE.

Larry Freeman

WEBSITE: freemanforjudge.com/

What is your education?

I earned a Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, including graduate degrees from the University of Central Florida, and later earned my Juris Doctor. I am also a licensed Florida attorney and have been a licensed Professional Engineer for nearly 20 years.

What role should personal values play in judicial decision-making?

A judge’s personal values should never replace the law. A judge’s duty is to faithfully apply the United States Constitution, the Florida Constitution, and the laws enacted by the Legislature--not to impose personal beliefs or legislate from the bench. Every litigant deserves the same fair and impartial application of the law.

What professional experiences have best prepared you for the bench?

My experience as a civil litigation attorney, licensed Professional Engineer, and small business owner has prepared me to evaluate facts carefully, apply the law as written, and treat every person who comes before the court with fairness, impartiality, and respect.

How do you balance precedent with evolving societal standards?

Precedent provides stability and consistency. If society wants the law to change, that responsibility belongs to the Legislature and the people, not the judiciary. A judge must faithfully apply the law as it exists.

What steps do you take to avoid conflicts of interest?

I will identify and disclose any actual or potential conflicts, follow the Florida Code of Judicial Conduct, and recuse myself whenever my impartiality might reasonably be questioned. Public confidence in an impartial judiciary must always come first.

What barriers to justice do you see in the current system, and how would you address them?

Delay, cost, and inconsistency are significant barriers to justice. As a judge, I will work to ensure cases are handled efficiently, every litigant is treated with respect, and the law is applied fairly, impartially, and consistently.

Robert Alan Segal - Incumbent

WEBSITE: www.keepjudgesegal.com/

What is your education?

• George Washington University -- BA - Political Science -- 1988
• Vermont Law School -- JD -- 1991

What role should personal values play in judicial decision-making?

Personal values play a critical role in judicial decision-making. Judges are called upon to weigh the credibility of witnesses and apply common sense to resolve competing versions of similar facts. That being said, an effective judge is able to recognize personal biases and set them aside in order to take a neutral approach toward resolving complex factual disputes.

What professional experiences have best prepared you for the bench?

Almost 35 years of legal experience. I was a practicing trial lawyer in the Office of the Public Defender and in private practice for approximately 23 years. This gave me the opportunity to represent clients in hundreds of jury and non-jury trials. I served for 4 years as a General Magistrate presiding over hundreds of non-jury trials for 4 years. I have presided over hundreds of jury and non-jury trials as a sitting Circuit Judge for approximately 8 years, sitting in both the criminal and family divisions.

How do you balance precedent with evolving societal standards?

Precedent is the law. Trial judges must faithfully adhere to the law. When judges substitute their view of societal “standards,” predictability in outcomes and faith in the institution are undermined. A party should be able to count on the fact that the judge will listen, impartially, to the facts of the case and apply the law as it is written without interjecting the judge’s personal views or opinions about what society might want in an outcome.

What steps do you take to avoid conflicts of interest?

I disclose virtually any contact I’ve had with a party or witness no matter how trivial. This allows parties to ask questions and make informed decisions so that they are comfortable with my impartiality. I have familiarized myself with the ethical canons governing this profession and recuse myself where those canons require me to do so.

What barriers to justice do you see in the current system, and how would you address them?

One of the most confounding problems with which I regularly deal is the conundrum associated with cases where one party is self-represented and the other has an attorney. The rules of procedure and the law must be followed. A party that chooses to represent themself, often out of financial necessity, cannot be treated any differently than the party with counsel. This, unfortunately, frequently leads to unbalanced presentations favoring the party with an attorney. While a judge cannot instruct the self-represented litigant, the court can rule in such a way (and this pertains to both parties) that makes it easier for the lay-person to understand the problem and correct it without exceeding the bounds of impartiality and fairness.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

18th Circuit Judge – Group 13 candidates

The 18th Judicial Circuit of Florida handles state civil and criminal cases for Brevard and Seminole counties. These are nonpartisan races, open to all voters.

Of the 11 groups up for election this year, Group 4 and Group 13 drew more than one candidate. You can read about the Group 4 race HERE.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

Our News Collaborative partners at Central Florida Public Media compiled the candidate responses for the 18th Circuit Court race. Below is an excerpt of each candidate’s profile.

You can see the full Central Florida Public Media Voting Guide HERE.

Andrea Fant

WEBSITE: fantforjudge.com/

What is your education?

I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Florida State University and a Juris Doctor from Florida A&M University, College of Law.

What role should personal values play in judicial decision-making?

Judges must make decisions based on the law and without regard to personal values.

What professional experiences have best prepared you for the bench?

With over sixteen years of experience as an attorney, I believe all of my professional experiences have prepared me for the bench. In the area of Family Law, I have handled matters involving divorces, child custody disputes, and child support obligations. Additionally, I was an attorney for the Department of Revenue, Child Support Enforcement division, where I advocated on behalf of the State of Florida during hearings to establish paternity and initiate, enforce, and modify child support obligations. For Civil Law, I have handled cases including landlord-tenant matters, petitions to seek injunctive relief, and contract disputes. Currently, as an Assistant Public Defender, I am assigned to a Circuit Criminal division. I manage a high-volume caseload involving individuals with criminal charges ranging from misdemeanors to first-degree felonies that are punishable by life in prison. My clientele also includes persons with mental health illnesses, autism and intellectual disabilities, and drug addiction. I am a trial attorney that has taken cases to verdict during jury trials and have litigated complex legal issues. Additionally, I have argued two cases before the Fifth District Court of Appeals. Outside of the courtroom, my professional experience has included member and chair of the Grievance Committee, graduate of The Florida Bar’s Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Leadership Academy (Class VI), President of the Brevard County chapter of FACDL (Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers), and member of Vassar B. Carlton American Inn of Court, to name a few. All of these experiences have contributed to my knowledge, abilities, and skills (both legally and in leadership) in preparation for the bench.

How do you balance precedent with evolving societal standards?

When balancing precedent with evolving societal standards, I adhere to the law. Precedent typically includes the applicable law, a factual basis, and an analysis that applies the law to the facts of the case. Additionally, it is not uncommon for the court to make distinctions among cases to explain why various outcomes were reached. Therefore, even with evolving societal standards, I follow the law.

What steps do you take to avoid conflicts of interest?

After the Public Defender’s Office has been appointed to represent an individual, his/her case goes through our intake process. During intake, each case is assigned to an attorney. Our office uses an electronic system to manage cases, which will also alert attorneys to potential conflicts with a case. However, instead of simply relying on the database system, I conduct an independent review. Upon reading the police report(s) and/or the Assistant State Attorney’s witness list, I check our system and/or the clerk’s records to see if our office currently or has previously represented anyone involved in the case. Additionally, my assistant completes a conflict check for my cases, as well, then forwards her information to me for review. In our office, when a conflict has been identified, the issue is forwarded to a supervisor. Once a supervisor reviews the information concerning the conflict and grants authorization to move forward, a Motion to Withdraw is filed by the attorney. This process provides several levels of review to check for conflicts.

What barriers to justice do you see in the current system, and how would you address them?

Financial hardship is one barrier to justice since the expense of litigation can be costly. Litigation could include fees associated with court reporters, expert witnesses, an investigator, deposition transcripts, medical records, and more. In circumstances where the costs are imputed to the client, some may find it difficult to properly litigate their case. I would address any need for financial relief and/or resources and make decisions on a case-by-case basis. Another barrier to justice involves the challenges of navigating through our legal system for litigants who represent themselves. I would ensure their constitutional right to Due Process is protected, and without giving legal advice, steer them in the direction of resources that are available to assist (i.e. Law Library, Clerk of Court’s Office, etc.). Barriers to justice may also include unreasonable delays in proceedings, and alternatively, cases that are unreasonably accelerated through the system. When making decisions regarding the progression of a case, I would listen to both sides, review the court record, apply the law, and use my organizational and management skills, among others.

George Cole Gaspard

WEBSITE: gaspardforjudge.com/

What is your education?

I earned my Associate of Arts Degree from Palm Beach State College (formerly Palm Beach Community College), Lake Worth, Florida; Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies with a Certificate in Trial Advocacy from the University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida; and Juris Doctor with a Certificate in Children and Family Law and Book Awards in Trial Advocacy and Legal History from the Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law, Orlando, Florida.

What role should personal values play in judicial decision-making?

It would depend on which values are being discussed. If the values are diligence, candor, thoughtfulness, patience, humility, and competence, among others: they should be at the forefront of judicial decision-making. If, however, the judicial values discussed are pertaining to personal feelings, political views, cultural views, and the like, then they have no place in the judiciary.

A judge is there to apply the law fairly and impartially, protect the constitutional rights of everyone who appears before the court, and decide each case based solely on the facts as applied to the law; not based on personal opinions. Our citizens deserve to know that when they walk into a courtroom, they’ll be heard, treated with respect, and have a judge who will fairly and impartially apply the law to the facts of each case.

Justice Antonin Scalia once opined that the judge who always likes the results he reaches is a bad judge. It is not for judges to legislate from the bench or bend the law to reach a preferred outcome. The responsibility of a judge is to faithfully apply the law as it is written; even when the result may not be popular.

What professional experiences have best prepared you for the bench?

My qualifications to serve as a Circuit Judge are founded upon more than a decade of public service, extensive courtroom experience, a commitment to the rule of law, and a demonstrated ability to fairly evaluate complex legal issues. Throughout my career, I have dedicated myself to ensuring justice is administered fairly and serving the citizens of Florida with integrity and professionalism.

Since October 2020, I have served as Legal Counsel for the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, providing legal guidance on constitutional, statutory, and administrative issues. In this role, I regularly analyze complex legal questions, advise agency leadership on matters requiring careful consideration of competing interests, and litigate Risk Protection Orders and Civil Asset Forfeitures.

Prior to joining the Sheriff’s Office, I was an Assistant State Attorney in the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit for over six years. During that time, I prosecuted cases ranging from misdemeanors to serious felonies, including homicide, child abuse, and sex crimes. This experience provided me with a deep understanding of criminal law, courtroom procedure, evidentiary issues, and the profound impact judicial decisions have on victims, defendants, and the community.

My experience as a former Florida Supreme Court Certified County and Circuit Mediator further strengthened my ability to listen carefully, remain impartial, and facilitate the fair resolution of disputes. Mediation taught me the importance of patience, professionalism, and ensuring that all parties feel heard and respected; qualities that are essential to effective judicial service.

In addition to my litigation and advisory work, I have devoted considerable time to legal education. I currently instruct legal courses for law enforcement and correctional officers, school resource officers, and police recruits. I have authored numerous internal legal training publications and have presented continuing legal education programs for attorneys and professional organizations. These experiences reflect my commitment to the law and my ability to communicate complex legal concepts clearly and effectively.

Combined with my reputation for integrity, fairness, judicial temperament, and public service, these experiences have prepared me to serve as an effective Circuit Judge who will uphold the Constitution, apply the law impartially, and treat every person who appears before the court with dignity and respect.

How do you balance precedent with evolving societal standards?

Precedent which is binding on the Court should always prevail over evolving societal standards. Courts are bound to the people that they serve to faithfully apply the law as it is written without regard for personal feelings; including precedent set by case law. In the event, however, that no such binding precedent exists, a court may find it appropriate to consider evolving societal standards in weighing certain decisions. Such balancing is often done, for example, when analyzing the prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment contained in the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution. At the time of its drafting, a variety of modes of execution were permissible. Today, however, when taking into consideration our evolving societal standards, certain methods of execution have been deemed unconstitutional.

What steps do you take to avoid conflicts of interest?

Avoiding conflicts of interest as a judge starts with being intentional about what might create even the appearance of bias. That means taking a close look at financial interests, prior professional relationships, former law partners, and personal relationships that could reasonably come before the court. If something could cause a fair-minded person to question impartiality, it needs to be taken seriously from the outset.

Just as important is being candid when a potential issue does arise. Disclosure on the record allows the parties to address it and, when appropriate, seek recusal. That kind of transparency is essential to maintaining trust in the process.

There are also times when recusal is simply the right call. Even if a judge believes they can be fair, the question is whether the circumstances might cause others to reasonably doubt it. Protecting confidence in the judiciary sometimes means stepping aside.

Finally, good habits matter. Avoiding financial entanglements, outside relationships, or public positions that could reasonably intersect with cases before the court goes a long way toward preventing problems before they ever arise.

What barriers to justice do you see in the current system, and how would you address them?

If one had to identify the greatest obstacle to justice, I would say it would be meeting an ever-growing demand for judicial services while ensuring that every person who comes before the court receives the time, attention, and fairness that justice requires.

Brevard and Seminole Counties continue to grow, and with that growth comes an increase in the number of criminal cases, family disputes, civil litigation, and other demands on the judicial system. While each of those cases represents someone’s life, livelihood, or liberty, the challenge for any judge is ensuring that, despite a busy docket, each person who walks into the courtroom knows that they have been provided a meaningful opportunity to be heard.

Justice delayed is justice denied. Victims wait for closure, families remain in limbo, businesses are left without answers, and defendants live with the uncertainty of pending charges. Cases must move efficiently, but never at the expense of due process.

Another challenge is ensuring that the community has meaningful access to justice. More people are appearing in court without attorneys because they cannot afford one. While judges must remain impartial and cannot advocate for either side, they can make sure that courtrooms remain respectful, procedures are understandable, and everyone has access to timely justice.

Additionally, the work of our courts has also become substantially more complex than it was even a decade ago. Today’s judges are tasked with evaluating digital evidence and addressing issues pertaining to rapidly evolving technology. Those challenges reinforce the need for continuing education and careful preparation--the law evolves and judges have an obligation to keep pace.

“It’s extremely important to us,” said Itai Nixon, who leads the diaspora department for Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs. “We’re the state of the Jewish people, not just Israelis.”

Lesley Sachs, who has protested the current Israeli government and chairs the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism, also considers a close relationship with diaspora Jews a “strategic asset” for both Israel and Jews worldwide.

So she’s greatly concerned about diaspora Jews losing the sense that Israel can be a homeland for them, especially as rising antisemitism targets them regardless of political and religious affiliations.

“That was always really, really important that everybody around the world, especially after the Holocaust, knows that there is a country that will always take them,” Sachs said in her synagogue in Tel Aviv. “This is already a few generations after, and this is less prominent in their DNA. And I think that this is really a failure on the part of both Israel and world Jewry, that we have not managed to keep that prominent.”

Since 2000, Taglit-Birthright Israel has brought a million Jewish young adults from the United States and elsewhere for a free 10-day “discovery” tour of Israel. The organization’s CEO says it’s more necessary than ever to show what their connection to Israel could be like beyond controversial politics.

“That really increases the importance of my job to expose people to what they give up on,” said Gidi Mark. “What we give them is a mirror.”

The staunch Israel-US relationship shows some cracks

Israel and the United States have long been staunch allies. U.S. President Donald Trump and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met in Washington earlier this week to discuss the war against Iran they launched together five months ago.

“The United States is perceived as the best friend of Israel in the entire world, and that’s still the case,” said Tamar Hermann, who directs the Israel Democracy Institute’s Viterbi Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research in Jerusalem.

Divisions over the ceasefire in the Iran war, however, have weakened Jewish Israelis’ belief that Trump prioritizes Israel’s security — from 64% in March to 26% in June — according to the center.

Amid diplomatic tensions, the role of Jewish Americans who historically lobbied for political, military and financial support for Israel gains new prominence, Israelis said. And that deepens the concern that many young progressive Americans, including Jews, now see supporting Israel in any way as irreconcilable with their worldview.

The decline in support for Israel has become particularly stark since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack when Hamas-led militants killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians in southern Israel, and abducted 251 others. Israel’s ensuing war against Hamas in Gaza has killed more than 73,000 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The ministry, which was part of the recently dissolved Hamas-run government, maintains detailed records viewed as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and international organizations. It does not distinguish between civilians and militants but says women and children make up around half of all fatalities.

That in turn ignited protests across the United States, especially on college campuses.

“Holocaust, refugees, the importance of Israel in times of need abroad, and the fact that Israel is a small country fighting for its existence … that’s history they read in a book,” Sachs said of younger Jewish Americans. “They weren’t emotionally part of it in any way or any form. And so they look at their values and the things that they believe in. And they don’t see it in Israel.”

Jewish Americans have a complicated relationship with Israel

Only about 4 in 10 religious Jewish adults under 45 in the United States say that supporting Israel is “extremely” or “very” important for their Jewish identity, while about half of older religious Jewish adults do, according to the AP-NORC poll.

The survey of 1,022 Jewish adults — including people who identify as Jewish by religion and religiously unaffiliated people who identify as Jewish through culture, ethnicity or family background — also found that only about half of religious adults say Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza are justified. The number drops to 2 in 10 among Jewish adults without a religious affiliation.

At the same time, about 6 in 10 Jewish adults say prejudice against Jewish people is an “extremely” or “very” serious problem in the United States today.

To many Israelis, safety threats against Jews make it all the more tragic — and dangerous — that young Jewish Americans do not see the state of Israel as a refuge or even an ally.

“Antisemitism sadly helps us to explain why a Jewish homeland is not a bad idea,” said Asaf Zamir, a deputy mayor of Tel Aviv who served as consul general in New York. “Opposing the government is fine, but you cannot understand your history as a Jew without understanding the part of Israel in it.”

Israel reaches out to secular and liberal Jews in North America

In order to promote deeper attachment between Israel and diaspora Jews, both the government and religious organizations are reinforcing exchange programs. For decades, young Israelis have traveled to Jewish summer camps across North America, and non-Israeli Jews get free trips to Israel.

“To see Israel and meet Israelis is the gold standard,” Itai Nixon said of programs bringing teens to the country.

Taglit-Birthright’s Gidi Mark said that since 2023, with multiple wars, tour participants are fewer — and their reactions to touring Israel have also changed. He recalled one participant shouting “Israel! Israel!” outside his hotel just because he felt safe to express himself.

“These people don’t feel free to experience who they are in the places that they are coming from,” Mark said.

These and other initiatives are focusing on secular Jews and adherents to Reform Judaism. The largest branch of the religion in North America, it emphasizes progressive values such as social justice.

Orthodox Jews abroad tend to have stronger ties to Israel — and Orthodox Jews in Israel tend to see themselves as closer to diaspora Jews than do secular Israelis, Hermann said.

Within the Israeli Reform movement, which is a small part of Judaism in the country, there’s a push to send more young Israelis to the United States, including as camp counselors.

“That kind of action is important, that one-on-one connection saying, ‘You know what, we believe in the same things you do. Really, we have the same ideology in general, and we feel we need to change Israel together,'" Sachs said. “We need to be partners in making Israel the country that we all need.”

Alma Edry, 18, is spending two months as a counselor at a progressive Jewish summer camp in Ontario with teens and young adults from Canada and the United States. She said her biggest surprise has been “that Israel is such a big deal for people outside the country.”

“Most of their friends are anti-Israel,” she said of the campers. “This is their chance to celebrate their connection.”

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Brevard County Commission District 1, Republican Primary

The Brevard County Commission has five districts, and these are partisan races, which means you must be a member of a political party to vote in August. All voters will be able to choose from a final slate of candidates in November.

The winner of the Republican primary for the District 1 commission seat will go on to face Democrat Aldon Bookhardt, Libertarian Nathan Slusher, and write-in candidate Stuart Buchanan.

County Commission District 1 encompasses voters in the northern part of the county, including Titusville, Mims and Cocoa. You can see a map of the district HERE.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

Our News Collaborative partners at Central Florida Public Media compiled the candidate responses for Brevard County Commission District 1.

You can see the full Central Florida Public Media Voting Guide HERE.

Pam Avery

WEBSITE: votepamavery.com

NOTE: This candidate did not respond to our request to fill out this voter guide. To best serve you, we searched candidate websites, social media and interviews they’ve done to provide answers to the following questions.

FOR INCUMBENTS: Why do you deserve to be re-elected in this race? FOR CHALLENGERS AND OPEN SEATS: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race?

Avery did not respond to the questionnaire but on her campaign website, she describes herself as a connector of people and said the following:

I’m running for County Commissioner because I truly care about this community and how decisions being made affect all of us. North Brevard can sometimes be overlooked, which is why effective leadership matters. Actions speak louder than words. I will work with others, lead with integrity, and treat everyone with respect.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Avery did not respond to this questionnaire. We could not find any information about her views on housing affordability.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? Avery did not respond to this questionnaire. We could not find any information about her views on the property tax amendment.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Avery did not respond to this questionnaire. We could not find any information on how she feels about how Florida regulators should respond to rising utility costs.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Listed on her campaign website, Avery lists the Indian River Lagoon as one of the things she’d like to tackle. She says the following: Protecting our natural resources with practical, fact-based solutions for now and for generations to come.

Stel Bailey

WEBSITE: votestelbailey.com

NOTE: This candidate did not respond to our request to fill out this voter guide. To best serve you, we searched candidate websites, social media and interviews they’ve done to provide answers to the following questions.

FOR INCUMBENTS: Why do you deserve to be re-elected in this race? FOR CHALLENGERS AND OPEN SEATS: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? Bailey did not respond to the questionnaire; however, at a forum hosted by the Brevard County Republicans, Bailey spoke of her work in the community by saying the following:

For the past 12 years, I started fighting for clean water, but I also began fighting for constitutional rights. I’ve been doing thousands of public records requests. I’ve done investigative journalism. I’ve done government accountability, and I’ve been able to teach people about civic engagement, and I became very passionate about our government and bringing it back to the people. So I am running today because I want to bring that same experience to the county commission. I want to be able to focus on infrastructure, transparency, accountability and putting the residents back into the government where they belong.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? The candidate did not respond to this questionnaire. On her campaign website, she focuses on responsible growth rather than affordability. We could not find information about how she would deal with the affordability issue.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? The candidate did not respond to this questionnaire and found no information about where she stands on this issue.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? In a YouTube short video found on Bailey’s campaign website, she addresses the issue of AI data centers. She states the first question you should ask is what is the impact on the community vs. what the community will get in return. Bailey says she agrees with Brevard County’s decision to stop offering tax incentives for AI data centers. She says if a project is beneficial for Brevard County, it should be able to stand on its own merits. Bailey did not address how regulators should respond.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Bailey did not respond to this questionnaire; however, the centerpiece of her campaign and her work has been clean water. She’s stated that she and several members of her immediate family were all diagnosed with cancer at around the same time. Bailey has blamed the water that she says was contaminated with PFAS. At a forum put on by the Brevard County Republicans, when asked whether she supports the renewal of a sales tax that Brevard residents pay for the Indian River Lagoon, Bailey said not as it currently stands. She wants to see the amendment modified to specify that the money to infrastructure to keep things like stormwater out of the lagoon. Bailey does not support things like planting sea grass in the Indian River Lagoon, which has been a focus.

Rick Heffelfinger

WEBSITE: stickwithrick1.com

NOTE: This candidate did not respond to our request to fill out this voter guide. To best serve you, we searched candidate websites, social media and interviews they’ve done to provide answers to the following questions.

FOR INCUMBENTS: Why do you deserve to be re-elected in this race? FOR CHALLENGERS AND OPEN SEATS: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? Heffelfinger did not respond to the questionnaire but on his campaign website, he states that after attending commission meetings over the past eight years, we can’t keep increasing property taxes to pay for growth.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Heffelfinger did not respond to this questionnaire and we could find no information about how he would deal with Florida’s affordability issue.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? We could find no public statements made by Heffelfinger about the property tax amendment but his campaign centers around “DOGEing” the budget and not continuing to raise property taxes to pay for growth.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Heffelfinger did not respond to this questionnaire, but earlier this year, he spoke in support of a Brevard County ordinance that would prohibit tax incentives to open data centers in the county.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Heffelfinger did not respond to this questionnaire and we could not find any information to provide an answer to this question.

Micah Loyd

WEBSITE: www.micahloydcampaign.com/

NOTE: This candidate did not respond to our request to fill out this voter guide. To best serve you, we searched candidate websites, social media and interviews they’ve done to provide answers to the following questions.

FOR INCUMBENTS: Why do you deserve to be re-elected in this race? FOR CHALLENGERS AND OPEN SEATS: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? Loyd did not respond to this questionnaire; however, on his campaign website, he says the following: Micah is running because he has seen what poor leadership can do to a community. North Brevard struggled after the loss of space jobs in 2011, and today the community is facing a very different challenge: record growth. A lifelong member of this community, Micah has spent years giving back, supporting the SPCA, the Humane Society, and countless local causes that make North Brevard a better place to live. As a Canaveral Port Authority Commissioner, he’s stood up for residents when it mattered most, leading the effort to reject the Merritt Island LNG plant to protect our families and our lagoon. And as a local business owner, he understands firsthand what it takes to grow responsibly, manage a budget, and create good jobs. With that experience, Micah is ready to work alongside state and federal agencies, space companies, and local leaders to deliver real results for District 1. Micah believes Brevard County needs leaders who can balance healthy growth with quality of life, protect taxpayers, improve infrastructure, and work effectively with state and federal agencies, space companies, local businesses, and community leaders.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Loyd, on his campaign website, doesn’t focus on housing affordability but more so on responsible growth. We could not find any information about how he would deal with the affordability issue.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? Loyd did not respond to this questionnaire and we could not find any information about where he stands on this amendment.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? We could not find any information about where Loyd stands on how regulators should respond to data centers.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Loyd did not respond to the questionnaire but on his campaign website, he does talk about the Indian River Lagoon by saying the following: The Indian River Lagoon is part of North Brevard’s identity, economy, and future. Micah supports practical planning and responsible decisions that protect this natural resource for the next generation.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Brevard County Commission District 4, Republican Primary

The Brevard County Commission has five districts, and these are partisan races, which means you must be a member of a political party to vote in August. All voters will be able to choose from a final slate of candidates in November.

The winner of the Republican primary for the District 4 commission seat will go on to face write-in candidate Cheyenne Brady-Mogle.

County Commission District 4 encompasses voters in the areas of Viera and Melbourne. You can see a map of the district HERE.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

Our News Collaborative partners at Central Florida Public Media compiled the candidate responses for Brevard County Commission District 4.

You can see the full Central Florida Public Media Voting Guide HERE.

Adam Dyer

WEBSITE: adamdyerforbrevard.com/

Top issues in your race

If elected, what are the THREE most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them? My top three priorities are leadership, public safety, and infrastructure.

First, Brevard needs leadership that puts residents before politics. Government should be transparent, accountable, and focused on delivering results instead of making excuses.

Second, we must strengthen public safety by ensuring our firefighters, law enforcement officers, and emergency responders have the resources they need while recruiting and retaining qualified personnel. Safe communities are the foundation of a strong county.

Third, we need to invest in infrastructure before approving additional growth. Roads, water and sewer systems, stormwater management, and public facilities must keep pace with development. Growth should pay for itself through stronger impact fees so existing residents aren’t left footing the bill.

FOR INCUMBENTS: Why do you deserve to be re-elected in this race? FOR CHALLENGERS AND OPEN SEATS: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? I’m running because I believe Brevard County deserves stronger leadership and a more proactive approach to solving problems. Too often we’ve seen infrastructure fall behind development, residents feel left out of major decisions, and government reacts to issues instead of planning ahead. As a former firefighter, Air Force Reserve veteran, and Deputy Mayor, I’ve spent my career serving people, solving problems, and making difficult decisions. I believe it’s time for leadership that listens to residents, plans responsibly, and focuses on delivering results instead of politics.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Housing affordability is being driven by several factors, including property taxes, insurance premiums, infrastructure costs, and the rising cost of everyday living. There isn’t a single solution.

At the county level, we should require growth to pay for itself through stronger impact fees so existing residents aren’t subsidizing new development. We should also streamline permitting where appropriate to reduce unnecessary costs, advocate for meaningful property tax relief, and support efforts to stabilize the property insurance market. Responsible growth, fiscal discipline, and protecting taxpayers are all part of making Brevard more affordable for working families and seniors.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? No. Floridians deserve property tax relief, but I don’t believe we should eliminate or dramatically reduce property taxes without a clear, responsible plan to replace the revenue that funds essential local services such as law enforcement, fire rescue, parks, roads, and infrastructure.

Before supporting any constitutional amendment, I want to see exactly how the proposal would work, who would benefit, and how counties and municipalities would continue providing the services residents expect. I support meaningful tax relief, but it must be fiscally responsible and not simply shift the burden elsewhere.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Florida families should not bear the cost of infrastructure built primarily to serve large commercial users like data centers. Utility regulators should require major energy-intensive developments to pay their fair share of infrastructure costs rather than shifting those costs onto residential customers. We also need an all-of-the-above energy strategy that improves reliability, encourages innovation, and keeps electricity affordable while protecting Florida’s natural resources. I’m also concerned about locating large data centers in Brevard County due to their significant demands on electricity, water, and infrastructure.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? For Brevard County, the biggest environmental challenge is restoring and protecting the Indian River Lagoon. The lagoon is one of our greatest natural resources, but decades of nutrient pollution, aging infrastructure, and poor water circulation have contributed to declining water quality and the loss of seagrass and marine life.

We need to continue investing in wastewater and stormwater improvements, septic-to-sewer conversions, and projects that reduce nutrient runoff. We should also be willing to explore innovative, science-based solutions to improve water quality, including evaluating the feasibility of creating an additional inlet at the north end of the lagoon to increase tidal flushing and improve water exchange with the Atlantic Ocean. Any such proposal should be thoroughly studied to ensure it provides a net environmental benefit without creating unintended impacts to surrounding communities or ecosystems.

Protecting the Indian River Lagoon requires long-term commitment, sound science, and leadership that is willing to pursue practical solutions that preserve this vital resource for future generations.

Rob Feltner - INCUMBENT

WEBSITE: robfeltner.com/

NOTE: This candidate did not respond to our request to fill out this voter guide. To best serve you, we searched candidate websites, social media and interviews they’ve done to provide answers to the following questions.

Top issues in your race

If elected, what are the THREE most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them? Feltner is the incumbent but we could not find a campaign website or social media page where he spoke about the most pressing issues in his district.

FOR INCUMBENTS: Why do you deserve to be re-elected in this race? FOR CHALLENGERS AND OPEN SEATS: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? We could not find any interviews, social media posts or a campaign website where Feltner addressed these questions.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? We could not find any interviews, social media posts or a campaign website where Feltner addressed these questions.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? We could not find any interviews, social media posts or a campaign website where Feltner has spoken about the proposed cuts to property taxes. He was recently the lone vote against raising the Brevard County millage rate beyond the cap.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Feltner has expressed concern about data centers and their noise and water usage. He recently voted to prohibit tax incentives to data centers looking to move to Brevard.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Feltner did not respond to the questionnaire and we could find no information about what he believes to be the biggest environmental issue facing Florida or his district.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Brevard County School Board District 2

The Brevard County School Board has five districts. These are nonpartisan races, so they are open to all voters.

School Board District 2 encompasses voters in parts of Cocoa Beach, Cocoa, Cape Canaveral, and Merritt Island. You can see a map of the area HERE.

Since there are three candidates in the race, the top vote-getter must get more than 50% of the vote (50%+1) in order to win outright. Otherwise, the top two candidates will go to a runoff in November.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

Our News Collaborative partners at Central Florida Public Media compiled the candidate responses for Brevard County School Board District 2.

You can see the full Central Florida Public Media Voting Guide HERE.

Kyle Savage

WEBSITE: www.savage4students.com

TOP ISSUES

What are the three most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.

Problem Number 1 and Solution: Teacher pay and retention. Brevard teachers are paid more than $2,500 below the state average, despite averaging over 12 years of experience. That gap shows up in the numbers: nearly 1 in 3 teachers who were on staff in 2022 are gone today, and turnover has held steady above 13% every year since. Pay is part of the story, but so is trust. Teachers need professional autonomy in their classrooms, not a board micromanaging their work from the dais. I’ll push to prioritize compensation every budget cycle and give teachers back the room to teach.

Problem Number 2 and Solution: Declining enrollment and the risk of more closures. Brevard is losing students, driven in large part by the state’s voucher program pulling kids out of public schools. Cape View Elementary was the first casualty, closed in January after less than four months of public process, over a 2,200-signature petition and objections from the Cape Canaveral City Council. It won’t be the last if nothing changes. McNair Magnet Middle sits at just 37% capacity, lower than Cape View was when it closed, and is already being talked about for consolidation. On this board’s watch, families found out about Cape View too late to be part of the decision. I’ll fight for real notice-and-input before any closure vote, and push redistricting and shared facilities as the first option instead of closure.

Problem Number 3 and Solution: Budget and financial transparency. The district is currently operating without a CFO, on top of a 7% staffing cut and school closures, with no clear picture for families of the decisions driving those cuts. Layoffs and closures should be the last resort, not the first plan. Before cutting further, I want the board to pursue real ideas to grow enrollment and revenue: expanding VPK to every elementary school, building a Vocational Tech Center that gives families a reason to choose BPS, and moving district staff into underused school buildings instead of closing them. I’ll push for a public, plain-language budget breakdown every year, so families aren’t the last to know.

How should the district handle teacher shortages? Teacher shortages in Brevard come down to pay, discipline, and trust. Florida ranks 50th in the nation in teacher pay, and Brevard sits more than $2,500 below even the state average. Nearly 1 in 3 teachers who were on staff in 2022 are gone today. You can’t fix a shortage by cutting the people who are already stretched thin. Teachers also need real support keeping their classrooms under control, not a board leaving them to manage discipline on their own while getting second-guessed from the dais. I’ll push to prioritize teacher compensation every budget cycle, especially for veteran teachers, and back teachers with clear, consistent discipline policies so they can focus on teaching. Pay and respect are how you keep the teachers you have and attract the ones you need.

Florida ranked last for academic growth in reading. How would you improve that? Florida ranked last in the nation in reading growth, and that should alarm every parent in Brevard. The research is clear: the states improving are the ones committed to real phonics-based, science-of-reading instruction, especially in kindergarten through second grade, when the foundation gets built. I want Brevard to lead on this, not follow, with a real focus on early literacy before kids fall behind instead of costly interventions after they do. That starts with expanding VPK to every elementary school, so kids build pre-literacy skills before kindergarten even starts. It also means giving teachers the autonomy and trust to actually teach reading, not just teach to a test, and making sure classrooms are calm enough that lost instructional time from discipline issues isn’t part of the problem.

What changes, if any, would you make to school safety policies? School safety in Brevard starts with making sure every school has a School Resource Officer, full stop, and that larger schools have two. I served as a Military Police Officer in the Army, including protective security work for senior commanders overseas, so I understand what real security looks like: trained people, clear protocols, and no gaps. That’s the standard I want in our schools. It also means clear, consistent discipline policies so teachers aren’t left to handle serious problems alone, and a real focus on bullying, catching it early, taking it seriously when it’s reported, and holding the line so kids feel safe walking into their own school. I want mental health resources in place before a crisis, not after one. Safety isn’t a slogan; it’s showing up every day for the basics: enough adults in the building, consistent expectations, and a board that listens to teachers and staff about what they’re actually seeing in their schools.

How should book challenges and library removals be handled? Book challenges need a real process, not chaos. This board attempted to remove all 298 books on a state review list in a single motion, then restructured the review committee to cut out public input, and the whole process ground to a halt for months when committee members resigned. That’s not policy; that’s dysfunction. I want a clear, consistent process: individual challenges reviewed on their own merits by a real committee with parent and educator input, decisions made in a reasonable timeframe, and no blanket bans that skip the process entirely. Parents deserve a say in what their own kids read. What they don’t deserve is a board using library shelves as a political battleground while the actual business of running schools, budgets, teacher pay, safety gets ignored.

What outside organizations or endorsements are supporting your campaign? My campaign is proud to be endorsed by the Brevard Federation of Teachers and the Space Coast AFL-CIO CLC. These endorsements matter because they come from people who know this district firsthand, teachers and working families who see what’s happening in our schools every day. I’m also building support from parents, veterans, and community members who are tired of politics getting in the way of good decisions for kids. I’m not backed by any political party or machine. My support comes from people who know the classroom and know this community.

If elected, what policy would you try to pass in your first year? My first-year priority is expanding VPK, Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten, to every elementary school in the district. Right now, not every family has access to it close to home, and early childhood education is one of the clearest ways to set kids up for success before they ever fall behind. It’s also a direct answer to our enrollment problem: giving young families a reason to choose Brevard schools from day one, instead of losing them before they even start. This is a policy that helps kids, helps teachers, and helps stabilize enrollment all at once.

Gene Trent - Incumbent

WEBSITE: votegenetrent.com

NOTE: This candidate did not respond to our request to fill out this voter guide. To best serve you, we searched candidate websites, social media and interviews they’ve done to provide answers to the following questions.

TOP ISSUES

What are the three most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below. The candidate did not respond to the questionnaire, but according to his campaign website, he plans to build upon the promises he made last time around.

His number one priority, according to his website, is elevating academic excellence. He said the following: Build on our record A ratings and 92.7% graduation rate. Expand STEM, CTE, and college/career readiness so every student graduates prepared for the real world.

Trent, on his website, said his second priority is safe and focused learning environments. He said the following: Maintain best-in-class safety infrastructure. Strong discipline policies mean teachers can teach and students can learn without unnecessary disruptions.

Trent listed his third priority as empowering parents and community. On his campaign website, he said the following: Parents are the primary decision-makers in their children’s education. Gene will keep the board transparent, community-connected, and parent-driven.

How should the district handle teacher shortages? Trent did not respond to this questionnaire. On his campaign website, he lists as a priority supporting exceptional teachers. The following is how he says he’s been doing so. Competitive pay, professional growth, and a school environment where educators are respected and supported. Strong teachers produce strong students. Trent says that focus has led to Improved teacher retention and stronger classroom and discipline support.

In a Facebook video posted on August 4, 2025, by the Brevard News, Trent was asked about nearly $7 million the Brevard could lose out on depending on what happened with federal funding. He was asked if people should be reaching out to their representatives in Congress to try to get the money released. Trent responded by saying the following: “So here’s the conservative in me, no. Maybe we don’t need that money. Look at the Department of Education, there’s a reason people want that closed down because throwing money at an issue doesn’t solve it.”

Trent went on to say that they were looking at doing away with open positions and moving teachers around where necessary. Including cutting open positions and moving resource teachers back into the classroom.

Florida ranked last for academic growth in reading. How would you improve that? Trent has touted the improvement in FAST scores for 7-10 graders attending Brevard Public Schools. We could not find any statements about how Brevard should continue to improve scores.

What changes, if any, would you make to school safety policies? The candidate did not respond to this questionnaire, but in recent years, Brevard Public Schools began using metal detectors and expanded its Guardian Program, which trains some school staff to respond to threats. Trent has supported these changes.

How should book challenges and library removals be handled? Trent did not respond to this questionnaire; however, in 2023 he criticized the book review policy for being too slow. He proposed, instead of reviewing a list of nearly 300 books to decide on removal, relying on what some other districts had done instead and moving forward with taking them off the shelves. Trent’s proposal failed. Since then, some have raised concerns about books being banned in Brevard without the proper review.

What outside organizations or endorsements are supporting your campaign? Trent has been endorsed by the following:

• U.S. Congressman Mike Haridopolos
• Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey
• Space Coast Young Republicans
• School Board Chair Matt Susin
• Palm Bay Mayor Rob Medina

If elected, what policy would you try to pass in your first year? The candidate did not respond to the questionnaire. He did, however, say on his website that he plans to continue with the platform he put forth during his first run for the Brevard School Board.

Kelly Wentworth

WEBSITE: votekellywentworth.com

TOP ISSUES

What are the three most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.

Problem Number 1 and Solution: Financial Accountability and Long-Term Stability. Brevard Public Schools faces significant financial challenges that require stronger oversight and long-term planning. We should restore a Chief Financial Officer who reports directly to the School Board, with a collaborative reporting relationship to the Superintendent, to strengthen transparency and accountability. The district also needs stronger year-round financial controls so we are not relying on last-minute budget reclassifications to meet required reserve levels. Finally, audit findings--whether identified by independent auditors or state reviews--should be formally tracked, addressed, and reported to the Board to ensure recurring issues are resolved rather than repeated.

Problem Number 2 and Solution: Teacher Recruitment, Retention, and Support. Attracting and retaining outstanding educators is essential to student success. While compensation is an important part of the solution, it cannot be the only focus. We must also reduce unnecessary administrative burdens, give teachers greater professional autonomy, provide meaningful opportunities for growth, and create a culture where educators feel respected and supported. A comprehensive approach will improve retention, reduce vacancies, and help make Brevard a district where great teachers choose to build their careers.

Problem Number 3 and Solution: Trust, Transparency, and Community Partnership. Successful schools depend on strong partnerships between families, educators, and the community. We must rebuild trust by conducting Board business with professionalism, transparency, and respect. Parents should have meaningful opportunities to participate, public comments should remain on the public record except where student privacy requires otherwise, and district information should be easy to access with timely, accurate responses to public requests. By treating parents and teachers as partners rather than adversaries, we can create a more collaborative environment that better serves students.

How should the district handle teacher shortages? Teacher shortages cannot be solved by a single initiative. The district needs a comprehensive strategy focused on both recruitment and retention.

First, we must retain the excellent teachers we already have by reducing unnecessary administrative burdens, minimizing micromanagement, and giving educators the professional trust and support they deserve.

Second, we must make Brevard Public Schools a place where educators want to build their careers. Competitive salaries are essential; we should also look beyond salary by exploring creative ways to improve benefits, professional development, career advancement, workplace flexibility where appropriate, and other incentives that help recruit and retain outstanding educators.

Finally, we should regularly seek feedback from teachers about why they stay or why they leave and use that information to guide policy decisions. The people closest to the classroom are often best positioned to identify practical solutions. Every unfilled classroom or long-term substitute represents a disruption to student learning, so investing in teachers is ultimately an investment in student success.

It is also important to state here the importance of renewing the local millage referendum because it has been an important tool for improving teacher pay, particularly in addressing salary compression that has left many experienced teachers earning only modestly more than those entering the profession.

Florida ranked last for academic growth in reading. How would you improve that? Improving reading outcomes begins long before third grade. Research consistently shows that early childhood education has a lasting impact on literacy, so we should work with community partners to increase participation in high-quality VPK, particularly in areas where enrollment is low. Our focus should be on ensuring every child enters kindergarten ready to learn.

Once students are in school, we need to trust our teachers. Educators should have the professional flexibility to spend more time where students are struggling rather than following rigid pacing requirements that move every classroom at the same speed. Every group of students is different, and instruction should reflect those differences.

Finally, we must use student data to identify reading difficulties early and provide targeted interventions before students fall further behind. Early intervention, strong teachers, and a solid foundation in early childhood education are the keys to improving reading achievement.

What changes, if any, would you make to school safety policies? School safety should be approached through prevention, preparation, and accountability. I support maintaining School Resource Officers, the Guardian Program for highly trained non-instructional staff, appropriate school hardening, and our current emergency preparedness practices.

Safety is about more than physical security. We must continue investing in school counselors, mental health resources, and early intervention programs to identify concerns before they become crises.

As a School Board member, I also believe we have a responsibility to ensure every dollar invested in safety is producing meaningful results. We should regularly review our safety policies, procedures, and investments with input from law enforcement and security professionals to ensure they are evidence-based, effective, and making our schools safer.

How should book challenges and library removals be handled? Book challenges should be handled through a fair, transparent process that respects both professional expertise and parental involvement. Teachers and library media specialists are trained to select age-appropriate instructional and library materials, and concerns about specific books should be reviewed through an established process that includes educators, library professionals, administrators, and parents.

Parents have the right to make decisions about what their own children read, and schools should provide appropriate options for families. However, decisions that affect every student in the district should be based on a thoughtful review process and educational standards rather than the preferences of a single individual or small group. The goal should be to respect parental rights while preserving access to diverse, age-appropriate educational materials for all students.

What outside organizations or endorsements are supporting your campaign? At this time, I have not received any organizational endorsements. My campaign is a grassroots effort supported by parents, educators, community members, and residents from across the political spectrum who want strong public schools, fiscal accountability, and transparent leadership. I welcome support from organizations that share those values while remaining committed to making independent decisions based on what is best for students and Brevard Public Schools.

If elected, what policy would you try to pass in your first year? Rather than rushing to create new policies, my first priority would be reviewing existing policies to ensure they reflect the Board’s expectations and are being implemented effectively. Good governance begins with making sure our policies are clear, current, and consistently followed.

If I were to prioritize one area, it would be strengthening financial oversight. I believe the School Board should receive regular financial updates throughout the year, formally review audit findings and corrective actions, and ensure strong internal controls are in place so potential issues are identified early rather than at year-end. Better financial oversight helps protect taxpayer dollars and allows more resources to be directed toward supporting students and teachers.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Brevard County School Board District 5

The Brevard County School Board has five districts. These are nonpartisan races, so they are open to all voters.

School Board District 5 encompasses voters in the southwestern part of the county, from Melbourne on down. You can see a map of the area HERE.

Since there are three candidates in the race, the top vote-getter must get more than 50% of the vote (50%+1) in order to win outright. Otherwise, the top two candidates will go to a runoff in November.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

Our News Collaborative partners at Central Florida Public Media compiled the candidate responses for Brevard County School Board District 5.

You can see the full Central Florida Public Media Voting Guide HERE.

Tammy Dennis

WEBSITE: tammyforstudents.com

TOP ISSUES

What are the three most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.

Problem Number 1 and Solution: Safety. To protect from outside predators, I will continue implementation of Open Gate and work with the Sheriff to employ additional deterrents. To protect from within, I will continue to implement the new discipline policy, including consequences for bad behavior and empower principals and teachers to enforce. A disciplined learning environment is critical for teachers to teach and kids to learn. Additionally, students are only one click away from very dangerous places through AI. I will ensure we employ the most qualified people to secure the proper protections immediately.

Problem Number 2 and Solution: A new era of less children in the population, decreasing student enrollment, school choice and increasing budget restraints. With my budget oversight experience, I will help make the hard choices, streamline processes, and tighten up spending, particularly for administration. I will look at unfunded state mandates, assess their value and push back on those efforts we are forced to execute and pay for that bring little or no results. I will move forward smartly with a laser focus on students.

Problem Number 3 and Solution: Parental rights at risk as some educators think they know better than parents. I will uphold Gov DeSantis’ and the state of Florida’s Parents’ Bill of Rights and stand firmly on the side of parental rights to direct their children’s education. I will ensure parents have the right to see curriculum, opt their children out of content they feel is objectionable, and to be notified - not kept in the dark - about matters affecting their child. I will be a board member who honors and enforces those rights every single day and never stops fighting for their right to be fully informed and fully involved in their child’s education.

How should the district handle teacher shortages? Celebrate the progress our district has made moving from being a B District for many years to an A District the last 3 years. Promote the wins, reveal the needs and show how they can be an integral part of a team who works hard every day to educate every student with excellence as the standard. Implement a merit-based system, compensate fairly and reward outstanding accomplishments.

Florida ranked last for academic growth in reading. How would you improve that? In 2024, Brevard Public Schools started the first-ever literacy plan, Mighty Moves, a “strategic, systematic, and structured plan based on the science of reading to tackle the need for foundational skills in the primary grades” (Wendy Smith). Orton Gillingham and the 7 Mighty Moves by Lindsay Kemeny are grounded in the Science of Reading. The quarterly moves include: Phonemic Awareness With Intention; Phonics Explicitly and Systematically; Decoding Strategies, Not Cueing Strategies; Improve Comprehension by Developing Vocabulary and Background Knowledge. The remaining three moves: fluency, use of decodable text, and teaching sight words, are addressed within each quarter’s moves. Just two years later, scores are starting to go up. I will support policy and funding for the Mighty Moves plan to improve early literacy proficiency, based on early literacy data.

What changes, if any, would you make to school safety policies? I will support trained armed staff on school property. The best defense for our kids is several adults prepared with a weapon to immediately stand up for them with an effective means to stop the violence. Also, as we renovate buildings, consider and implement safety improvements as well. For example, when replacing windows in classrooms to the front of the property, make openings higher so that shots cannot be easily fired through window at the level where people would be sitting or standing. Continue implementing Open Gate and working with the Sheriff for further security measures.

How should book challenges and library removals be handled? No books or literature with sexually explicit material should be accessible in school libraries. Age-appropriate books should be widely available. When needed, form a committee including some board members, teachers and members of the community to review books in question against the current policy - no R-rated literature allowed.

What outside organizations or endorsements are supporting your campaign?

• (Palm Bay) Mayor Rob Medina
• Space Coast Young Republicans
• Trail Blazers of Tomorrow

If elected, what policy would you try to pass in your first year? I will work hard to implement policy that accelerates the ability to attract quality teachers to our Certified Technical Education (CTE) Programs, provide options for transportation, and engage more businesses for apprenticeships and internships with a path to employment. Every kid needs a path. I will support commonsense choices supporting decisions that strengthen academic excellence and opportunity for every child to succeed.

Michele McCormack

WEBSITE: electmichelemccormack.com

TOP ISSUES

What are the three most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? The three most pressing problems in our district are instability in our schools, the loss of experienced educators and paraprofessionals, and inconsistent support for students with disabilities. I would strengthen stability by restoring transparency and collaboration, improve retention by supporting staff and reducing unnecessary burdens, and expand services for students with disabilities through better staffing, training, and evidence-based programs. When we invest in people and keep students at the center, we build stronger, more stable schools for every family.

How should the district handle teacher shortages? The district should address teacher shortages by making Brevard a place where educators want to stay. That means offering competitive pay, reducing unnecessary burdens, and ensuring teachers and paraprofessionals have the support they need to do their jobs well. We must also strengthen mentoring, expand recruitment pipelines, and create incentives for critical certifications. When we invest in our educators and treat them as the professionals they are, we build stability for students and strengthen our entire school community.

Florida ranked last for academic growth in reading. How would you improve that? To improve reading growth, we must strengthen early literacy, and one of the most effective ways is expanding access to high-quality VPK programs. When children enter kindergarten with strong early reading skills, they are far more likely to stay on track. We also need to support families with resources that build literacy at home, including parent training and accessible materials. By investing early and partnering with families, we can create a strong foundation for lifelong reading success.

What changes, if any, would you make to school safety policies? Brevard has strong safety protocols in place, and our schools work hard to keep students and staff protected. One area that needs attention is transportation. Late buses have been a significant issue this year, and when students are not picked up or dropped off on time, it creates stress and uncertainty for families. Improving bus reliability is a practical safety priority that helps ensure students arrive and leave school on schedule, reduces anxiety, and keeps daily routines stable.

How should book challenges and library removals be handled? Book challenges and library removals should be handled through a clear, consistent, and transparent review process. Florida law outlines what districts must follow, and it’s important that decisions are made based on age appropriateness, educational value, and established procedures - not politics. Families, educators, and trained media specialists should all have a role in the review process. When we follow the law, communicate clearly, and keep the focus on students, we maintain trust and ensure our libraries remain safe, appropriate learning spaces.

What outside organizations or endorsements are supporting your campaign? Our campaign is supported by a range of community leaders, local organizations, and small businesses.

I am honored to have the endorsement of Rachel Sadoff, Brevard County Clerk of Court and Comptroller; Sheriff Wayne Ivey; the Brevard Federation of Teachers; Julie Kennedy, Vice Mayor of Melbourne; and I am the recommended candidate for the Central Labor Council.

We are also proud to have the support of No Limits Fitness in West Melbourne and Fabulous Furr Dog Grooming in Palm Bay.

If elected, what policy would you try to pass in your first year? School Board members don’t pass policy independently, but we do set priorities and adopt policy as a team. In my first year, I would focus on strengthening policies that support safe, stable learning environments and clear communication with families. A major priority for me would be rebuilding trust between the Board and the community- through more transparent processes, consistent communication, and policies that make it easier for families and staff to understand how decisions are made. My goal is to work collaboratively with the Board and Superintendent to ensure our policies reflect what students and teachers actually need in classrooms.

Cecilia Trotter

WEBSITE: votececiliatrotter.com

TOP ISSUES

What are the three most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? The top issues facing Brevard County Schools are transparency, funding, and teacher retention.

Transparency has eroded in recent years, leaving families, educators, and personnel without clear information about spending, staffing decisions, and long-term planning. A solution-focused approach begins with restoring open communication so the district can rebuild trust and create stability. Strengthening regular information sharing, improving clarity around decision-making, and making district operations easier for families to understand can help reconnect the community to its schools. Highlighting the strong programs already in place -- including hands-on STEM labs, robust music and art opportunities, and evidence-based phonics and reading instruction in the early grades -- further reinforces confidence by showing families the value and quality present in Brevard’s neighborhood schools.

Funding continues to be a major challenge, but there are clear steps the district can take to strengthen stability. State-level decisions have diverted public dollars away from our schools while increasing unfunded mandates, creating pressure on already limited resources. A solution-focused path forward includes responsible, student-centered budgeting and stronger advocacy to ensure Brevard receives the support it needs. Working collaboratively with state legislators to pursue reasonable guardrails on voucher programs can help protect the funding that local schools rely on. Preserving local revenue streams is also essential for maintaining capital projects and long-term infrastructure, which makes transparency in financial planning critical for sustaining public trust and community buy-in.

Teacher retention is at a crisis point, but there are practical steps the district can take to strengthen stability and support educators. Low pay, heavy workloads, and a climate of political pressure have driven many talented teachers away, limiting opportunities for students. A solution-focused approach includes ensuring educators have the flexibility to teach state-mandated standards in ways that meet the diverse needs of their classrooms, reducing unnecessary pressures, and improving working conditions. Brevard can also explore innovative supports such as designating unused district land for affordable housing and partnering with local financial institutions, government agencies, and nonprofits to help employees access down-payment assistance and first-time homebuyer programs. Prioritizing respect, stability, and practical supports for educators is essential to maintaining strong academic

How should the district handle teacher shortages? There are many solutions the district can pursue to address teacher shortages and strengthen long-term retention. I have been teaching for 19 years, and I am still earning under $55,000. Working with state legislators to increase teacher pay remains essential, and Florida’s lottery revenue and tourism-based tax streams can help support needed compensation improvements. Locally, promoting the renewal of the 1-mill initiative--of which 80% supports staff salaries--provides a direct path to stabilizing the workforce. Supporting teachers also means treating them as the professionals they are by giving them flexibility to teach state standards in ways that fit their classrooms, respecting their planning time and contracted hours, and maintaining strong working relationships with teacher unions so educators feel heard and supported. Additional solutions include partnering with financial institutions, government entities, and nonprofits to expand access to first-time homebuyer assistance and exploring the use of unused district-owned land for affordable workforce housing. Offering meaningful professional development and clear career pathways further strengthens stability. Public schools thrive when educators experience respect, consistency, and genuine job satisfaction, and students benefit most when their teachers can build long-term careers in Brevard County.

Florida ranked last for academic growth in reading. How would you improve that? Improving Florida’s academic reading growth requires serious, sustained discussion about funding and how resources are used. Working with state representatives to ensure dollars reach classrooms and support programs with proven results is essential. After 19 years in the classroom, I have seen how millions can be spent on products that are later discarded due to inefficiency, lack of training, or rapid replacement. A solution-focused approach prioritizes investing in high-quality teachers and ensuring they earn a living wage, strengthening K-2 structured literacy programs, and providing additional support--such as literacy coaches and targeted training--to schools in low-performing or marginalized areas. Expanding access to early-learning programs like VPK and Head Start, especially in communities that need them most, helps prepare students for kindergarten and long-term reading success. Returning reasonable restrictions to the Universal Voucher Program can also help protect public funding, especially since many participating schools are not held to the same accountability standards as public schools. Research consistently shows that well-funded public schools close achievement gaps, interrupt cycles of poverty, and contribute to higher lifetime earnings. Strengthening funding, accountability, and early literacy supports is central to improving reading outcomes statewide.

What changes, if any, would you make to school safety policies? I was teaching in Coconut Creek when the tragic shooting at Stoneman-Douglas High School occurred. I will never forget the sense of loss and pain we experienced as a community. School safety remains a critical priority for every district, and Brevard County has taken significant steps to strengthen security through the revenue generated by the half-cent sales tax. Schools now operate with single points of entry, front offices equipped with bullet-resistant glass, and interior doors that automatically close and lock to prevent unauthorized access. Campuses are supported by armed resource officers and police partners, and students and staff participate in monthly safety drills to reinforce best practices. Continued improvement requires ongoing collaboration with local law enforcement agencies to identify vulnerabilities, update protocols, and ensure that every campus remains secure. Maintaining strong partnerships with police departments and the sheriff’s office is essential to protecting students and staff and sustaining a culture of safety across the district.

How should book challenges and library removals be handled? Book challenges have become a political flashpoint, even though many titles have sat on library shelves for years without concern. A solution-focused approach begins with establishing clear, consistent book-challenge policies that protect both parental involvement and students’ access to literature. Challenges should come only from a parent or guardian of a student, and once a formal complaint is filed, the book should remain in circulation until the review committee reaches a decision. The review process should require the challenger to read the book in its entirety and participate in a discussion with teachers, media specialists, and other parents to evaluate the book’s educational value, cultural relevance, and developmental appropriateness. Districts can also offer certain titles with parental permission when appropriate. Banning books simply because some individuals are offended is short-sighted and restricts students’ freedom to read. A thoughtful, transparent process ensures that concerns are heard while preserving access to diverse perspectives and high-quality literature for all students.

What outside organizations or endorsements are supporting your campaign? None, thus far.

If elected, what policy would you try to pass in your first year? If elected, I would focus on restoring the transparency that has been missing from our School Board’s operations. One key step is rehiring a Chief Financial Officer to serve as a single, accountable point of contact for our $1.6 billion budget, ensuring clearer oversight and communication. I would involve staff, students, and families in understanding the enrollment challenges facing the district and in shaping thoughtful, community-centered solutions. Increasing accessibility is also essential, which is why I would bring School Board visits directly into schools across the county to encourage participation from educators, families, and students. I will make myself available on campuses to hear concerns related to daily operations in a safe and private environment. Additionally, School Board meetings should be recorded from start to finish, include opportunities for public comment, and place non-agenda items at the beginning of the meeting so community voices are heard without unnecessary delay. Strengthening transparency, accessibility, and accountability will help rebuild trust and ensure the district’s decisions reflect the needs of the community.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Brevard County Judge, Group 3 candidates

The Brevard County Court handles county civil and criminal cases. This is a nonpartisan race, open to all voters.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

Our News Collaborative partners at Central Florida Public Media compiled the candidate responses for the Brevard County Judge race.

You can see the full Central Florida Public Media Voting Guide HERE.

Rodney Antonio Edwards

WEBSITE: https://rodneyedwards4judge.com

Note: This candidate did not respond to our request to fill out this voter guide. To best serve you, we searched candidate websites, social media and interviews they’ve done to provide answers to the following questions.

What professional experiences have best prepared you for the bench? Edwards currently works as the assistant city attorney for Palm Bay. He has held this role since January 2017. Before this role, he lists on his LinkedIn page experience as an attorney dating back to 2009 when he was an attorney at The Law Offices of Mueller & Sommerville, P.A.

What role should personal values play in judicial decision-making? Edwards did not respond to the questionnaire and we could find no information about his judicial philosophy.

How do you balance precedent with evolving societal standards? Edwards did not respond to the questionnaire and we could find no information about his judicial philosophy.

What steps do you take to avoid conflicts of interest? Edwards did not respond to the questionnaire and we could find no information about his judicial philosophy.

What barriers to justice do you see in the current system, and how would you address them? The candidate did not respond to this questionnaire and we could not find any information about what he believes to be barriers to justice.

Timi DeAnn Tucker

WEBSITE: Timiforjudge.com

What professional experiences have best prepared you for the bench? I am a seasoned trial attorney with over thirty years of experience. I am in court almost every day. I have worked as an Assistant Public Defender in the misdemeanor and felony divisions for approximately six years. I was a Child Welfare Legal Services Senior Attorney, prosecuting cases in which children were abused, abandoned, and neglected. After gaining significant experience as a defense attorney and a prosecuting attorney, I opened my own law firm in 2004. For the past twenty-plus years, I have been in the courtroom representing the people of Brevard County in family law, injunctions, civil matters, evictions, and criminal matters.I have a well-rounded background so that I am ready to handle all types of cases that will come before me from day one. I hold a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating. I have over 100 5-star reviews as an attorney.

What role should personal values play in judicial decision-making? A judge should follow the law, not create the law. The law must be applied by all judges as it is written because all people are entitled to equal justice, and no person should not be subject to the whims of a judge he or she was randomly assigned.

How do you balance precedent with evolving societal standards? Courts following prior judicial decisions is referred to as stare decisis. Stare decisis is very important to our judicial system because it creates stability and predictability, ensuring equal application of the law to everyone. Evolving societal values should be addressed by the legislature, the branch of government elected by the people to make the laws that govern us all, not the judiciary. An activist judiciary creates an imbalance in the three separate, co-equal branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. Judicial activism leads to rulings that treat people differently.

What steps do you take to avoid conflicts of interest? Fairness and impartiality are the bedrocks of our judicial system. I would disqualify myself from any case in which I could not be fair and impartial. An example of such a case would be if I were assigned a case in which I formerly represented one of the parties.

What barriers to justice do you see in the current system, and how would you address them? Activist judges are the greatest barrier to justice in our judicial system. Judges who legislate from the bench create a system in which the law is applied differently to different people based on the whim or belief of the judge. All people should be treated fairly and equally under the law, and a judge can only do this when she follows the law as written.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Flagler County Commission District 2, Republican Primary

The Flagler County Commission has five districts, and these are partisan races, which means you must be a member of a political party to vote in August. All voters will be able to choose from a final slate of candidates in November.

The winner of the Republican primary for the District 2 commission seat will go on to face Independent candidate Raymond Royer in November.

County Commission District 2 encompasses the northeastern part of the county. You can see a map of the district HERE.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

News 6 compiled the candidate responses for Flagler County Commission District 2, emailing and calling the candidates over several weeks. Responses were edited for spelling and grammar, but otherwise left intact.

Greg Feldman

WEBSITE: https://www.votefeldman.com/

Top issues in your race

If elected, what are the THREE most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them? In the boxes below, please list each issue and how you will address them:

YOUR NUMBER 1 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: One challenge is managing growth responsibly. Thousands of new homes, apartments and commercial properties are in various stages of planning. Development will continue, and I will work with staff, the other commissioners, other jurisdictions and the many stakeholders to ensure projects respect property rights while requiring compatibility with existing neighborhoods, follow land development codes and demonstrate adequate infrastructure planning and implementation from the outset.

YOUR NUMBER 2 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Flagler County Fire Rescue (FCFR) is a component of our county’s public safety efforts. In fiscal year 2024, FCFR saw over 19,000 calls for service. Of those, over 15,000 were for emergency medical service (EMS) as FCFR is the sole provider of actual rescue units in Flagler County regardless of jurisdiction. That number is served by 10 Rescue stations scattered around the county, ensuring an average response time of approximately 5 minutes regardless of the location within the county. Based upon county growth, the number of calls, and specifically, EMS calls for service will continue to grow as well as expand to other areas not currently high volume. It is the role of the County Commission to make sure that FCFR has the fiscally sound resources to maintain the response time for professional fire and rescue services in Flagler County.

YOUR NUMBER 3 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Traffic and vehicle volumes have become a topic of conversation in Flagler County, accelerating along with the pace of homes and businesses being built. The last few years have brought a number of large-scale housing developments proposed or under construction. As a member of the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners, I will draw on my experience as a member, and current Chairman of the Volusia Flagler Transportation Planning Organization’s Community Advisory Council to work on solutions to these problems. I will work to bring the major participants to this issue - FDOT, all of the cities, and the county road and engineering departments - to the table to have frank and open discussions to solve the issues of traffic management, signalization, road volumes and more. Through a cooperative effort centered on resolution, solutions improving this aspect of the quality of life for residents, business owners and visitors can be identified, addressed and resolved for everyone’s benefit.

FOR INCUMBENTS: Why do you deserve to be re-elected in this race? FOR CHALLENGERS AND OPEN SEATS: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? I bring 47 years of law enforcement experience to the table. Through this experience, I bring skills in conflict resolution, complex decision-making, and a very analytical perspective to the dais. I am not afraid to make decisions for our county but I do so after careful analysis of information presented on specific topics and evaluating them to determine the benefit for everyone in Flagler County.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Since this is not specific to any one issue, I will address the greatest issue in our county when it comes to affordability. As a candidate for a county office I have no power to deal with the state’s issues. In Flagler County, affordable housing is a challenge. I would like to explore incentives for builders to take a little less profit to make homes, condos and apartments accessible to those who have limited incomes. This could be done through tax incentives and/or credits, public/private partnerships and bond guarantees. Exploring novel ways to assist in this endeavor would be my approach.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? The fiscal impacts of these changes have yet to be fully understood. There is assuredly some lost revenue from the amendment. There is also restrictive language in the summary as to what the ad valorem revenues may be utilized. Depending upon the actual amounts, lost revenue may be accounted for through adjustments in the budget or by increased and new fees, surcharges and taxes such as sales, gas, etc. I strongly desire to provide the same level of service currently enjoyed by all who are in Flagler County. If the numbers work out, then I would be in favor of it.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? They should ensure that utilities are prohibited from cost recovery from residential and commercial customers to cover costs for increased loads. These should always be the responsibility of the entity consuming inordinate amounts of resources.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Water. Water quality, drainage, reclaiming, aquifer protection, coastal renourishment, excessive consumption and elimination of septic systems.

Theresa Pontieri

WEBSITE: theresaforflagler.com/

Mrs. Pontieri did not respond to multiple emails and phone calls regarding our candidate survey.

She did, however, respond to our sister station in Jacksonville, WJXT, for their voting guide.

Since they asked different questions, we are linking to their responses HERE.

You can see the full WJXT voter guide HERE.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Flagler County Commission District 4, Republican Primary

The Flagler County Commission has five districts, and these are partisan races, which means you must be a member of a political party to vote in August. All voters will be able to choose from a final slate of candidates in November.

The winner of the Republican primary for the District 4 commission seat will go on to face write-in candidate Denise “Woody” Calderwood in November.

County Commission District 4 encompasses the western part of the county. You can see a map of the district HERE.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

News 6 compiled the candidate responses for Flagler County Commission District 4, emailing and calling the candidates over several weeks. Responses were edited for spelling and grammar, but otherwise left intact.

Anna Jones

WEBSITE: https://annaforflagler.com/

Top issues in your race

If elected, what are the THREE most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them? In the boxes below, please list each issue and how you will address them:

YOUR NUMBER 1 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Explosive Development - Growth Mgmt Act ensures Infrastructure is concurrent with development. Apply it and make the developers pay for infrastructure or delay or deny the project.

YOUR NUMBER 2 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Infrastructure is priority when planning. It must be in place before building more.

YOUR NUMBER 3 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Overspending. Our budget has ballooned over the last few years. We need a forensic audit. Some department heads think this is acceptable. We need to freeze flagged spending and the performance evaluations must be accurate.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Property tax will be a relief if the vote passes. Insurance is another issue. Utilities are too high. They are punishing past residents for future growth. Unacceptable and these rates must come down.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? I have knocked on too many doors and heard the pain and stress of high property taxes. Everything went up except Social Security and homeowners exemption. Should not be an issue. Forensic audits will account for 20% waste, fraud, and abuse. Our governments need to be more accountable for less and when we have the infrastructure in place, we will have more revenue without growing pains.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Demand the burden go to the Data Centers and not the taxpayers.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Filling in wetlands. This is destroying entire ecosystems and they must be preserved.

Drew Moss

WEBSITE: votedrewmoss.com/

Mr. Moss did not respond to multiple emails and phone calls regarding our candidate survey.

He did, however, respond to our sister station in Jacksonville, WJXT, for their voting guide.

Since they asked different questions, we are linking to their responses HERE.

You can see the full WJXT voter guide HERE.

Leann Pennington - Incumbent

WEBSITE: penningtonforflagler.com/

Ms. Pennington did not respond to multiple emails and phone calls regarding our candidate survey.

She did, however, respond to our sister station in Jacksonville, WJXT, for their voting guide.

Since they asked different questions, we are linking to their responses HERE.

You can see the full WJXT voter guide HERE.

The lawsuit, filed Thursday in the Superior Court of Delaware, is the latest in a flurry of suits filed against the social media giants that alleges their platforms are addictive and dangerous.

The complaint was filed on behalf of four families from Texas, North Carolina, Minnesota and Tennessee whose children died over a 14-month period starting in July 2024 through September 2025.

The Social Media Victims Law Center is bringing the suit on behalf of the families, and its founding attorney, Matthew Bergman, said it's “particularly salient” that the children in this case died “long after” similar suits had been filed.

“These platforms continue to kill kids, despite the platitudes of their executives,” Bergman said in an interview. “This is a clear and present danger to the health and safety of children, not just in the United States but around the world.”

The four teens who died by suicide each experienced harms including social media addiction, severe sleep deprivation, depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation after years of using the social platforms, the complaint states. Livi Castro died at age 13, Riv Kelleher at 14, Nathaniel Chambers at age 17 and Dawson Holden at 18.

The complaint alleges the social media companies knew they were causing harm to young users.

A spokesperson for Google, which owns YouTube, said in a statement that “providing young people with a safer, healthier experience has always been core to our work. In collaboration with mental health and parenting experts, we’ve built services and policies to provide young people with age-appropriate experiences, and parents with robust controls. We send our deepest sympathies to the families and are reviewing the claims in this lawsuit.”

Representatives for Meta, TikTok and Snap did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Sacha Haworth, executive director of The Tech Oversight Project, said in a statement that parents, activists and whistleblowers have come forward and met with lawmakers for years and “while Congress has dragged its feet, more children have died."

Federal legislation of social media has moved at a glacial pace. The Senate passed the Kids Online Safety Act — which had the support of parents’ groups and children’s advocacy organizations — exactly two years before this lawsuit was filed. The House of Representatives never voted on that version of the legislation, and the House and Senate are currently disagreeing on key provisions they think should be included.

“Livi, Nathaniel, Dawson, and Riv’s stories are proof that Big Tech companies continue to lie about the safety of their products, choosing instead to pour hundreds of millions of dollars into false advertising, deceptive paid partnerships with trusted education programs and political lobbying,” Haworth's statement continued.

Meta, YouTube, TikTok and Snap are facing numerous state and federal lawsuits over harms to minors. Meta is on trial in Tennessee this week for a lawsuit brought by the state attorney general claiming that the company deliberately designed its platforms, notably Instagram, to make them addictive to young people, and did not warn them of its dangers. And in August, Meta is heading to trial in federal court in Oakland, California to face four of dozens of states that sued the company in 2023. That lawsuit says the company is contributing to the youth mental health crisis by designing addictive features and violated federal law by collecting data on kids under 13 without parental consent.

Not all lawsuits are successful, and many are settled out of court. Last week, a Florida teenager dropped his case against Meta that was set to go to trial in state court in Los Angeles, without receiving any payment from the company. Meta had argued that the teen only used his Instagram and Facebook for just minutes a day, on average, and created most accounts only after hiring a lawyer in his case.

Still, the mounting court cases can get expensive, even for a company like Meta Platforms. Earlier this week Meta said it had $2.4 billion in legal expenses in the second quarter, which contributed to a relatively unusual 14% profit decline.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Flagler County School Board District 1

The Flagler County School Board has five districts. These are nonpartisan races, so they are open to all voters.

School Board District 1 encompasses voters in the central part of the county, including parts of Palm Coast and Beverly Beach. You can see a map of the area HERE.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

News 6 compiled the candidate responses for Flagler County School Board District 1, emailing and calling the candidates over several weeks. Responses were edited for spelling and grammar, but otherwise left intact.

Cathy Moon

WEBSITE: www.cathymoon4flaglerschoolboard.com/

Ms. Moon did not respond to multiple emails and phone calls regarding our candidate survey.

She did, however, respond to our sister station in Jacksonville, WJXT, for their voting guide.

Since they asked different questions, we are linking to their responses HERE.

You can see the full WJXT voter guide HERE.

Jill Woolbright

WEBSITE: https://jill4kids.com/

FOR INCUMBENTS: Why do you deserve to be re-elected in this race? FOR CHALLENGERS AND OPEN SEATS: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? I have called Flagler County home since 1989. I raised my three children here and they attended Flagler Schools from kindergarten through high school graduation. For 28 years, I taught in Flagler County classrooms as a state-named High Impact teacher and in 2016 was the number one in the state 6th grade math teacher. I previously served two years on the Flagler School Board for District 1 from 2020-2022. For most of my life In have viewed Flagler County as a parent, a teacher, and a school board member. Those experiences give me a perspective no other candidate can offer.

TOP ISSUES

What are the three most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.

Problem Number 1 and Solution: Declining Enrollment. It was just announced (in July) that Flagler Schools earned a “A” this school year. This should help more people choose Flagler Schools this new year after a decreasing enrollment with School Choice and the voucher system currently in place, which encourages more families to choose Homeschooling and Private Schools. We must make Flagler Schools the first choice by expanding academic excellence, career and technical education, innovative programs, and maintaining strong fiscal responsibility. Every decision should focus on delivering value to students and taxpayers.

Problem Number 2 and Solution: Improving Academic Achievement for Every Student. An “A” district is great but we must work to keep it year after year. We must continue raising student achievement by supporting evidence-based instruction, empowering excellent teachers, using data to identify, and target learning gaps making sure every child is challenged to reach their full potential. Academic success for all must remain paramount.

Problem Number 3 and Solution: Recruiting and Retaining Excellent Teachers. It takes years of experience to become a master teacher and nothing impacts student success more than a great teacher. We must continue attracting and retaining outstanding educators by reducing unnecessary burdens, providing support, recognizing excellence, and ensure they have all the resources they need. We also need to budget more pay. When we invest in great teachers, our students benefit.

How would you handle district budget issues? Every budget decision should protect the core mission of educating children. We must protect students and classrooms. We should begin with identifying efficiencies, eliminate unnecessary administrative costs where possible, postpone non-essential expenditures, actively pursue grants, strengthen our business and community partnerships, We should advocate for fair and appropriate funding, especially focusing on underfunded mandates. My commitment is simple: put students first, respect taxpayers, and ensure every decision supports the core mission of educating children.

How should the district handle teacher shortages? Teacher shortages require long-term focus on both recruitment and retention. As a retired teacher with 28 years in Flagler County classrooms, I know teachers stay where they feel respected, supported, and able to focus on teaching with the tools they need to succeed. We should strengthen partnerships with colleges and universities, expand opportunities for student teachers, and encourage talented support staff to become certified teachers. Retaining experienced teachers should be a priority and making competitive compensation a budget priority whenever possible.

Florida ranked last for academic growth in reading. How would you improve that? We must focus on accountability, scientific-based instruction, early intervention, parental involvement, and VPK recruitment. Data shows that if students come to our schools from our VPK programs, 95% enter kindergarten ready. However, those students that do not attend VPK start behind. We need to recruit and expand our VPK services. Once they are in our schools, we need to use evidence-based instruction and identify struggling readers as early as possible. The School Board needs to set high expectations, review data, and hold the district accountable for measurable results. We must communicate regularly with families and provide practical tools that encourage reading at home as we partner with parents.

What changes, if any, would you make to school safety policies? Our schools have done an amazing job of making our schools safe by hardening all schools, using the newest technology, and paying for sheriff deputies to be resource officers in every school. The main change I would make is to institute the state-funded guardian program. We have a great sheriff and I trust his judgment in training guardians so to have a force multiplier on campus along with our resource deputies.

How should book challenges and library removals be handled? Our district has a system in place to review challenged books in compliance with state law. This was a big issue several years ago when inappropriate books were found to be accessible to students too young for such content. Things have changed by state law to ensure age-appropriate books are available to students.

What outside organizations or endorsements are supporting your campaign? Waiting on big endorsements to be announced next week.

If elected, what policy would you try to pass in your first year? I would have the board take a look at the state-sponsored guardian program as explained in the safety question.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Flagler County School Board District 2

The Flagler County School Board has five districts. These are nonpartisan races, so they are open to all voters.

School Board District 2 encompasses voters in the northeastern part of the county. You can see a map of the area HERE.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

News 6 compiled the candidate responses for Flagler County School Board District 2, emailing and calling the candidates over several weeks. Responses were edited for spelling and grammar, but otherwise left intact.

Will Furry - Incumbent

WEBSITE: https://www.willfurryforschoolboard.com/

FOR INCUMBENTS: Why do you deserve to be re-elected in this race? FOR CHALLENGERS AND OPEN SEATS: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? Under my leadership, and with the hard work of our students, faculty, and staff, we returned Flagler Schools to an A-rated school district. I also served as Chairman of the Board, leading a renewed direction of fiscal responsibility by cutting wasteful spending, rebuilding our reserves to $11 million, implementing top-down leadership changes, creating safer schools, and achieving year-over-year academic gains.

I was elected with the endorsement of Governor Ron DeSantis and have stood strong to protect parents’ rights and school choice. I am the most tenured member of the Board, and I have invested countless hours building the institutional knowledge needed to be effective in this leadership role.

I am the only candidate in District 2 who earned a place on the ballot by the voters of Flagler County collecting over 1200 signed ballot petitions, and I am the only candidate in District 2 who has two children actively learning in our schools.

We are winning on all fronts at Flagler Schools, and I am proud of what we have accomplished. I’m ready to keep going. We have term limits, so I would be humbled if you would allow me a second and final term to continue building on these accomplishments.

Vote August 18th, and remember: Will is the Way to Keep Flagler Schools an A.

TOP ISSUES

What are the three most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.

Problem Number 1 and Solution: Kindergarten Readiness - One of the most pressing challenges facing our school district is kindergarten readiness. Too many children are entering the classroom without the foundational skills they need to be successful from day one. This isn’t just a school district issue—it’s a community issue that requires all of us to work together, especially parents. That’s why I’ve supported expanding access to our Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) programs. Today, we have more than 300 students enrolled in VPK—an increase of over 100 students from last year. We’ve also approved certified teachers to teach in some of these classrooms, further strengthening the quality of early learning. The data is clear: children who participate in quality VPK programs are significantly more likely to be reading at grade level by third grade. We are doing our part by expanding opportunities, but parents play a critical role by taking advantage of these programs. When we invest in early childhood education together, we give our students the strongest possible start and set them up for long-term success.

Problem Number 2 and Solution: School Funding - Many people don’t realize that approximately 82–85% of the district’s operating budget is dedicated to salaries and employee benefits. That leaves a limited portion of our budget to cover everything else required to educate our students, maintain our schools, operate transportation, and provide essential services.

That’s why being good stewards of taxpayer dollars is so important. We must continue prioritizing our resources where they have the greatest impact on student success while aggressively pursuing grants and other funding opportunities to support innovative programs.

At the same time, the state often requires school districts to provide services without fully funding them. Student transportation is one example and has been an ongoing challenge. We’ve responded by improving operational efficiencies, leveraging technology, and streamlining our transportation system to provide more reliable service for students and families.

We’ve also made strategic investments that reduce long-term operating costs. During my tenure, we replaced an aging bus fleet—some buses dated back to the 1980s—with newer, more efficient vehicles that have lowered maintenance and fuel costs. We also invested in modern, high-efficiency HVAC systems at our two high schools, significantly reducing energy consumption while earning the district six-figure rebates from Florida Power & Light. These are the kinds of smart, long-term investments that save taxpayers money while improving the learning environment for our students.

Problem Number 3 and Solution: Student Enrollment - Since school choice became available to families, Flagler Schools has fared much better than many districts across Florida. While some school districts have lost thousands of students, only about 300 Flagler students have chosen educational options outside our district. That speaks to the confidence many families continue to have in our schools, but it also reminds us that we can never become complacent.

School choice, however, is only one factor affecting enrollment. Demographic trends also play a significant role. Flagler County has a growing population of residents without school-aged children, and like many communities across the country, we are experiencing lower birth rates. These factors naturally affect the number of students entering our schools each year.

Student enrollment is one of the most important issues facing public education because school funding is largely based on the number of students we serve—what we often refer to as “funding follows the student.” At the same time, many of our costs are fixed. Whether we have more or fewer students, we still have to maintain our schools, operate transportation, provide insurance, and support essential district operations. That means enrollment directly impacts our financial flexibility.

The best way to address this challenge is to make Flagler Schools the premier choice for families. By continuing to improve academic achievement, expanding Career and Technical Education, offering innovative learning opportunities, and maintaining safe, well-managed schools, we can attract and retain students while ensuring the long-term financial health of our district.

How would you handle district budget issues? Fiscal responsibility has always been one of my highest priorities. My background as an executive in the banking and financial services industry has been a tremendous asset in helping guide the district’s financial decisions.

Since taking office, I’ve demonstrated that we can accomplish more while being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars. We’ve rebuilt the district’s financial reserves to approximately $11 million, helped move the district away from a trajectory that could have led to state intervention, and eliminated the need to borrow money to meet payroll—a practice that had cost the district hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest over the years. We’ve also worked to eliminate wasteful spending, improve operational efficiency, and make smarter long-term financial decisions.

A School Board member’s role is to provide leadership and governance, including strong fiscal oversight. I believe my record demonstrates that I have the experience, discipline, and leadership necessary to ensure Flagler Schools remains financially strong while continuing to invest in student success.

How should the district handle teacher shortages? Fortunately, we are not seeing a significant problem in this area in Flagler Schools, but it’s important that we continue fostering a positive work environment where teachers feel valued and supported. Teachers need to know that when behavioral issues arise in the classroom, they have the backing of school leadership and the School Board.

It’s also our responsibility to ensure educators have the tools, resources, and technology they need to be successful. In addition, we should continue investing in high-quality professional development and ongoing learning opportunities so our teachers can grow in their profession and provide the best possible education for our students.

Florida ranked last for academic growth in reading. How would you improve that? Flagler Schools has made significant gains in reading achievement, and we’ve accomplished that by making strategic investments in early learning. One of our greatest challenges is that too many children enter kindergarten without the foundational skills they need to be successful.To address this, we are expanding access to Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) programs and placing certified teachers in more VPK classrooms to strengthen early instruction. We also want to provide parents with the resources and support they need to help prepare their children before they ever step into a kindergarten classroom.

The research is clear: children who participate in high-quality prekindergarten programs are much more likely to be reading at grade level by third grade. By investing in early learning and partnering with parents, we can give every child a stronger start and continue improving student achievement across our district.

What changes, if any, would you make to school safety policies? School safety has been my highest priority since taking office, and I believe our schools are safer today than they have ever been. During my tenure, we’ve implemented numerous safety enhancements and ensured that every school has a dedicated School Resource Deputy. While we’ve made significant progress, there is always more we can do. Because many of our campuses are large, I support exploring the implementation of Florida’s Guardian Program. This program allows carefully selected, thoroughly vetted, and extensively trained members of the faculty and staff to serve as an additional layer of protection alongside our School Resource Deputies. In the event of an active threat, the Guardian Program can serve as a force multiplier, helping to improve response capabilities and protect students and staff. If reelected, I will continue to make the safety and security of our students, teachers, and staff my highest priority.

How should book challenges and library removals be handled? Florida has enacted clear laws governing instructional and library materials, and as a constitutional officer, I am committed to faithfully upholding those laws. Books in our school libraries should support student learning, be age-appropriate, and comply with Florida law. Materials should align with our educational mission and should not contain content that is prohibited by state statute. When concerns are raised, I believe they should be addressed through the established review process, ensuring that every challenge is handled fairly, transparently, and in accordance with the law.

What outside organizations or endorsements are supporting your campaign? I was elected in 2022 with the endorsement of Governor Ron DeSantis and the support of nearly 60% of Flagler County voters. I am seeking reelection based on a proven record of results, including helping lead Flagler Schools back to an A-rated district. I have self-funded my campaign and have chosen not to seek or accept endorsements from special interest groups because I believe my accountability should be to the voters and the students of Flagler County.

If elected, what policy would you try to pass in your first year? One of my top priorities would be expanding innovative educational opportunities that make Flagler Schools the first choice for families. Public education is no longer a monopoly—we’re competing with charter schools, private schools, virtual schools, and homeschooling. To succeed in a school choice environment, we must offer programs that attract and retain students.

I also want to continue expanding our Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs so more students graduate with industry certifications, workforce skills, and pathways to high-paying careers. Not every student’s path is the same, and we should provide opportunities that prepare students for college, the military, or the workforce.

In addition, I want to explore opportunities such as hybrid learning options and other innovative programs that enhance student engagement while maintaining a strong focus on academic excellence. My goal is to ensure Flagler Schools is not just a great option, but the best choice for families in our community.

Rob Wood

WEBSITE: robwoodforflagler.com/

FOR INCUMBENTS: Why do you deserve to be re-elected in this race? FOR CHALLENGERS AND OPEN SEATS: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? My commitment to education didn’t begin with this school board run. It began in 2001. I spent more than a decade on active duty in the Air Force, much of it as a trainer. I taught GED courses inside a maximum-security prison while working for Daytona State College, and in a separate role as a federal contractor I specialized in leadership and organizational development and executive coaching, which is where I earned my Associate Certified Coach credential through the International Coach Federation. For the past decade, I have been a senior leader at Western Governors University, where I support more than 17,000 students. I hold an MBA in finance, I run a small business, and my wife taught right here in Flagler before she moved into higher education. I am not looking for a stepping stone. This is the job I want, and I believe my qualifications and experience make me the best person to do it. For Students. For Educators. For Flagler.

TOP ISSUES

What are the three most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.

Problem Number 1 and Solution: The culture of the board. On paper, the board’s role is simple. Set the budget, set policy, and hold the superintendent accountable. But when there is dysfunction at the top and the board fails to lead by example, it undermines everything below it. The solution is leadership that values relationships over being right and drives commitment instead of compliance. Board members can disagree and still protect the trust the whole district depends on.

Problem Number 2 and Solution: Enrollment. Some of the decline is demographic, an aging county and lower birth rates, but the board has been reactive when it should be planning ahead. The solution is to grow enrollment at both ends of the pipeline. On the front end, expand access to VPK, and go further by tackling the wraparound care costs and transportation barriers that actually keep eligible families from enrolling. On the back end, invest in and better market our technical education and career and certification programs, add technical education wings to our high schools, and make sure homeschool families know they can partially enroll in district programs. The goal is to prepare for what is next, not to manage decline.

Problem Number 3 and Solution: Fiscal accountability under enrollment pressure. Between voucher programs and flat-to-declining enrollment, the district has to get more serious about its fixed costs. The solution is to take a hard, honest look at the budget to find where we can cut or reappropriate dollars, bring down fixed costs where we responsibly can, and build in the agility to respond as enrollment shifts. A budget is a commitment, not a rough draft, and it should be able to adapt to reality without losing sight of its priorities.

How would you handle district budget issues? With discipline and forethought. A budget is a commitment, not a rough draft. It should reflect the district’s real priorities, students and teachers first, and it should not quietly shift from month to month without scrutiny. I would also plan for the second-order effects that are easy to miss, like the county funding that supports our resource deputies, so the district is never caught flat-footed. And I would keep more of our spending competitive and local, because every dollar we save on process is a dollar that can reach a classroom.

How should the district handle teacher shortages? Our teacher shortage is really a retention challenge, and retention starts with how we treat the people already in our classrooms. To the district’s credit, it has made real progress reducing the overall cost of benefits packages for faculty and staff, and that work matters. I think we can go further. There is room to diversify the risk profiles behind those plans and use other alternatives to keep driving costs down, which puts more value back in the hands of the people doing the work. But pay and benefits are only part of it. Teachers stay where they feel trusted and supported, so the culture we build matters as much as the compensation. We keep good teachers by valuing the ones we have, not just by recruiting new ones to replace the ones who leave.

Florida ranked last for academic growth in reading. How would you improve that? Reading growth is built long before a child is ever tested on it. Right now, fewer than 40% of eligible Flagler families use Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten, and when you dig into why, it is usually access and transportation rather than a lack of interest. If we close that gap, we move the needle on third-grade literacy, which is one of the strongest predictors of a student’s long-term success. That early foundation has to be paired with keeping experienced teachers in place, because reading gains are closely tied to teacher stability. Our district just earned an A rating for the first time in seven years, and that credit belongs to our teachers and staff. My job on the board would be to give them the conditions and the consistency to keep that momentum going.

What changes, if any, would you make to school safety policies? School safety is a non-negotiable. It is also a budget issue that the board has to see coming. Today the county and city cover over half the base salaries of our school resource deputies. That means a change in the county’s budget can reach our schools even when it never touches a school property tax. A board that plans for that ahead of time protects students and staff better than one that reacts after the fact. My priority is keeping sworn law enforcement officers at every campus. I would consider a guardian program only as a supplement to those officers, never as a substitute for them.

How should book challenges and library removals be handled? Flagler already has a well-established process for this, and it follows Florida’s instructional-materials adoption cycle. There are public review and comment periods, a formal Request for Reconsideration of Materials, and sound guidance that encourages parents to meet with the principal first to understand how a material is actually being used. That process should be applied the same way for every family, consistently and out in the open. Where I see room to improve is the other direction. The path to challenge or remove a book is clear, but there is not an equally clear, published way to ask that a book be reconsidered for addition or restored to a library or an elective. A fair system should work both ways. Whether a parent is raising a concern or asking that something be made available, they deserve the same transparent, evenhanded process.

What outside organizations or endorsements are supporting your campaign? I am proud to be endorsed by the Flagler County Deputy Sheriff’s Union, IBPO Local #598, the men and women who protect our schools and our community every day.

If elected, what policy would you try to pass in your first year? I am going to be honest here, because I think promising a signature policy in year one is the wrong instinct for a new board member. My first job would be to learn public school finance and district operations from the inside and to get genuinely smart on how a roughly 400 million dollar system works before I start changing it. What I will commit to from day one is bringing discipline, fresh eyes, and hard questions to how we spend. When I do move on a policy, I want it to be the right change made for the right reason, not a headline I promised before I understood the problem.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Lake County Commission District 2 Republican Primary

The Lake County Commission has five districts, and these are partisan races, which means you must be a member of a political party to vote in August. All voters will be able to choose from a final slate of candidates in November.

The winner of the Republican primary for the District 2 commission seat will go on to face two write-in candidates, Jose Elias-Torres and Leighton Powers, in November.

County Commission District 2 encompasses the southern central part of the county, including parts of Clermont, Minneola and Montverde. You can see a map of the district HERE.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

News 6 compiled the candidate responses for Lake County Commission District 2, emailing and calling the candidates over several weeks. Responses were edited for spelling and grammar, but otherwise left intact.

Humberto Liriano

WEBSITE: https://www.votebertliriano2026.com/

YOUR NUMBER 1 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: District 2 and Lake County continue to experience rapid population growth, placing pressure on roads, schools, utilities, and public services. I will support responsible growth by ensuring infrastructure keeps pace with development. New development should contribute its fair share toward roads, transportation improvements, public safety, and community services. I will work to preserve our lakes, green spaces, and neighborhoods while promoting smart economic development that benefits residents and small businesses.

YOUR NUMBER 2 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Recent state legislation, including Florida’s 2023 Live Local Act, has limited the ability of counties and municipalities to control certain zoning, density, and development decisions. As County Commissioner, I will advocate for restoring a stronger local voice in growth decisions while working within state law. I believe local communities understand their infrastructure needs better than Tallahassee. I will work with our legislative delegation to ensure Lake County has the tools needed to manage growth responsibly, protect our natural resources, and ensure that roads, public safety, and public services keep pace with development.

YOUR NUMBER 3 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Lake County has one of Florida’s fastest-growing senior populations, creating increased demand for healthcare, transportation, and supportive services. As a physician, I understand the importance of accessible healthcare. I will work with hospitals, healthcare providers, community organizations, and transportation partners to improve access to medical care, expand preventive health programs, and ensure seniors can age safely and independently within our community.

FOR INCUMBENTS: Why do you deserve to be re-elected in this race?FOR CHALLENGERS AND OPEN SEATS: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? I deserve to be elected because I bring a unique combination of healthcare leadership, business experience, and community service that reflects the needs of District 2. As a pediatrician, emergency medicine physician, and small business owner, I have spent my career solving problems, managing budgets, leading teams, and serving families during some of the most important moments of their lives.

Lake County is one of the fastest-growing communities in Florida. We need leadership that can balance responsible growth with protecting our quality of life. I will focus on ensuring that infrastructure keeps pace with development, supporting public safety, preserving our natural resources, and improving access to healthcare and services for our growing senior population.

As a husband, father, physician, and resident of Lake County, I understand the challenges facing working families, seniors, and small businesses. I am running because I believe local government should be responsive, transparent, accountable, and focused on practical solutions that improve the lives of the people who call Lake County home.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Affordability is one of the biggest challenges facing Lake County families. Rising housing costs, property insurance premiums, property taxes, transportation expenses, and healthcare costs are putting pressure on working families, seniors, and young adults trying to build their future.

As County Commissioner, I will focus on solutions that local government can directly influence. First, I support responsible growth that increases housing options while ensuring infrastructure keeps pace with development. Second, I will work to keep county government efficient and fiscally responsible so we minimize the tax burden on residents. Third, I will support economic development efforts that attract high-quality jobs and help local businesses grow, allowing residents to earn wages that keep up with the cost of living.

As a physician, I also understand the financial burden of healthcare. I will work with local hospitals, healthcare providers, and community organizations to improve access to care and preventive services, particularly for seniors and working families.

Affordability is not a single issue—it affects housing, transportation, healthcare, and economic opportunity. My goal is to make Lake County a place where families can afford to live, work, raise children, and retire without being priced out of the community they love."

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? YES. I support the proposed constitutional amendment to reduce property taxes because affordability is one of the biggest challenges facing Florida families, particularly retirees, seniors on fixed incomes, and working families struggling with rising housing costs, insurance premiums, and inflation. Property taxes continue to increase even for residents who have already paid off their homes, and many longtime residents are being priced out of the communities they helped build. The proposed amendment would significantly expand homestead protections and provide meaningful relief to Florida homeowners.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Florida’s utility regulators should ensure that residential customers and small businesses are not unfairly burdened with the costs associated with large-scale energy users, including data centers. While data centers can bring investment, jobs, and technological innovation, growth should not come at the expense of Florida families, retirees, and small businesses already facing rising utility bills.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? The biggest environmental issue facing Lake County and much of Florida is managing growth while protecting our water resources, lakes, wetlands, and natural habitats. As our population continues to grow, increased development places greater pressure on water quality, stormwater systems, conservation lands, and the ecosystems that make Florida unique.

Sean Parks - Incumbent

WEBSITE: voteforsean.com/

YOUR NUMBER 1 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Responsible Growth. Lake County is growing fast, but it cannot become “just anywhere.” I’m fighting bad development, protecting rural areas, strengthening planning rules, and making sure growth pays for the roads, water, and services it requires.

YOUR NUMBER 2 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Roads and Infrastructure: Traffic is one of the biggest frustrations for residents. I’m pushing for long-term road funding, better coordination with cities, impact fees and developer commitments, and faster delivery of priority road projects.

YOUR NUMBER 3 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Conservation and Water Protection: Protecting Lake County’s lakes, springs, farms, and natural lands is part of protecting our quality of life. I support land conservation, stronger water-resource planning, septic-to-sewer solutions where appropriate, and smarter development that respects our environment.

FOR INCUMBENTS: Why do you deserve to be re-elected in this race? FOR CHALLENGERS AND OPEN SEATS: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? I believe I have earned the honor of re-election because this is no time for inexperience. Lake County is growing fast, and the decisions we make now will shape our roads, our water, our land, and our quality of life for decades.

I bring a proven record, a strong business reputation, and the work ethic to handle both the everyday issues like potholes, traffic, and public safety and the big-picture challenges, like preserving land, protecting water, and making growth pay for itself.

I show up. I do the homework. I ask the tough questions. And I fight every day to keep Lake County strong, conservative, well-managed, and worth calling home. This isn’t a stepping stone for me or a way to improve my image and make money.

I ask voters to remember that good policy requires a majority vote of the Board. One commissioner alone cannot pass ordinances, approve or deny zoning, approve better planning policies, or change the direction of growth overnight.

There have been times when I have proudly stood alone on difficult votes because I believed it was the right thing for Lake County. But lasting change comes from steady leadership, persistence, and building support over time.

That is the work I have done. Even my harshest critics agree. I have continued to press for better planning, stronger conservation, improved infrastructure, and more responsible growth. And over time, that steady work has helped change the conversation and move Lake County in a better direction.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue?

As Commissioner, I improve affordability by keeping taxes low, making growth pay for itself, cutting unnecessary red tape, building roads faster, supporting local jobs, and protecting the land and water that keep Lake County’s quality of life strong. I can’t control national inflation, but I can fight every day to make sure local government is efficient, responsible, and not adding to the burden on families.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? As of today, I would vote no, unless someone can show me this is not simply a shell game before the November election.

I support real tax relief. I have worked to keep Lake County lean, efficient, and fiscally conservative. But I will not support a proposal that sounds good on a postcard while shifting the burden somewhere else through higher fees, reduced services, or cuts to public safety, roads, parks, and basic county services.

This Amendment hurts active duty veterans, and first-time home buyers PLAIN and SIMPLE!

Lake County is not some bloated local government operation. We are serving far more residents than we were in 2010, while keeping county government disciplined. Outside of necessary public safety growth, we have not expanded government at a pace anywhere close to our population growth. And if one compares purchasing power versus county revenues, it’s easy to see Lake County is not blowing money.

So I ask... Show me the replacement plan. If the state wants to cut local revenue, then tell the public exactly what gets cut, what fees go up, or how roads, deputies, firefighters, stormwater, parks, and emergency services will be protected.

I am for lower taxes. I am not for budget gimmicks. Lake County taxpayers deserve honest math, not a shell game.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Florida’s utility regulators should follow one clear principle: The cost-causer pays.

I am not opposed to technology or economic development, but residential customers and small businesses should not subsidize massive private power users. If a data center requires new generation, transmission, substations, water, grid upgrades, or other infrastructure, those costs should be paid by the data center and not shifted onto families through higher monthly utility bills.

That is why I recently supported a pause on data centers while Lake County prepares the right regulations, restrictions, consumer assurances, and water-resource protections. We need to understand the impacts before approving projects that could place major demands on our electric grid, water supply, land-use patterns, and surrounding communities.

There needs to be a requirement to plan for decommissioning of data centers too.

The Public Service Commission should require strong large-load tariffs, upfront engineering studies, long-term contracts, minimum demand charges, financial guarantees, and clear public disclosure. Regulators also need to protect grid reliability, allow interruption or curtailment during emergencies, and make sure these projects do not jump ahead of existing residents and businesses.

Florida can welcome responsible technology investment, but not at the expense of ratepayers or natural resources. Growth should pay for itself whether it is rooftops, roads, water infrastructure, or data centers.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? The biggest environmental issue Florida must address is protecting our water and green infrastructure while still keeping life affordable for the people who live here.

I grew up swimming in Florida springs, and many of those waters do not have the same water clarity they once did. That should concern every Floridian. Water-resource protection is not some abstract environmental issue. It is not a partisan issue. It affects our drinking water, our lakes, our springs, our wildlife, our property values, our economy, and our quality of life.

We need stronger planning around recharge areas, wetlands, stormwater, septic-to-sewer or DWTS where appropriate, conservation lands, and the Florida Wildlife Corridor. Green infrastructure should be treated like real infrastructure, because it saves money, reduces flooding, protects water quality, preserves wildlife habitat, and helps guide growth before it overwhelms communities.

This is also where home rule matters. Government closest to the people serves best. Counties and cities need the ability to protect their own water, land, springs, and rural character based on local conditions and not one-size-fits-all mandates from Tallahassee.

Florida’s challenge is not choosing between affordability and conservation. It is recognizing that protecting water, land, and wildlife corridors is one of the best ways to keep Florida livable and affordable for future generations.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Lake County Commission District 4 Republican Primary

The Lake County Commission has five districts, and these are partisan races, which means you must be a member of a political party to vote in August. All voters will be able to choose from a final slate of candidates in November.

The winner of the Republican primary for the District 4 commission seat will go on to face Democrat Egor Emery and two write-in candidates, Vance Jochim and Tommie Powers, in November.

County Commission District 4 encompasses the northern part of the county, including parts of Mount Dora and Umatilla. You can see a map of the district HERE.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

News 6 compiled the candidate responses for Lake County Commission District 4, emailing and calling the candidates over several weeks. Responses were edited for spelling and grammar, but otherwise left intact.

Leslie Campione - Incumbent

WEBSITE: https://www.lesliecampione.com/

YOUR NUMBER 1 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Preserving Lake County’s unique character by preventing the municipal annexation and development of rural lands

This issue can only be solved through voluntary participation by cities and the negotiation of agreements whereby cities in Lake County agree to honor Lake County’s Future Land Use Map and the areas already designated as “rural protection areas” and “rural” land uses. Most of these locations are pastures, rolling hills, farmland, forests or a combination of green spaces and very low-density housing that accommodates rural lifestyles valued by our community. I have tried to bring awareness to this issue through various platforms, supported legislation to preserve our rural areas, and have worked directly with cities to formulate rural boundary agreements.

YOUR NUMBER 2 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Accelerating Infrastructure Projects and Relieving Congestion on our roads.

We have seen explosive growth in Florida and in Lake County in particular. Much of this growth is linked to pro-growth measures adopted by our state, which removed local control and mandated high-density housing projects in locations local governments would have otherwise denied. There are numerous other State laws that have promoted new development but there has been no corresponding State measures to address the massive impacts of growth on infrastructure.

Outdated funding formulas and sources have remained in place, and many of our most congested roads in Lake County are State roads that have already been engineered for capacity enhancements, but there is no funding available. My goal is to bring awareness to the need for reform to transportation in our county, region and state. State roads in Lake County such as SR 44, Hwy 441, SR 44B, Hwy 50, Hwy 27, and SR 19 are an integral part of the State’s total transportation system. This system impacts the quality of life of Lake County’s residents who share these roadways with millions of travelers. Capacity projects on these roads are engineered, have been on the priority list for years, but have not be able to be completed and transportation funding reform is way overdue in our state. I am not advocating for more taxes; I am advocating for re-prioritizing funds so that Florida can “catch up” on the State’s arterial and collector roads in Lake County.

YOUR NUMBER 3 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Protecting our aquifer, natural resources and water quality.

I have been a strong advocate for water quality and environmental protection, through measures such as protecting the Wolf Branch Sink from surface water and potential leachate contamination - the Sink has direct connectivity to Rock Springs, Wekiva Spring and our aquifer. Other water quality measures I have supported and spearheaded include: the adoption of a noise ordinance for Silver Glen run and springs in order to promote a family friendly environment focused on limiting negative impacts above and below the surface; a pilot project to lower phosphorous levels in a major waterbody to prevent algal blooms and determine applicability for lakes throughout Lake County’s chain of lakes; the adoption of a low impact landscape ordinance for areas South of Clermont on the Lake Wales Ridge to lessen water usage and promote use of drought tolerant and native plants; the adoption of and promotion of a fertilizer best practices ordinance to lessen nutrient loading; the use of nutrient filtration systems to lessen nutrient loading in our lakes; and I have advocated for countywide flow-way mapping to coordinate flow-ways and stormwater systems with our cities; and I have advocated for enhanced stormwater and floodplain regulations that consider cumulative impacts downstream during major storm events.

FOR INCUMBENTS: Why do you deserve to be re-elected in this race? I have consistently put Lake County residents first, and I have spoken out against State growth measures that negatively impact our residents and the quality of life. I have fought back against tax increases, created efficiencies, significantly improved emergency response times to meet growing demands, and accelerated traffic projects whenever feasible. I am responsive to constituents, enjoy solving problems, and have a high energy level - I like to get things accomplished. I value our natural resources and unique Lake County character and through my understanding of Florida law and experience as an attorney, I have the skill set needed to protect Lake County and mitigate legal liability associated with development pressure. My love and appreciation for Lake County has grown during my public service. I have been tested and can be trusted to always put our residents first. Lastly, I have the experience necessary to help navigate our current challenges.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Affordability is a concern for everyone regardless of our age or stage in life, whether it’s food, gas, healthcare, housing, insurance, or taxes. Some of these issues are impacted nationally and internationally, or with regard to homeowners’ insurance, at the State level. Locally, we have to be constantly looking for ways to deliver essential services in the most efficient way possible to keep local government costs down. Ordinarily, solutions engineered by the government tend to have consequences that backfire. Focusing on getting homeowners’ insurance premiums lowered through immediate measures (versus the usual, “this will cause the rates to come down” type measures) would be the most impactful way to address affordability.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? I am still evaluating how I will vote personally, but I’ve considered various ways for local government to address lost revenue and service reductions. It will require a tremendous amount of collaboration between counties and cities, and creativity will be a necessity.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Based on my research so far, Florida’s ecology is too fragile and our grid system is too vulnerable to support Data Centers. This should be the response of Florida’s utility regulators as well.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Aquifer and surface water contamination from landfill and sludge spreading activities are major environmental concerns that affect our county, as well as concerns regarding water usage and water supply. The most recent problem that has emerged locally is related to a proposal by Heart of Florida landfill in Sumter County, which abuts Lake County, to study deep well injection of leachate. I strongly oppose this method of disposal. Landfill and sludge spreading activities are regulated by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), yet decisions made by FDEP have significant direct impacts on our residents, and there should be greater local control in this regard; water consumption is regulated by the Water Management Districts and has a major impact on our residents. Locally, we have tried to reduce water consumption by maximizing water reuse and the reduction of water consumption through technology and drought-tolerant landscaping.

These are all major concerns, but finding an alternative to landfills for solid waste disposal that is safe and environmentally sound is critical to protecting our aquifer.

David Williamson

WEBSITE: https://www.facebook.com/p/David-Williamson-for-Lake-County-Commissioner-District-4-61582610873972/

YOUR NUMBER 1 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Overdevelopment and training of our rural lands

One of, if not the, biggest topics of complaint in Lake County is the loss of our rural community feeling and the overdevelopment and crowding on our infrastructure that can’t withstand what we have, let alone what is planned to be brought in. The first step in protecting this is to stop rezoning our rural and rural transition land, and stop feeding into the developers. Just because it comes before the board to pass doesn’t mean it cannot be fought.

YOUR NUMBER 2 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Cleanliness and spraying of our waterways.

This is Lake County; we are known for our water, it’s in our name, we have 1400 named bodies of water that are a huge part of our way of life, and hold a huge economic impact on our community. The use of chemicals of any sort directly into our water is irresponsible, especially when there are proven other ways to control non native vegetation witch is the reason for the use of chemicals. We, as Lake County, can invest in Manual harvesters and sterile carp for our water ways witch would also create jobs here directly in the county while taking a more eco-friendly approach to controlling vegetation in our waters. Our county is quick to say this is a state session to spray, but if we start to control the vegetation of our waterways, the state will not have a reason to spray.

YOUR NUMBER 3 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Term limits and meeting times.

I believe in, and I am a strong supporter of, term limits at all levels. Even the greatest leaders can get comfortable, lose their way, change their ideas and thoughts, or simply have too much power. This seat has been held for 16 years, with the last 8 being uncontested, so for 8 years, there hasn’t even been a name on the ballot; the people haven’t had a choice. If I win this race, I have promised not to serve more than 2 terms or 8 years, and I believe that should be the set example. The president of the United States of America gets 8 years; why should anyone have more power or time than that? County meeting times are at 9 am on a Tuesday. The average citizen cannot be there to voice their opposition or approval on matters; we are serving the people correct, so why not let their voice be heard? Many people of this county feel that the Commissioner meeting is just for show, and most of the time, their votes, thoughts, and answers are already made before the meeting even starts. Transparency is a must, and it’s time to give the people their voice back.

FOR CHALLENGERS AND OPEN SEATS: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? Ultimately, this is the people’s decision. I entered this race because I am tired of the place I call home being destroyed by the water, the land, and our way of life. I was raised hunting, fishing, farming, and so much more in the outdoors, and I plan to do the same with my 3 boys, but at the rate we are going, that is all going to be a thing of the past. Wildlife and nature turn to homes, roads, malls, restaurants, or theme parks. Our way of life is being stripped not only for us but for our future generations, and I plan to conserve what we have left of our way of life in Lake County. I’m not a career politician, I am a concerned citizen that lives the complaints of the rest of the citizens daily.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? I believe our county needs to audit many of its programs. Our citizens have voiced that their taxes alone have been raised 2-3 times over the past decade or so. Yet the improvements that many of these taxes are supposed to go to never seem to happen in the eyes of the people. An audit needs to be done. We need to start cracking down and being more responsible with spending, and help our community with these issues. The cost of living is going to continue to rise, gas, food, and monthly bills; it all keeps going up, so responsible spending is a must.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? I agree with the amendment. You should own your property and not pay for it yearly or be penalized in other words. With that being said, there are going to be lost revenues and services, which goes back to my point of auditing programs throughout our county, tighten the belt up on some loose ends, and create revenue that is being used in ways our citizens don’t believe are necessary. Ultimately, I believe this is a step in the right direction to saving citizens money, and I believe it can work quickly if done correctly.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Data centers should not even be an option. Recently, it seems like our county is all on the same page about not bringing them to Lake County. We need to expand energy-efficient programs and grants; while it may not be available to all, it can be made more accessible and cost-friendly through grants and awards. Rate increases need to be justified with detailed cost data, and if not, then denied to increase until it’s clearly necessary.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Protecting our water. This year has shown that, extremely throughout the drought, many counties, not just ours, are expressing the lack of water or running out of water. We continue to develop at a rate of no return, and that uses water. We continue to let companies pump and pump and pump water for little to no fee at all. We continue to pollute our own waterways with the use of poisonous chemicals, even though we know clearly our freshwater source is in short supply at least. Protect our waterways, protect the land that we have left, and ultimately it protects our way of life.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Lake County School Board District 1

The Lake County School Board has five districts. These are nonpartisan races, so they are open to all voters.

School Board District 1 encompasses voters in the western part of the county, including Mascotte and Groveland. You can see a map of the area HERE.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

News 6 compiled the candidate responses for Lake County School Board District 1, emailing and calling the candidates over several weeks. Responses were edited for spelling and grammar, but otherwise left intact.

Pat Kelley

WEBSITE: https://www.pat4lake.com/

FOR CHALLENGERS AND OPEN SEATS: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race?

As your school board member, I will bring a proven track record of managing rapid community growth without burdening families with new public debt or higher taxes. Over my nearly 20 years as (Minneola) mayor, I successfully guided our population expansion by holding developers accountable for funding infrastructure, and I will bring that same “pay-as-you-go” fiscal discipline to our school district to protect your hard-earned tax dollars. Combined with my 35 years of corporate financial experience and nearly three decades as a classroom professor, I have the unique professional and educational background needed to optimize our budgets, support our teachers, and ensure our schools grow responsibly.

What are the three most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.

Problem Number 1 and Solution: District Success - I plan to support teachers and programs by using a developer-funded fiscal model to protect the district’s budget, freeing up public funds to go directly into teacher compensation and essential classroom resources. As a veteran adjunct professor, I feel teachers are the heart of the system and will advocate for giving them flexible tools, mental health support, and individualized resources needed to handle diverse learning environments. Furthermore, I champion educational choice by backing a broad range of high-quality program modalities, including traditional public schools, charter schools, private options, and homeschooling networks.

Problem Number 2 and Solution: Residential Development - I plan to manage rapid student population growth by maintaining a “developer-funded infrastructure” approach and strict “pay-as-you-go” fiscal policies, mirroring the strategies I used during my nearly 20 years as (Minneola) mayor. Instead of raising taxes or accumulating government debt to build new facilities, I intend to advocate for private developers to fund and build critical school infrastructure ahead of residential expansions, leveraging private sector efficiency to handle overcrowding without draining public funds.

Problem Number 3 and Solution: Budget - I plan to draw from a 35-year background in corporate finance and accounting. I will advocate a conservative fiscal model to protect taxpayers. My strategy will focus on driving operational efficiencies to maintain stable property taxes, preventing unnecessary tax increases, and avoiding new public debt for capital projects.

How would you handle district budget issues? I would address school district budget issues by prioritizing fiscal responsibility, transparency, and student success. I would work to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently while protecting funding for teachers, school safety, and effective academic programs. I would also advocate for additional state funding and seek opportunities to maximize available resources.

How should the district handle teacher shortages? I will continue working with Tallahassee to advocate for increased funding to support not only new teachers but also experienced educators. Additionally, I would continue to support programs that provide professional development, strengthen instructional skills, and ensure teachers feel safe, supported, and well-prepared in the classroom.

Florida ranked last for academic growth in reading. How would you improve that? Fortunately, Lake County improved from a C-rated district to an A-rated district. This achievement suggests that the district is implementing effective programs and strategies that produce positive results. I would continue to support the district’s decisions and efforts to maintain this progress.

What changes, if any, would you make to school safety policies? I will continue working closely with law enforcement to maintain safe and secure learning environments for our students and staff. Additionally, I would continue to evaluate and implement improvements as technology evolves to enhance school safety and preparedness.

How should book challenges and library removals be handled? I believe this is an issue that extends beyond school libraries to include public libraries as well. I will advocate for clearer guidance and more consistent, well-defined standards across the state to ensure these matters are addressed fairly and effectively.

What outside organizations or endorsements are supporting your campaign? Lake County Sheriff Peyton Grinnell, Lake County School Board Chair, District 1 Bill Mathias

If elected, what policy would you try to pass in your first year? Ensure the school board prioritizes excellent customer service for families and teachers, while delivering a balanced budget that avoids new public debt and protects families from tax hikes.

Eric Schwalbach

WEBSITE: https://voteschwalbach.com/

FOR CHALLENGERS AND OPEN SEATS: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race?

I have dedicated the last 30 years of my life to educating students. I am currently still in the classroom working in a system that is not meeting the needs of all our children. I know exactly what it takes to improve the system and I am willing to put in the time, money, and effort required to improve the quality of education for our students. I will be donating my entire school board salary to implement the programs I mention below so it does not require any extra taxpayer funding. This means over $180,000 in a 4-year period going to our youth. I was part of the math team who brought Oak Park Middle School from a D to a C, so I know exactly what it takes to make sure that EVERY child is getting what they need to succeed. Politicians want to tell you how great their system is, I want to show you how much better our system can and will be! We have to DEVELOP Income Producing Citizens who are Life Long Learners!

What are the three most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.

Problem Number 1 and Solution: Students are not leaving high school with the math and reading skills needed to succeed at the next level. We have to make sure that our students are getting the support they need in math and reading so they are able to pass the required tests they need to further their college or career opportunities. Create a tutoring program that uses a combination of high-impact math teachers and high school students who need their Bright Future hours to work with struggling students at the elementary, middle, and high schools.

Problem Number 2 and Solution: We need more great teachers. Great teachers develop great students and great students make great schools. We need to develop, recruit, and retain high-impact teachers. We need to develop a dual enrollment education program that recruits and trains high school students for the field of education. Students can now get their 4-year elementary education degree from Lake Sumter State College.

We need to ensure that Lake County teacher pay is competitive with surrounding counties so we do not lose our great teachers. When I was at Oak Park Middle School, my 7th grade students had a substitute the entire year in 6th grade math because they could not hire a qualified math teacher. This puts these students at a huge disadvantage over their peers at other schools.

Problem Number 3 and Solution: We need more career and technical opportunities for our students who may not want to go to college. We are working with organizations to educate and recruit more students into the trade industry. We also need to ensure they have the required math skills to eventually own and run a successful company so they can live the American dream. We also need to make sure that students have access to other career education opportunities at Lake Tech in their own community.

How would you handle district budget issues? Every budget decision should answer one question: Does this help students learn? I’ll protect classrooms first, demand transparency, eliminate waste, and make sure taxpayers know how every dollar is spent. Our children deserve responsible stewardship of public funds. As a math teacher for my entire life, I would analyze and prioritize the funding with student success as the top priority. Protect funding for teachers, classroom instruction, student safety, special education, and essential student services before considering cuts elsewhere. Conduct a line-by-line review of the budget to identify administrative costs, duplicate programs, unnecessary contracts, and other expenses that can be reduced without harming instruction. Look for ways to save through shared services, energy efficiency, and better purchasing agreements. If enrollment is increasing, work with local governments and developers to ensure schools are adequately planned and that available school impact fees and other legal funding sources are used effectively. Pursue state and federal grants, partnerships with businesses and nonprofits, and other revenue sources where appropriate. Publish easy-to-understand budget information, hold public workshops, and explain why difficult decisions are being made before votes occur. Regularly evaluate programs to ensure taxpayer dollars are producing measurable benefits for students. Programs that consistently underperform should be revised or discontinued.

How should the district handle teacher shortages? Great teachers create great communities by developing our future citizens into income-producing citizens who are lifelong learners. We have to respect and support the teachers we have currently while recruiting and developing our own future educators. As I mentioned above, we have to recruit, retain and develop great teachers. This requires developing high-quality dual enrollment education degree opportunities for students to become educators. I did not want to be a teacher when I was in high school or my first year in college. I wanted to be an engineer and work in construction. Doing volunteer hours for my intro to education class in college led to me becoming a lifelong educator who has had a positive impact on the life of thousands of children. I have been able to use education to break the cycle of poverty, lower crime rates, and improve the quality of life in our communities.

Florida ranked last for academic growth in reading. How would you improve that? We have to stop only teaching to the test. We have to promote and develop the love of reading. We have to help and allow our students to fall in love with reading. We have to make sure students have access to high-interest books and articles and give them time during school to read about things they enjoy.

DEVELOP A LOVE FOR READING: I taught 5th grade for 8 years when I first started teaching in 1996, before every child had a computer or phone. I spent a large portion of my day finding great books for each of my students to read. We read as often as possible throughout the day. We read in pairs, in groups, and individually throughout the day. I did a lot of guided reading to model what good readers think about as they read.

BRING BACK CLASSROOM LIBRARIES: We do not encourage kids in middle school or high school to read for pleasure. When I started teaching math in middle school, I made sure my bookshelf was full of books and magazines my students would like to read. Most of my middle school students never read an entire book until they fell in love with a series they found on my shelf. Then they read as many books in the series as they could. This led to them improving their reading scores as well as their math. Most students who never read throughout the entire year, can not stay focused on reading for a 2-hour state reading test. It is like asking them to run a marathon when they have never learned to jog. Many students admit to me that they gave up and did not try on the reading test because there is no penalty if they fail. They think they are beating the system because they just keep getting moved along even though they never ever pass the state test. Then in high school they can not pass the state reading and math test required to get their high school diploma. We have to stop forcing students to only read and write for test that were developed by a for-profit technology company. We have to give them time to read what they like to read and provide a variety of options for them to choose books and articles that are interesting to them.

What changes, if any, would you make to school safety policies? Having a school resource officer on every campus as well as the armed school guardian is great. We have also done a good job implementing our mental health counselors at each school. This is a great proactive way to identify and support students with their mental health before it escalates. We also provide families with connections to family counseling as well.

How should book challenges and library removals be handled? We should only have approved books on our shelves and classroom libraries. If a parent feels that a book is not appropriate for their child, they can report the book so it can be removed immediately while being evaluated.

What outside organizations or endorsements are supporting your campaign? I just joined the race, so I will provide more information as I get endorsements and support.

If elected, what policy would you try to pass in your first year? I want to make sure we provide the needed tutoring and support for high school students to pass the tests they need to succeed at the next level. Two examples are math boot camps for ASVAB to join the military and Algebra 1 end-of-course exam for a high school diploma and college readiness. I have way too many students who I taught 4 years ago in middle school reaching out on social media asking me to tutor them in math so they can pass a test they have to pass for their next career opportunity. I want to make sure every student has access to this level of support so they can become “Income Producing Citizens who are Life Long Learners!”

The Trump administration has faced pushback from some European allies over the use of air bases in support of its war with Iran.

But lawmakers in Bulgaria — a member of NATO and the European Union — voted earlier in July to allow the deployment of up to eight U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft, as well as 250 personnel with personal weapons and ammunition and airfield equipment, at Bezmer Air Base.

Under a 2006 U.S.-Bulgaria defense agreement, the Bezmer facility, about 260 kilometers (160 miles) southeast of the capital, Sofia, is a joint-use facility. Any new use of the base requires parliamentary approval.

The deployment, requested by the U.S. Embassy in Bulgaria, is authorized until Oct. 1, 2026.

U.S. President Donald Trump thanked Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev in a Truth Social post for allowing the deployment “despite Iran’s threats.”

On Thursday, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova assured her Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, that the deployment “in no way means a change in Bulgaria’s approach toward Iran." The two countries are important trade partners.

A Bulgarian Foreign Ministry statement quoted Petrova as saying “it was out of the question" that any direct military actions linked to the conflict in the Middle East would be carried out from Bulgarian territory.

The statement did not indicate what Araghchi said. But the Bulgarian state news agency, BTA, said Araghchi protested to Petrova over Bulgaria’s support for U.S. military operations against Iran during a telephone conversation initiated by the Bulgarian side. The report cited a report from Iran's state-run IRNA news agency.

Residents of the village of Bezmer and nearby settlements, including the regional capital Yambol, have staged peaceful protests in recent days against the deployment of the U.S. aircraft.

Government officials visited the region to address people’s fears, assuring them that the deployment is solely for logistical missions involving in-flight refueling outside Bulgarian airspace.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Marion County Commission District 2 Republican Primary

The Marion County Commission has five districts, and these are partisan races, which means you must be a member of a political party to vote in August. All voters will be able to choose from a final slate of candidates in November.

The winner of the Republican primary for the District 2 commission seat will go on to face write-in candidate Mark Okus in November.

County Commission District 2 encompasses the southwestern part of the county. You can see a map of the district HERE.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

News 6 compiled the candidate responses for Marion County Commission District 2, emailing and calling the candidates over several weeks. Responses were edited for spelling and grammar, but otherwise left intact.

Matt Cretul

WEBSITE: mattcretul.com/

Mr. Cretul did not respond to our requests to take our questionnaire.

Mike Crimi

WEBSITE: electmikecrimi.com/

Mr. Crimi did not respond to our requests to take our questionnaire.

Brien Weidemiller

WEBSITE: https://brienweidemiller.com/

Top issues in your race

If elected, what are the THREE most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them? In the boxes below, please list each issue and how you will address them:

YOUR NUMBER 1 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Overdevelopment is the number one issue in Marion County. My plan is to focus on infrastructure to support our current residents and slow down the growth until we can support it.

YOUR NUMBER 2 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: I plan on tightening up our budget. We need to be good stewards of taxpayer money and focus on three things: (1) do the residents want it, (2) do the residents need it, and (3) will the planned expenditure improve our quality of life.

YOUR NUMBER 3 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Preservation of Marion County culture. We are an agricultural and ecological community. I want to focus on projects that preserve our horse and agricultural culture and preserve our natural resources like our springs.

FOR CHALLENGERS AND OPEN SEATS: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? I grew up in Marion County schools, started a successful small business in Marion County, and am raising a family in Marion County. I have a proven track record of running and expanding not only my business, but a local non-profit. I care about Marion County, its residents, and want others to enjoy the same experiences I have had.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Marion County is very affordable and that is why a lot of people are moving here. We need to focus on developing infrastructure that can support the growth we are experiencing. Right now, our roads and municipal services are strained as a result of overdevelopment that outpaces our infrastructure. This needs to change.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? I am voting yes. The county needs to start budgeting smarter, cut unnecessary spending, and eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse. We save money by reducing the amount of projects we outsource. We have seen at the state level how fiscal discipline, conservative governance, and smart investments, matched with declining spending have led to a better way of life.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? I don’t know anyone besides the data centers who wants them built. I will vote no on data centers. One of the ways the utility companies have been helping reduce costs is by offering rebates, updating outdated processes, and audits.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? The biggest environmental issue our government faces is water. With issues such as deep well injection, water bottling plants, and waste and industrial runoff, we need to implement a long-term, strategic plan to address and combat these issues.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Marion County Commission District 4 Republican Primary

The Marion County Commission has five districts, and these are partisan races, which means you must be a member of a political party to vote in August. All voters will be able to choose from a final slate of candidates in November.

The winner of the Republican primary for the District 4 commission seat will go on to face write-in candidate Leonard Michael Racioppi in November.

County Commission District 4 encompasses the northeastern part of the county. You can see a map of the district HERE.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

News 6 compiled the candidate responses for Marion County Commission District 4, emailing and calling the candidates over several weeks. Responses were edited for spelling and grammar, but otherwise left intact.

Randall Alvord

WEBSITE: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61585958091398

Top issues in your race

If elected, what are the THREE most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them? In the boxes below, please list each issue and how you will address them:

YOUR NUMBER 1 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Out of Control Government Spending. Scrutinize county spending and require staff to bring forward all opportunities for saving taxpayer funds. Bring county-funded construction costs in line with private sector costs. No more spending $700 per sf for new construction.

YOUR NUMBER 2 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Growth Planning and Management. Focus growth in the already designated Urban Growth Boundary and preserve our rural areas. We are blessed in Marion County that nearly two-thirds of our county is currently under some form of preservation like the Ocala National Forest and the Farmland Preservation Area.

YOUR NUMBER 3 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Accountability and Transparency. Marion County has been challenged with overdevelopment, and it seems that the vast majority has come from National builders that appear to have new developments “fast-tracked” while vested members of our community have faced limitations on what can be done to better strengthen our community. Strictly adhere to commissioners serving only two terms.

FOR CHALLENGERS AND OPEN SEATS: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? Unlike all of my opponents, I did not need to go out and join organizations and clubs to become part of the community because I have been serving my entire life in our community. I am honored to be the only veteran in the District 4 Commission race and I proudly served in the United States Marine Corps and I am a Combat Veteran of the Gulf War. I have been a small business owner for over 30 years, doing Ag and Timberlands brokerage. As a small farm beef cattle producer, I know the importance of maintaining and preserving agriculture as one of our primary economic drivers here in Marion County.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? I hear this from nearly everyone I speak to. We start by controlling government spending. My opponents are in favor of increasing impact fees to only increase the ability to spend recklessly. Private sector, with strong oversight by elected leaders, will always be a better option for controlling costs of government projects. Marion County overwhelmingly passed an extension of the one-cent sales tax in 2024 and this has helped relieve the burden of property owners having to pay the majority of the cost burden. Approximately 30% of the 65 million revenues generated by the one-cent sales tax is paid by visitors and non-residents. These funds are specifically earmarked for infrastructure and public safety.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? At this time, I am in favor of voting yes. In the 20-page joint resolution, there is some language that may allow counties, with legislature guidance, to remove the savings from the Save Our Homes protections under Amendment 10 and re-assess properties at current total just value. If this turns out to be accurate, about 20% of Marion County homeowners will be paying significantly more for their homesteaded taxes. The courts are currently reviewing ballot language according to recent reports.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Data Centers have no place in Marion County. It is hard to fathom the need for such large facilities. As technologies advance, smaller facilities with closed-loop cooling systems and the ability to generate their own power needs may be more welcoming. Until then, there will not be excessive demand placed on our grid and I will strongly advocate with regulatory authorities for this demand staying in check.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Consumptive Use Permits issued by our governing water authorities need to have restrictions/limitations placed on them for times of drought like we are experiencing. Silver Springs is currently flowing at just over half its average hourly flow rate but yet we are allowing a water bottling company to continue to draw full capacity of its CUP just a few hundred yards away from the head springs. Most agree the only solution is to get a large amount of rainfall and soon to recharge our aquifer.

Jeff Bairstow

WEBSITE: www.jeff4marioncounty.com/

Top issues in your race

If elected, what are the THREE most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them? In the boxes below, please list each issue and how you will address them:

YOUR NUMBER 1 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Infrastructure. My solution is infrastructure first. We need to strengthen concurrency, make sure road capacity is planned before major development is approved, prioritize the most dangerous and congested corridors, and make sure new growth pays a fair share through properly calculated impact fees. Existing residents should not carry the full burden for infrastructure needed because of new development.

YOUR NUMBER 2 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Public safety. My solution is to plan staffing, stations, equipment, and emergency resources around real growth numbers. We need to support our first responders, improve response times, and make sure public safety facilities are included in long-term growth planning. After nearly 29 years in law enforcement, I understand that public safety works best when leaders plan ahead instead of reacting after a crisis.

YOUR NUMBER 3 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Protecting water, springs, and our way of life. My solution is to protect the Farmland Preservation Area, strengthen growth boundaries, reduce pressure on rural lands, support smarter development where infrastructure already exists, and make water quality and water availability part of every major growth decision. Marion County can grow, but it must grow responsibly.

FOR CHALLENGERS AND OPEN SEATS: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? I bring experience in public service as a police officer for almost 29 years and 10 years as a business owner. Those two elements give me the understanding of being a public servant and the ability to run government like a business.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Stop shifting the cost of growth onto existing residents, spend taxpayer money carefully, protect core services, and make sure Marion County remains a place where working families, seniors, and young people can still afford to live. Affordability is more than just affordable housing, it is also the service worker that has to charge more to fix your AC, plumbing, electrical, etc. because they cannot get the same amount of service calls in per day, due to sitting in traffic.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? I think replaced revenue in Marion County could be replaced by impact fees and making sure that growth pays for growth. We need to look and NEEDS and WANTS in the County budget and treat that budget like we treat our household budget.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? I am a hard NO for data centers in Marion County.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Water quality and water supply. Before approving major development, the county should ask: Where will the water come from? Where will wastewater go? What is the impact on springs, wells, drainage, and aquifer recharge? Growth without water planning is like building a house and forgetting the plumbing.

Wanda Wimberly Lasher

WEBSITE: www.facebook.com/groups/1186585053501200/

Ms. Lasher did not respond to our requests to fill out the questionnaire.

Sherri Meadows

WEBSITE: https://www.meadowsformarion.com/

Top issues in your race

If elected, what are the THREE most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them? In the boxes below, please list each issue and how you will address them:

YOUR NUMBER 1 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Responsible growth and infrastructure planning. Growth is not the enemy, but unmanaged growth creates traffic, strains public safety, pressures water resources, and changes the quality of life that brought people to Marion County. I will support long-range planning that puts infrastructure first, directs growth where roads, utilities, schools, emergency services, and solid waste capacity can support it, and protects rural and agricultural areas. I will also support regular impact fee reviews, better coordination with the School Board, municipalities, the TPO, and public safety agencies, and clearer public notice before major land-use decisions are made.

YOUR NUMBER 2 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Affordability and fiscal responsibility. Families, seniors, veterans, workers, and small businesses are being squeezed by taxes, insurance, utilities, housing costs, HOA fees, and everyday expenses. County government cannot control every cost, but it can control its own spending, fees, permitting process, and priorities. I will focus county dollars on core services first: public safety, roads, water, emergency response, and essential infrastructure. I will support workforce housing options that fit the community, reduce unnecessary delays in permitting, make sure new growth pays its fair share, and push for a budget culture that asks, “Does this improve the lives of the people paying for it?”

YOUR NUMBER 3 ISSUE and how you plan to address it: Protecting Marion County’s water, springs, farms, and rural character. Our aquifer, springs, rivers, lakes, horse farms, forests, and agricultural lands are not just environmental assets — they are part of our economy, identity, and way of life. I will support stronger water-quality planning, stormwater accountability, careful review of utility expansions, protection of springsheds and recharge areas, conservation partnerships, and land-use decisions that consider long-term impacts on water, traffic, public safety, and quality of life. Protecting our natural resources must be part of every major growth decision, not an afterthought.

FOR CHALLENGERS AND OPEN SEATS: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? I am not asking voters to elect me because of a title. I am asking them to look at a lifetime of service, leadership, and real-world experience. Born in Florida, I moved to Marion County as a child, built a business here, raised my family here, and have spent decades serving this community in volunteer, civic, professional, and advocacy roles.

I have worked with local, state, and federal leaders on issues affecting housing, veterans, small businesses, property rights, water, land use, and quality of life. I have testified before Congress, served in statewide and national leadership, and currently serve in local volunteer roles that keep me connected to the challenges families are facing.

Marion County needs leadership that is prepared on Day One — not political rhetoric, not special-interest government, and not decisions made from an ivory tower. I bring business experience, servant leadership, fiscal discipline, and a deep love for Marion County. My commitment is simple: protect taxpayers, preserve what makes Marion County special, and advance responsible solutions for the future.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Affordability must be addressed from several directions. At the county level, that starts with fiscal discipline. Government must live within its means, prioritize core services, and avoid placing unnecessary costs on families and small businesses.

Second, we must plan growth better. When infrastructure lags behind growth, taxpayers end up paying the price through congestion, road backlogs, emergency service pressure, and higher long-term costs. New development should pay its fair share for the impacts it creates, while the county keeps fees predictable and fair.

Third, we need workforce housing solutions that fit Marion County. That means encouraging smaller homes, attainable housing near jobs and services, public-private partnerships, and responsible redevelopment where infrastructure already exists. It also means recognizing that affordability is not just the price of a home. Property taxes, insurance, utility bills, HOA fees, transportation costs, and wages all affect whether people can afford to live here.

The county cannot solve every affordability problem alone, but it can stop making the problem worse. I will support common-sense budgeting, efficient permitting, infrastructure-first planning, and policies that help working families, seniors, veterans, and young people stay in Marion County.

Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions? I will vote yes but with fiscal guardrails - for meaningful property tax relief because homeowners, seniors, families, and working people need help. Property taxes have become a serious affordability issue, especially for people on fixed incomes and families trying to stay in their homes. That said, property tax relief must be implemented responsibly. Counties still have to fund law enforcement, fire rescue, emergency response, roads, water infrastructure, parks, and other essential services. I do not support simply replacing lost revenue by raising fees on working families, raising assessments, or cutting core public safety services. My approach would be to start with a full review of county spending, prioritize essential services, reduce duplication, phase non-essential projects when necessary, pursue grants and state partnerships, use impact fees appropriately for growth-related infrastructure, and require departments to justify increases with measurable results. If fees are considered, they must be tied directly to the service provided, transparent, lawful, and not used as a hidden tax. Property tax relief should force government to become more disciplined, not less accountable.

Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Florida’s utility regulators should protect residential customers and small businesses from subsidizing massive power users. Data centers can create jobs and investment, but they also place enormous demands on electricity, water, land, and infrastructure. Existing customers should not be forced to pay for upgrades, transmission, generation, or reliability costs created by private large-load users. Regulators should require clear cost-of-service analysis, special tariffs for large-load customers, long-term demand commitments, financial guarantees, and transparency in utility agreements. Local governments MUST retain authority over land use, compatibility, water impacts, emergency services, and community effects. Florida should welcome innovation, but not at the expense of taxpayers, water resources and environment, health of our citizens, or local quality of life.

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? The biggest environmental issue for Marion County and Florida is protecting our water — both quality and quantity. Our aquifer, springs, rivers, lakes, wetlands, and recharge areas are the foundation of our environment, economy, agriculture, recreation, and quality of life. In Marion County, that means protecting the Floridan Aquifer, Silver Springs, Rainbow River, the Ocklawaha system, and the many lakes, forests, farms, and rural lands that help define our community. Water protection must be part of land-use decisions, utility planning, stormwater management, septic-to-sewer discussions, agricultural partnerships, and growth approvals.I support science-based water planning, strong stormwater standards, careful review of high-water-use projects, responsible utility expansion, conservation partnerships, and protecting rural and agricultural lands that help preserve recharge areas and open space. We cannot wait until there is a crisis to protect our water. Once springs, aquifers, and rural lands are damaged, they are difficult — and sometimes impossible — to restore.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Marion County School Board District 3

The Marion County School Board has five districts. These are nonpartisan races, so they are open to all voters.

School Board District 3 encompasses voters in the southwestern part of the county. You can see a map of the area HERE.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

News 6 compiled the candidate responses for Marion County School Board District 3, emailing and calling the candidates over several weeks. Responses were edited for spelling and grammar, but otherwise left intact.

Eric Cummings - Incumbent

WEBSITE: https://electericcummings.com/

FOR INCUMBENTS: Why do you deserve to be re-elected in this race? I’ve served on the Marion County School Board since 2018, and I’m proud of the steady progress we’ve made, but we can still do more. We’ve worked hard to stabilize and improve our district rankings after years of decline, even with all the challenges Florida schools face. I stay accessible to parents—I answer calls and work directly with families on issues. Education is a team effort, and I bring parents, teachers, administrators, and the community together. With my background as a pastor and former law enforcement officer, I’m committed to safe schools, supporting our kids and families, smart spending, and backing our teachers. I’m not done yet—we’re heading in the right direction, and I want to keep that momentum going for our students.

TOP ISSUES

What are the three most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.

Problem Number 1 and Solution: The first challenge is improving student achievement. We have to identify struggling students early and implement targeted strategies that will improve students’ outcomes while working with the parents and all available resources to help the kid be successful.

Problem Number 2 and Solution: The second challenge is recruiting and retaining outstanding teachers and staff. Great schools begin with great educators. We must continue working to offer competitive pay, meaningful professional development, strong mentoring programs, and a positive work environment where employees feel respected and supported.

Problem Number 3 and Solution: Maintaining safe schools. Parents should never have to worry whether their child will be safe when they leave home each morning. That means continuing to invest in campus security, mental health resources, emergency preparedness, and strong partnerships with law enforcement while creating school environments where every student feels valued and connected.

How would you handle district budget issues? A school budget should reflect our priorities. My priority has always been students, so I believe in smart spending that puts students first. We have to be responsible with taxpayer dollars—focus on what directly helps kids learn, supports teachers, and keeps schools safe and well-maintained. That means careful oversight, transparent decisions, and avoiding waste while planning for growth. I’ve supported strong audits and prioritizing essential needs during my time on the board, and I’ll continue that approach.

How should the district handle teacher shortages? The best way to recruit great teachers is to become the kind of district where teachers want to stay. That starts with competitive salaries and benefits, but it doesn’t end there. Teachers also want supportive administrators, opportunities to grow professionally, manageable workloads, and classrooms where they can focus on teaching. We should continue building partnerships with colleges and universities to strengthen our teacher pipeline while investing in mentoring programs that help new educators succeed from day one.

Florida ranked last for academic growth in reading. How would you improve that? I believe that Reading is the foundation for academic success. We have to identify reading challenges as early as possible and provide students with the supports they need before they fall behind. That includes strong classroom instruction, targeted interventions, tutoring, family engagement, and ongoing progress monitoring. We also have to empower our teachers with high-quality instructional materials and professional development so they have every opportunity to help students become confident readers.

What changes, if any, would you make to school safety policies? Safety is my top priority. We’ve strengthened partnerships with local law enforcement and continue to review what works best for our schools. I support practical policies that protect students and staff without creating unnecessary burdens. As a former law enforcement officer, I understand security, and I’ll keep pushing for measures that give parents confidence while letting kids focus on learning.

How should book challenges and library removals be handled? The Marion County School System has an easily accessible book review policy that is in alignment with state regulations. We should follow the established policy, which ensure that parental rights are not being overlooked and that children are being exposed to inappropriate reading materials. Our goal is to make sure library materials are suitable while still encouraging kids to read and learn.

What outside organizations or endorsements are supporting your campaign? I’m grateful for support from individual donors and people in the community who know my record. In past races, I’ve had backing from local leaders and parents who care about our schools. I run as a non-partisan candidate focused on kids, not politics, and I welcome support from anyone who wants strong, steady leadership for Marion County schools. I recently received the recommendation from the Ocala Marion County Association of Realtors.

If elected, what policy would you try to pass in your first year? If re-elected, I want to continue strengthening policies that improve student outcomes. That includes expanding efforts to improve literacy, supporting attendance initiatives. I would also push to expand successful initiatives like academic recovery programs and year-round learning options where they are feasible. We also need to keep strengthening vocational and career education so our students are ready for the real world. Most importantly, I’ll focus on policies that reinforce safe schools, better support for teachers, and smart use of resources to help every child succeed.

Steve Swett

WEBSITE: https://www.facebook.com/groups/411268367575572/

FOR CHALLENGERS AND OPEN SEATS: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race?

Marion County School District has been in the bottom third of Florida school districts for years. It is currently ranked a C district by the Florida State Education Department. The district has failed its fiduciary duty to the students, staff and taxpayers of Marion County. A new perspective and new leadership is required. Marion County cannot accept the status quo; I am a change agent.

TOP ISSUES

What are the three most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.

Problem Number 1 and Solution: Student Proficiency. Strong focus on early literacy. Public reading plans in every school. Monthly progress monitoring. Targeted remedial training at all grade levels.

Problem Number 2 and Solution: Fiscal Responsibility. Conduct a line-by-line review, eliminate waste and increase transparency and public accountability, focus spending on students, teachers, and classrooms. Ensure long-term financial stability.

Problem Number 3 and Solution: Managing Growth. Marion County continues to grow-use enrollment data to guide decisions, address overcrowding before it becomes a problem, plan responsibly, prepare for future growth without unfair burden to taxpayers.

How would you handle district budget issues? Keen oversight and sound management. Line-by-line budget review. Site-based budget and review every avenue of cost-cutting and savings.

How should the district handle teacher shortages? Respect, support and empower teachers. Reduce unnecessary bureaucracy and mandates. Provide the tools, training and authority to teach effectively. Ensure local savings go directly to frontline staff and classrooms. Teaching is a noble profession, our decisions must reflect that.

Florida ranked last for academic growth in reading. How would you improve that? Strong focus on early literacy, public reading plans at all grade levels, benchmarks that are clear and realistic, monthly progress monitoring and targeted remedial training.

What changes, if any, would you make to school safety policies? I would urge the school board to give full authority to the elected Sheriff of Marion County and do away with the unneeded School Safety Department. The Sheriff’s Office provides the School Resources Officers. The present in-house School Safety Department is bureaucratic created department that present duties the Sheriff can handle. It will provide more safety.

How should book challenges and library removals be handled? By following Florida State law and having a sincere interest in monitoring what is available to students. There are good existing methods to remove age inappropriate from public schools. Parental involvement is key.

What outside organizations or endorsements are supporting your campaign? None at present. I am not a part of any establishment organization. I am sure I will pick up some valid conservative organization endorsements.

If elected, what policy would you try to pass in your first year? All policy should focus on student achievement and budget. It can be done.

The Democrat's office released more than 700 pages of tax filings spanning four years for reporters to review, offering a window into Newsom's finances as he prepares to leave office and considers a 2028 presidential bid. Newsom’s office did not release returns for 2025, because the couple filed for an extension and will complete those returns in October.

The returns show the Newsoms' income has remained relatively consistent since when he took office in 2019, when the couple reported $1.7 million in annual income. The exception was in 2021, when the family sold a house for nearly $6 million in Marin County, making roughly $800,000 from the sale. That year, they made $4.2 million and paid more than $1 million in federal and state taxes. They earned roughly $2 million in 2022.

The release of the couple's tax filings comes as their finances have been under scrutiny after the U.S. Justice Department launched investigations into the Newsoms, the governor announced last month. Newsom has blasted the probes as politically motivated.

It was the first time Newsom released returns since 2022.

Newsom made nearly $200,000 annually from serving as governor, but most of his income comes from winery and restaurant businesses that he put in a blind trust when he took office. The returns don’t name each individual business, making it impossible to know which ones gained and lost money.

The PlumpJack Group, a company he owns that includes a suite of wineries and restaurants, is now run by his sister and cousin.

His wife Jennifer Siebel Newsom, a film director, lost money most years from Girls Club Entertainment, a production company she founded. The business produced “Miss Representation,” a 2011 documentary about disparaging portrayals of women and girls in media, and two other films.

The Newsoms paid between roughly $14,000 and $44,000 a year for childcare for three of their four children, according to the tax filings.

They gave between $40,000 and $65,000 in gifts to charity each year, mostly through monetary donations. They also donated thousands of dollars worth of clothing, toys and other items to thrift stores and nonprofits, including in 2022, when they gave away Armani business wear they originally bought for $45,000 to a racial justice organization in Oakland.

A key area of the Pacific Ocean used to measure the strength of El Nino this week reached its warmest and most intense level ever recorded for the 15th week since it formed, which is early in its lifetime, scientists at Columbia University reported.

El Nino — a natural warming of the Pacific near the equator that warps weather patterns worldwide — won't peak for several months and should last through spring 2027. The World Meteorological Organization, a U.N. agency, cautioned on Friday that it will likely trigger extreme heat, drought and rainfall well into next year.

“Two months ago, I warned that El Nino was arriving on our doorstep. Now it is inside the house — and turning up the heat,” United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters Friday. “We have already endured a summer of extremes — record-shattering heat domes; apocalyptic wildfires raging in Spain, France and far beyond; thousands of lives lost in the scorching conditions.”

“But according to the latest science, this is only a warm-up act,” Guterres said, saying as the El Nino strengthens it will be “adding fuel to a planet already on fire.”

“We are in uncharted territory,” he said. “The climate crisis is in overdrive.”

Most computer forecast models are showing that this El Nino will likely break the all-time record for intensity when it peaks, sometime late fall or so, but that's not guaranteed, scientists said.

Chaotic extremes in rain, drought and unheard of heat coming

It's still early in the nearly yearlong life of a typical El Nino to see many direct effects yet, but they are coming, scientists said, agreeing with Guterres’ warnings. El Nino's effects will combine with the long-term global warming from the burning of coal, oil and gas.

“We’re seeing something that is the warmest July ever recorded for that specific region," used as an El Nino indicator, Columbia University climate scientist Jeffrey Shaman said. "A year from now, it’s going to be very hot in the Northern Hemisphere. And we’re going to possibly have a summer like we’ve never experienced globally."

But before then, the strong El Nino is likely to cause changes in rainfall patterns that will bring chaotic extremes to different parts of the world in fall and winter. There's a strong chance of drought and wildfires in Indonesia, India and other parts of Asia, south and east Australia, chunks of South America and southern regions in Africa, the WMO warned. Other areas, including much of the United States and fire-struck Southern Europe will get above average rain.

“This El Nino, developing against the backdrop of unprecedented ocean heat and rising temperatures, provides governments and communities with a window of opportunity to anticipate risks and act before impacts unfold,” said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.

El Nino amplifies human-caused warming

While El Nino and climate change are separate phenomena, their effects create a harmful combination — and people aren't taking the connection seriously enough, Guterres said.

“We hear much about record heat, drought and wildfires — but not enough about the real change that is driving these events: the accelerating climate crisis powered by fossil fuels," Guterres said.

Guterres said the world gets too absorbed by dramatic wars in Ukraine, the Middle East and Sudan to notice the dangers of climate change. On top of that, “there is a deliberate campaign, namely by the fossil fuel industry and some countries in order to pretend that that the problems that we are witnessing indeed do not exist.”

The U.N. must be more active and mobilize public opinion “to tell governments it’s time to recognize this threat as an existential threat to us all,” he told reporters.

Much of the heat from the burning of fossil fuels gets trapped in the oceans, but “during an El Nino the ocean in some sense gets to return some of the heated buildups of global warming back to the atmosphere,” Shaman said. Even though this El Nino will end, the released heat sticks around in the air, along with the higher temperatures, which will jump up again the next El Nino, he added.

Guterres called for more early warning systems and cooling systems to handle extreme heat. He said industry and governments need to make work safer, highlighting the garment industry, which has 90 million workers, most of them women. In 17 of the 23 biggest clothing making hubs, dangerously hot days jumped by more than 10% in the past 20 years, “yet most global brands set no heat standard for the factories that supply them.”

But mostly, Guterres said, “the world must stop fueling the crisis.... More coal, oil and gas will lead to a more combustible future."

___

Borenstein reported from Washington.

___

The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Marion County School Board District 4

The Marion County School Board has five districts. These are nonpartisan races, so they are open to all voters.

School Board District 4 encompasses voters in the central part of the county. You can see a map of the area HERE.

Since there are four candidates in the race, the top vote-getter must get more than 50% of the vote (50%+1) in order to win outright. Otherwise, the top two candidates will go to a runoff in November.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

News 6 compiled the candidate responses for Marion County School Board District 4, emailing and calling the candidates over several weeks. Responses were edited for spelling and grammar, but otherwise left intact.

Jeff Brewer

WEBSITE: https://www.jeffreybrewer4schoolboard.com/

FOR CHALLENGERS AND OPEN SEATS: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? I have a passion for all the stakeholders: parents, taxpayers, students, teachers, administrators and staff. As a retired teacher, I believe I can help make things better. Knowing what working in the schools is all about, from being a school bus driver to teaching social studies at the high school level, to teaching special education at all levels, I have the knowledge, experience and wisdom to avoid mistakes and direct the district to success. Values and education go together. You can’t have one without the other. We have a great resource in our highly educated retired population here in Marion County who can be activated to help in our schools. We have so many that contribute now but so much more can be done. I want to make this happen.

TOP ISSUES

What are the three most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.

Problem Number 1 and Solution: Toxic behavior in schools. Students are disrespectful to each other, to their teachers and to staff far too frequently. Discipline and accountability for poor behavior has likely never been worse. We can’t change family dynamics, the realities of family dysfunction, trauma, poverty, but we can work to bring order and peace to our schools. That means that teachers need their administrators to be leaders instead of politicians. 8% of our students are creating 50-plus percent of our discipline referrals. We need to be all on the same page when it comes to where the right behaviors end and bad behaviors start and what to do about them.

Problem Number 2 and Solution: Chronic absenteeism. If students aren’t in school, they can’t learn. Good schools have low student absentee percentages. We can use resources to get kids who miss the bus to get to school. We can make school a safer, more nurturing atmosphere so students and their families will be motivated to get them to school and participate in the learning process. Parent participation is critical to student success.

Problem Number 3 and Solution: Lack of vision. We have programs and spend money, as much as $1.26 billion! We need vision and specific goals to every aspect of what we do on the board. We need to have big goals and fail more. Then we can change our direction instead of doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. More than 40% of our students are failing to meet grade-level standards. Small incremental results are not enough. Every person in every department needs to have a vision stamped on what they do and know how it fits into the grand vision: success for all our students.

How would you handle district budget issues? #1 Live within our means, borrow as little as possible #2 Use a Design and build model to build new schools #3 Listen to parents and communities when designing the size, location and amenities of new or when redesigning existing schools. #3 Develop a public-private partnership to bring revenue to schools, i.e., voluntary preK or Gymnastics, Dance businesses to school properties to generate revenue.

How should the district handle teacher shortages? There are only two things we can do: Increase pay for both new and existing teachers and/or increase job satisfaction to keep teachers. Too many new college graduates are not choosing teaching because they can’t afford to; other places in Florida and other states are paying more. The answer is to recruit relentlessly, increase pay for new and experienced teachers and increase teacher satisfaction. We need to listen to why young teachers are not staying and why experienced teachers are leaving and take steps to raise job satisfaction.

Florida ranked last for academic growth in reading. How would you improve that? Keep encouraging families to participate in early learning opportunities like VPK, voluntary pre-kindergarten. Bring more adult volunteers into schools to read with students, especially in elementary and middle school. We can also encourage student mentors to tutor and befriend their younger peers. Initiate grants recruiting teachers with stipends to tutor students before or after school hours.

What changes, if any, would you make to school safety policies? I would like to see if it will be a cost savings without loss of safety, to have the sheriff take over school safety.

How should book challenges and library removals be handled? As they are now. If there are any books that are objectionable, anyone can raise the red flag and have the text reviewed.

What outside organizations or endorsements are supporting your campaign?

Mr. Brewer did not give a response to this question.

If elected, what policy would you try to pass in your first year? I would lobby and have a vote to allow Chaplain volunteers to operate in schools.

Mike Mills

WEBSITE: www.mikemillsmarionschools.com/

Mr. Mills did not respond to our requests to fill out the questionnaire.

Brigitte Smith

WEBSITE: www.facebook.com/people/Brigitte-Smith-for-Marion-County-School-Board/61590594200771/

FOR CHALLENGERS AND OPEN SEATS: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? I’ve quietly shown up and advocated for our children for over a decade — long before this election. As an operating room nurse with 35 years of experience, a U.S. Army Nurse Corps veteran, and a dedicated community volunteer, Board Secretary to the Paul Chester Children’s Hope Foundation and medical missionary, I’ve built my life around service and leadership.

I’m vested with skin in the game. I have 2 daughters who graduated from Marion County schools, and I currently have a granddaughter attending Dunnellon Middle School. I see every day the work and materials she brings home; what I see coming home from school every day tells me we must do better.

What’s been missing on the school board is a disciplined approach of assessing, intervening, and evaluating — the same cycle I use every day as a nurse. Despite rising budgets, Marion County has remained in the bottom third academically for years. That’s unacceptable.

If elected, I will raise the bar for our students, reject mediocrity, restore fiscal responsibility, and ensure every taxpayer dollar is spent efficiently — especially in school construction — so we can put those resources back in the classroom where they belong.

TOP ISSUES

What are the three most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.

Problem Number 1 and Solution: One of my top three concerns is literacy — specifically our third-grade reading proficiency. Right now, only about 46% of our third graders in Marion County are reading on grade level.

To fix this, I’m pushing for a Reading Revolution. Teachers must be at the center of the conversation. Many already use UFLI Foundations, but concerns remain about the consistency and quality of how it’s being delivered.

I want to ensure every teacher receives high-quality, ongoing training in the Science of Reading, along with real coaching and support. This is especially important for teachers who didn’t train as educators but hold content degrees — we need to give them the tools to succeed.

The plan also includes expanding reading into every class, not just ELA, moving back to physical books instead of tablets, honest conversations about early intervention before third grade, and using volunteers for extra targeted support.

I’m also excited about bringing in fresh ideas: a “Caught in the Act” program to celebrate kids when parents catch them reading at home, launching a Battle of the Books competition with our business partners providing small prizes for the teams that read the most, and creating a health-themed literacy program that partners with our local hospitals — something that fits perfectly with my background as a nurse.

Strong attendance ties directly into this too — kids can’t learn to read if they’re not here. I truly believe adding incentives like the different contests throughout the year can spill over to reducing attendance.

I know the importance of getting the fundamentals right the first time. I will push for proven, phonics-based reading instruction, intensive early intervention starting in pre-K and kindergarten, smaller class sizes in the early grades, and targeted support for struggling readers. We will hold administrators accountable for results, equip teachers with the best training and resources, and celebrate progress with clear benchmarks. By making reading proficiency a non-negotiable priority, we will raise our third-grade scores significantly, close achievement gaps, and ensure every child in Marion County gains the strong literacy foundation they need to succeed — building stronger schools, stronger students, and a stronger future.

I don’t have all the answers, but I’m committed to listening to our teachers and making sure every child gets the strong reading foundation they deserve.

Problem Number 2 and Solution: As a candidate for school board, I believe our schools need both accountability and common sense when it comes to student behavior. While restorative justice can be effective for minor conflicts between students, it should not be the only approach. For serious safety issues like weapons, violence, or drugs, we must maintain zero tolerance policies with swift and strong consequences.

My plan focuses on a balanced discipline system that includes using restorative practices when appropriate, enforcing clear zero tolerance for dangerous behavior, and making much better use of in-school suspension. Rather than simply removing students from class, in-school suspension should be a structured environment with strong academic support and behavioral oversight so students actually continue learning while addressing their actions. Many times it’s those students who need more attention that are sent to ISS, so let’s utilize that time to assist those in need.

Most importantly, our teachers must receive full support from school administrators when they enforce discipline. Teachers should not be undermined by simply taking a student’s word over theirs. When a teacher addresses misbehavior, they need to know their administration has their back.

An example that typically comes up - cell phone usage and enforcing our state law on cell phones. Florida House Bill 1105 prohibits elementary and middle school students from using cell phones during the school day. If a parent requests that their child be allowed to keep their phone, the policy must still be followed. We can acknowledge parents’ concerns about emergencies, and our schools are taking steps to harden security and improve emergency communication. However, once a rule is set, it must be consistently upheld by both teachers and administrators for the benefit of the entire classroom.

This approach puts safety first while ensuring every student is held accountable and given the opportunity to improve. Our kids deserve both a safe classroom and real consequences when they break the rules.

Problem Number 3 and Solution: Marion County suffers from a clear imbalance of overcrowded schools in the rapidly growing Southwest and significantly underutilized schools in the North. Schools like West Port High (112% capacity), Belleview High (110%), and Dunnellon High (124%) are severely overcrowded, while several North Marion schools are running as low as 69% to 70% capacity. This mismatch wastes resources and forces long bus rides for many students.

Compounding the problem are ongoing bus route issues. Chronic bus driver shortages in recent years have caused frequent late buses, delayed pickups, and students arriving late to school. We need smarter rezoning to better balance enrollment across the county, reduce excessive busing, and improve transportation efficiency so students spend less time on buses and more time in the classroom

To help solve our chronic bus driver shortage, we should explore creative solutions that other districts have successfully used. One promising model is allowing bus drivers to work a morning or afternoon route and then serve as a paraprofessional, classroom aide, or in another school role during the rest of the day. This gives drivers full-time hours and benefits, making the position much more attractive and helping us retain reliable transportation staff.

It’s time for fresh thinking and new ideas on the school board. For too long, the same approaches have delivered the same disappointing results. We need board members willing to think outside the box, challenge the status quo, and bring forward-thinking solutions to better serve our students, teachers, and taxpayers. Real change starts with new perspectives.

How would you handle district budget issues? I am concerned about waste in our current budget, especially in construction contracts. The new Southwest Marion High School project is now $29 million over budget, partly because of a flawed contractor selection process that led to months of delays. An independent investigation revealed violations of the district’s “cone of silence” policy and other irregularities during bidding.

To prevent this in the future, we need a crystal-clear, transparent selection process. School board members should not sit on selection committees — perhaps only in an advisory role. We should require a thorough review and audit before any major contract is signed, and ban any bidder who violates the cone of silence from future bids.

Savings from tighter contract oversight, better bidding practices, and a long-overdue energy efficiency audit can be redirected back into our classrooms. Those funds should support retaining our best, most experienced teachers — not just through higher pay, but with a full benefits package that includes retention bonuses, advanced certification incentives, professional development, and a supportive culture where teachers feel protected, heard, and valued every day. As a nurse, I know it’s the whole package, not just the hourly wage, that keeps quality professionals from leaving.

How should the district handle teacher shortages? To address teacher shortages in Marion County, my first priority is retaining our experienced, certified teachers who are leaving at high rates. As a nurse, I know professionals don’t stay for salary alone — it’s the full package. We must improve retention through better benefits, retention bonuses, advanced certification stipends, strong mentoring, and a supportive culture where teachers feel protected, heard, and valued every day, and practical support such as partnering with local daycares to help teachers with young families.

By creating a more competitive overall package, we will also attract more quality educators to Marion County. To fund this, we must find savings elsewhere in the budget — through tighter contract oversight, eliminating waste, and redirecting those dollars into the classroom and into teacher support.

We should also strengthen our Professional Learning Certification Program so professionals with degrees in high-need areas, can earn their teaching certification while working here, giving us another strong pipeline of new teachers.

Florida ranked last for academic growth in reading. How would you improve that? As a school board member, I believe our experienced teachers must be at the center of every conversation about improving student achievement. I will be a more engaged board member who regularly meets with teachers, listens to their feedback, and ensures they have a real voice in shaping reading instruction, discipline policies, and student retention decisions.

My job is to set policy and budget priorities that fully support them. That includes funding literacy coaches, providing ongoing training in the science of reading, maintaining orderly classrooms with strong discipline, and having honest conversations about retaining students — especially in second grade before they reach the critical third-grade year.

When our teachers are truly supported, heard, and equipped to succeed, our students will thrive.

What changes, if any, would you make to school safety policies? I support returning the Safe Schools department to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, as Sheriff Billy Woods proposed in 2022. At that time, the department had five employees and cost the district roughly $450,000 annually. The sheriff offered to absorb those positions, make them sworn deputies with full arrest powers, and have the district continue paying the same amount — with no additional cost to taxpayers.

Safe Schools currently focuses on prevention, emergency preparedness planning, security measures, and acting as a liaison with law enforcement. However, the district already contracts with the Sheriff’s Office and local police departments for approximately 60+ School Resource Officers who provide day-to-day presence in our schools. Any serious incident still requires calling actual law enforcement. Since its creation, the Safe Schools department has grown significantly. What started as a small department of five employees in 2022 has now expanded to include an Executive Director and multiple coordinators, increasing both cost and bureaucracy.

Creating a separate department adds an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy. The sheriff is a constitutional officer best equipped to handle school safety with clear command authority. Returning this function to the Sheriff’s Office would improve coordination, eliminate redundancy, and allow district leadership to focus on education rather than duplicating law enforcement efforts. School safety is too important for overlapping departments.

Any savings realized by eliminating this unnecessary duplication of services should be redirected back into our classrooms to support and retain our high-quality teachers.

How should book challenges and library removals be handled? Florida Statute 1006.28 sets the statewide rules for handling objections to library and instructional materials. Parents or county residents file a formal objection on the district’s form. Pornographic or sexually explicit material must be pulled from that school within five school days and stay unavailable until resolved. Other challenges go through a public hearing before an unbiased officer, then to the school board for a final decision. The board’s ruling is binding, and districts must post their full process and objection form on the website homepage. I’ll follow that law exactly. I have been a participant in this process several years ago when discovering a book that was not age-appropriate for a particular classroom. The policy in place does work and has appropriate oversight. Additionally, within this legislation, librarians must take certain educational instruction regarding the process in which new books are approved.

What outside organizations or endorsements are supporting your campaign? Christian Family Coalition Florida, I have earned the highest Qualifying grade by that organization

If elected, what policy would you try to pass in your first year? Not necessarily a new policy, yet enforce our discipline policy. We need to ensure we have structure and discipline in the classroom and zero tolerance for egregious conduct! The classroom need to be a place conducive to learning and a safe environment. Teachers need to be supported by the leadership!

Buddy Wyckoff

WEBSITE: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61587118806004

Mr. Wyckoff did not respond to our requests to fill out the questionnaire.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Marion County School Board District 5

The Marion County School Board has five districts. These are nonpartisan races, so they are open to all voters.

School Board District 5 encompasses voters in the northern part of the county. You can see a map of the area HERE.

Since there are three candidates in the race, the top vote-getter must get more than 50% of the vote (50%+1) in order to win outright. Otherwise, the top two candidates will go to a runoff in November.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

News 6 compiled the candidate responses for Marion County School Board District 5, emailing and calling the candidates over several weeks. Responses were edited for spelling and grammar, but otherwise left intact.

Donald Barber

WEBSITE: www.votedonny.com/

Mr. Barber did not respond to our requests to fill out the questionnaire.

Ualthan Bigby

WEBSITE: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61590235095180#

FOR CHALLENGERS AND OPEN SEATS: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? I don’t believe I deserve this seat because I’m smarter than anyone else. I believe I deserve the opportunity because I’ve spent my career living the realities our teachers, students, and parents face every day.

I’m a Marion County graduate, a parent, an eighth-year educator, and I’ve served as a dean in elementary, middle, and high school. Those experiences have allowed me to see our district from nearly every angle. I’ve celebrated incredible successes, but I’ve also witnessed the challenges that cause great teachers to leave, families to lose confidence in public education, and students to struggle despite everyone’s best efforts.

I’m running because I believe our community deserves a school board member who listens first, values every perspective, and makes decisions based on what is best for children—not politics or special interests. My campaign has been built by conversations with teachers, parents, support staff, students, and community members. Many of the ideas in my platform came directly from those conversations.

My promise is simple: every decision I make will be guided by one question—“Is this what’s best for children while respecting the people who serve them?” If we can answer that honestly, I believe Marion County’s best days are still ahead.

TOP ISSUES

What are the three most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.

Problem Number 1 and Solution: Staff Retention. Staff retention is the most important challenge facing our district because every other goal depends on having great people in our schools. Our teachers, support staff, administrators, bus drivers, cafeteria employees, and custodians are overworked, underpaid, and under-supported. We must move the needle in all three areas. Retaining employees starts with the Golden Rule. We should continually ask ourselves, “Would I want to work under these conditions?” That means reducing unnecessary workload, improving compensation whenever financially possible, creating dependable systems that allow employees to take a day off without guilt, providing reliable classroom coverage, and improving communication. We must also rebuild trust with our employees by creating meaningful feedback systems that are anonymous when appropriate, transparent about how input will be used, and followed by visible action. People are far more willing to stay when they know their voices matter. Finally, successful school teams deserve stability. Strong relationships between staff and administrators take years to build and should not be disrupted without compelling reasons. When employees feel respected, supported, heard, and valued, retention improves—and so does student success.

Problem Number 2 and Solution: Better Serving Students with Disabilities While Protecting Every Child’s Opportunity to Learn. We must do a better job serving students with disabilities while protecting every child’s opportunity to learn.

Too often, teachers are expected to meet increasingly complex behavioral and academic needs without sufficient training, staffing, or support. Earlier identification, faster evaluations, expanded behavioral coaching, stronger counseling services, and additional support personnel can help students receive the services they need before problems become crises.

I also believe we should continue strengthening alternative learning opportunities for students whose needs cannot currently be met in traditional classrooms. The goal is never to give up on a child. The goal is to find the environment where every student has the greatest opportunity to succeed while protecting the learning environment for everyone else.

Just as importantly, we must rebuild trust with parents. Families deserve meaningful opportunities to share their experiences, and they deserve to know how that feedback is shaping district decisions. Listening shouldn’t be a campaign promise—it should be a governing philosophy.

This issue is also directly connected to our district’s financial future. When students with disabilities don’t receive appropriate services, families understandably begin looking elsewhere. At the same time, when general education families feel their children can’t learn because classrooms are overwhelmed, they begin leaving as well. Every student who leaves takes public education funding with them. By better serving students with disabilities while protecting strong learning environments for all students, we can rebuild confidence in our public schools, strengthen enrollment, and keep more of our education dollars here in Marion County.

Problem Number 3 and Solution: Student Success. Every decision the School Board makes should ultimately be judged by one question: Are more students leaving our schools prepared to lead successful lives?

Academic achievement will always be important, but true student success is much broader. It includes strong character, healthy relationships, consistent attendance, responsible citizenship, career readiness, and the ability to contribute positively to our community. I would also love to explore post-graduation feedback systems that help us understand whether our graduates are finding meaningful employment, staying out of legal trouble, and building successful lives. Those are outcomes worth measuring.

Preparing students for success also means preparing them for a rapidly changing world. Artificial intelligence will transform nearly every career our students enter. Marion County should work with teachers, parents, students, businesses, and higher education to develop a community-informed framework for how AI should be taught and responsibly used in our schools. We should also continue expanding career and technical education, industry certifications, apprenticeships, and other alternative pathways so every student graduates with a clear path toward success.

Finally, student success begins with safe, orderly learning environments. Students learn best when expectations are clear, consequences are consistent, and discipline is paired with coaching, intervention, and opportunities for growth. Parents also deserve confidence that our schools maintain strong predator-proof procedures that protect students while protecting the reputations of the many outstanding educators who serve them.

When we invest in great employees, provide the right supports for every student, maintain safe and orderly schools, and prepare our children for the future, student success becomes the natural result rather than something we simply hope for.

How would you handle district budget issues? The School Board has one of its greatest responsibilities when it comes to stewarding taxpayer dollars. Every dollar represents a family’s hard work, and every budgeting decision should reflect that responsibility.

I believe every budget decision should be guided by two equally important questions:

• First: Does this improve student outcomes?
• Second: Does this improve the lives of the people responsible for achieving those outcomes?

Too often, we ask employees to do more with less until the workload becomes unsustainable. Great schools require both successful students and a workforce that feels respected, supported, and valued. Staff retention is not separate from student achievement—it is one of the strongest predictors of it.

I also believe we need to think beyond simply reducing expenses. Our long-term financial health depends on rebuilding enrollment. Every family that chooses to leave our district takes funding with them. By improving employee retention, strengthening services for students with disabilities, maintaining safe and orderly schools, and rebuilding public confidence, we can slow that loss and position Marion County Public Schools for long-term financial stability.

Finally, I believe the School Board should actively pursue grants, partnerships, and new funding opportunities while remaining transparent with taxpayers about how every dollar is spent.

How should the district handle teacher shortages? Teacher shortages are not simply a hiring problem—they’re a retention problem. Our teachers, support staff, administrators, bus drivers, cafeteria employees, and custodians are overworked, underpaid, and under-supported. We must move the needle in all three areas. One thing that has encouraged me throughout this campaign is how many employees have reached out with practical solutions. The list below isn’t a final plan—it’s a growing collection of ideas worth researching and considering as more voices join the conversation.

Some ideas include:

• Continue pursuing competitive compensation and meaningful salary growth.
• Reduce unnecessary paperwork and administrative workload.
• Consider requiring dependable bathroom management plans so teachers can reliably step away when needed.
• Improve substitute recruitment, training, and support.
• Strengthen the culture around taking earned leave without guilt.
• Minimize unnecessary leadership shakeups and preserve successful school teams whenever possible.
• Expand anonymous employee feedback systems and clearly communicate how that feedback influences decisions.
• Increase transparency surrounding major district decisions affecting employees.
• Strengthen mentoring and support for new teachers.
• Explore additional cafeteria services and other practical ways to support employees throughout the workday.
• Ensure district-level reductions and efficiencies are considered alongside school-level budget reductions whenever possible.
• Expand district engagement in community conversations so employees know they have advocates beyond school walls.
• Continue researching additional ideas suggested by employees and implementing those supported by evidence and community feedback.

The people closest to the work often have the best ideas for improving it. My role as a School Board member would be to make sure those ideas have a seat at the table.

Florida ranked last for academic growth in reading. How would you improve that? What should Marion County Public Schools do to improve reading achievement?

Reading is built through practice, motivation, and early intervention.

The earlier we identify struggling readers, the greater the impact we can have. I support continued investment in evidence-based literacy instruction, early screening, tutoring, and targeted interventions before students fall significantly behind.

We should also continue looking for creative ways to make reading enjoyable. Programs like Book It! demonstrated that positive incentives can motivate children to read more, especially in the elementary years. I would love to explore partnerships with local businesses and community organizations that reward students for reaching reading goals while encouraging families to participate in literacy at home.

Every child deserves the opportunity to discover that reading isn’t simply another school subject—it is one of the greatest tools for success in every area of life.

What changes, if any, would you make to school safety policies? School safety begins long before an emergency occurs. It begins with strong relationships, clear expectations, consistent consequences, and a culture where students feel seen, supported, and comfortable reporting concerns.

As a dean and member of school threat management teams, I’ve learned that we often spend too much time responding to the symptoms of unsafe behavior instead of addressing its earliest causes. The standard shouldn’t begin when students become physically aggressive. It should begin with disrespect. When we consistently coach, model, recognize, and expect respectful interactions between students, we prevent many larger problems before they ever develop.

That doesn’t mean simply increasing punishment. It means pairing consistent consequences with coaching, mentoring, positive incentives, and relationship-building so students develop the skills necessary to treat one another with dignity. By raising the standard for everyday behavior, we create safer schools long before serious incidents occur.

I’m also passionate about strengthening predator-proof procedures across our district. Clear professional boundaries, transparency, and consistent expectations help protect students while also protecting the reputations of the overwhelming majority of educators who serve with integrity every day.

School safety isn’t just about responding to danger. It’s about building a culture of respect where students, parents, and employees all feel secure enough to focus on learning.

How should book challenges and library removals be handled? Parents are their children’s first and most important teachers, and they deserve a meaningful voice in their children’s education.

I believe every concern deserves to be heard respectfully through a transparent review process. Every challenged book should be evaluated on its educational value, age appropriateness, and alignment with district policy—not on politics or public pressure.

One of the values I’ve tried to carry throughout this campaign is that everyone deserves a seat at the table. That includes parents who are concerned about instructional materials, parents who support keeping a book available, teachers, librarians, and students. We won’t always reach unanimous agreement, but we can ensure every perspective is heard with respect.

My goal isn’t to win cultural debates. My goal is to build trust between families and our public schools by listening carefully, communicating openly, and making thoughtful decisions that put students first.

What outside organizations or endorsements are supporting your campaign? None and I intend to keep it that way. Outside organizations and endorsements are killing government. I have approximately $515 in donations that aren’t my own meager funds because my campaign is funded almost entirely by people who are hurting financially, who in return only demand I do my best for children and staff: Teachers, staff on the frontline of education, and their family members.

If elected, what policy would you try to pass in your first year? If elected, I would focus on passing a framework to collect the ultimate teacher “shopping list.” I want to ask our educators: “What would you buy with our district’s money if money were no object?”Once collected, I intend to prioritize these needs based on two factors: first, restoring decency for our teachers and staff, and second, improving student outcomes. I believe we must do this fundamental groundwork before we can discuss passing specific initiatives.

That being said, my primary focus areas are teacher retention through restoring decency to the profession, meeting the needs of the ESE population to support both exceptional education and general education students, installing predator-proof procedures, and ending the unnecessary leadership shake-ups that plague our district.

Sarah James - Incumbent

WEBSITE: https://drsarahjamesforschoolboard.com/

FOR INCUMBENTS: Why do you deserve to be re-elected in this race? When I was elected in 2022, I quickly realized that we had an uphill battle, fighting the internal bureaucracy, the loss of federal funds attached to COVID, and top leadership that was disconnected from the district. In April of 2025, our then Superintendent resigned and we were able to appoint our now Superintendent, Dr. Danielle Brewer as our interim Superintendent. She was permanently hired in February of 2026. Under her leadership, we now have 0 “D” or “F” schools (traditional) compared to 6 “D” schools in 2025 under our former Superintendent. Academically, we have shown significant growth.

In the last year, we hired a new CFO (last summer) who has offered countless innovative finance approaches. We have also completely revamped the facilities department to ensure we are addressing our intensive construction season effectively.

The work is happening and we are moving in the right direction. I am asking for 4 more years to finish the work that I have started, keep the momentum going, and keep the work of MCPS focused on doing what is best for our students.

TOP ISSUES

What are the three most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.

Problem Number 1 and Solution Chronic Absenteeism - Our district faces a 30% chronic absenteeism rate, down over the last 4 years. When 30% of your students are chronically absent from school, teaching them becomes even more challenging. The district continues to implement a variety of initiatives to address this and improve student attendance overall.

Problem Number 2 and Solution: Balancing a Student First Budget. As we continue to face a need to tighten our budget and maximize every dollar, the board, working with the CFO and Superintendent, are committed to ensuring that each dollar is spent with the student in mind. Site-based budgeting, district-wide budget cuts, and adding innovative strategies to maximize every dollar have allowed us to present a balanced budget, year over year, to the state. As a board member, I am committed to this continued focus and ensuring that our taxpayer dollars are spent with the student in mind.

Problem Number 3 and Solution: Overall Academic Achievement. Overall student academic achievement must continue to improve across Marion County Public Schools. When comparing the current data with the data from 2022-2023 school year, the data shows we are implementing the right strategies across the district.

2023

• Grade 3-10 ELA: 42% proficiency
• Grade 3-8 Math: 45% proficiency
• Social studies: 62% proficiency
• Science: 47% proficiency
• Grad Rate: 78%
• D & F schools: 3 (D - all traditional schools)

2026

• Grade 3-10 ELA: 51% proficiency (+9 in 3 yr)
• Grade 3-8 Math: 51% proficiency (+6 in 3 yr)
• Social studies: 69% proficiency (+7 in 3 yr)
• Science: 55% proficiency (+8 in 3 yr)
• Grad Rate: 86% (+8 in 3 yr)
• D & F schools: 0 traditional schools

We are making great strides but the reality is, we are still behind the state. We have to work harder and achieve outcomes that outpace the state. We will continue to dial in our delivery of research-based programs to ensure we are meeting students where they are while also addressing student attendance and their economic needs. What we know is that when students are at school, we can address their needs directly, both basic and academic.

How would you handle district budget issues? As a sitting board member, I have been addressing the impending budget concerns since I was elected 4 years ago. For the 2026-2027 school year, we have transitioned to site-based budgeting as our key strategy to balance the budget.

This budgeting model allows each school and department to have a budget based on the students it serves or the work it does. Site leaders and principals have the authority to adjust their staffing to fit their needs while staying in line with their budget. This system created an ability to cut our budget back to match the students we are serving.

In addition, the Superintendent, with support from the executive cabinet, are continuing to cut budgets for programs across the district. For clarity, the “central office” staff make up less than 1% of our total budget and is not inflated nor excessive. Cuts have occurred all around the district to ensure we have a balanced, student-first budget.

The board, Superintendent, and CFO, are committed to having a balanced budget, addressing students’ needs first, every year!

How should the district handle teacher shortages? Finding highly-qualified teachers continues to be a focus for me. As a board member, one of the ways I can address this directly is teacher pay. During our negotiations with the union, I have worked to have a competitive starting teacher pay while also addressing the salary comprehension that we see for our teachers with more seniority. As the board starts negotiations again this year, I remain committed to both of these things. We have brought on a staffing agency to fill our most critical ESE vacancies across the district. These staff members travel to Marion County to work specifically in our most challenging classrooms and address this critical need. We also partnered with an online substitute company, which has increased our efficiency in filling vacancies on a day-to-day and long-term basis. Most schools now have most, if not all, vacancies filled on a day-to-day basis. I am committed to continuing to work with our HR department to explore new and innovative ways we can address teacher shortages throughout the district.

Florida ranked last for academic growth in reading. How would you improve that? Academic growth for reading continues to be a focus for the board and Superintendent. There are some key metrics that help paint the entire picture for the academic achievement within Marion County. For comparison, looking at the data from the 2022-2023 school year, compared to the 2025-2026 school year, also helps.

2023:

• Kindergarten Readiness: 35.4%
• Grade 3-10 ELA: 42% proficiency
• Chronic Absenteeism: 34%
• Economically Disadvantaged: 89%

2026:

• Kindergarten Readiness: 49.2% (+13.8% in 3 yr)
• Grade 3-10 ELA: 51% proficiency (+9 in 3 yr)
• Chronic Absenteeism: 30% (-4 in 3 yr)
• Economically Disadvantaged: 85% (-4 in 3 yr)

Fundamentally, that data supports that the programs we are using in our schools are working to improve student achievement and outcomes. However, we still face 3 major community barriers. First, even with a significant commitment from MCPS, 30% of our students are still chronically absent across the district. We have schools with much higher chronic absenteeism (as high as 50%). One of our biggest focuses continues to be decreasing our chronic absenteeism across the district. If the students are at school, we can teach them well.We have spent millions of dollars expanding access to Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten on our elementary school campuses for a free, full-day program over the last 4 years. In doing this, we have improved our Kindergarten Readiness rate significantly. However, 50+% of our students entering Kindergarten are still not ready for the learning environment. We will continue to work with the local Early Learning Coalition to expand VPK offerings and meet students’ needs throughout the district.

Finally, we face an incredibly high economically disadvantaged student %. We partner with local non-profits like The Rock to meet students’ basic and fundamental needs on our school campuses. We also serve a free breakfast and lunch to every student enrolled with MCPS. The data shows students struggle to learn when their basic needs are not met.

What changes, if any, would you make to school safety policies?

Our schools are safer today than they were in 2022 when I was elected. Now, every campus has a single point of entry, a locked front door with entry by a remote buzzer, a camera at the front door that is accessed remotely, and we operate schools with locked classroom and exterior doors.

Each school is equipped with at least 1 School Resource Officer, which is provided in partnership with Ocala Police Department or Marion County Sheriff Office. We also use the Guardian program and have an undisclosed amount of trained and armed staff members on our campuses.

To continue to improve school safety, we have plans to create vestibule entrances at schools that do not have them by adding doors and walls into the “lobby”. We will also continue to add additional cameras to our campuses to enhance our existing security measures.

How should book challenges and library removals be handled? We began an intensive removal of banned books in 2023. Our librarians went through the entire school library system to ensure all books in our classrooms and libraries were appropriate. Now, if a community member would like to challenge a book, we have a link available on our district website. We are in compliance with state law and will remain that way.

What outside organizations or endorsements are supporting your campaign? I have received the support of The Ocala Marion County Association of Realtors®.

If elected, what policy would you try to pass in your first year? During my first term, a passion project for me that was not supported by the majority of the board was implementing a School Chaplain policy. At the time, only 2 board members agreed with me that implementing this policy would be beneficial for our schools. I would like to revisit this policy during our next policy review and reignite the conversation.

I will also have a continued focus to fiercely advocate for the building of something NEW on the north end of town, in District 5, where I live. I have not been able to earn the support of 2 other board members on this topic consistently and that will be a focus for me during this next year.

The retreat, about an hour northwest of Washington, has been the backdrop for presidential summits and smaller-scale meetings since Franklin Roosevelt established it during World War II. Friday’s meeting isn’t Trump’s first at Camp David, but he has spent less time at the compound than other presidents, and typically spends weekends at his own properties, including Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, and his golf courses in New Jersey and Virginia.

Here's a look at some key dates and prominent visitors in the camp's history, assembled using archival material from The Associated Press, the National Archives, and presidential libraries.

1942 — Roosevelt established the camp as Shangri-La, a reference from James Hilton's novel “Lost Horizon.” Roosevelt had liked to relax on a presidential yacht, but the military and Secret Service started to worry about his safety on the open water during World War II. Roosevelt asked the National Park Service to identify sites within 100 miles of the White House that he could use for rest and picked what is now known as Camp David.

1943 — Roosevelt hosted Winston Churchill, who went on a fishing trip with the president and discussed the Normandy invasion at the retreat.

1953 — Dwight Eisenhower renamed the facility Camp David after his grandson and father.

1959 — Eisenhower hosted Nikita Khrushchev, the first time a Soviet leader had come to the United States.

1971 — Richard Nixon met with economic advisers amid inflation and a looming run on gold, leading eventually to an announcement ending the gold-backed dollar.

1973 — Nixon hosted his Soviet counterpart, Leonid Brezhnev.

1978 — Jimmy Carter hosted Egypt’s Anwar Sadat and Israel’s Menachem Begin, resulting in the Camp David Accords signed in 1979. Unlike at the White House, where journalists come and go, the news media are barred from Camp David, unless they are invited to cover an event, like Friday’s summit.

1984 — Ronald Reagan, the president who spent the most time at Camp David, hosted British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher for the first time.

1990 — George H.W. Bush hosted Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

1992 — Camp David's only wedding occurred when Bush’s daughter, Dorothy, married Bobby Koch at Evergreen Chapel at the facility.

2000 — Bill Clinton hosted a summit with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat.

2001 — George W. Bush met with British Prime Minister Tony Blair early in the year and held post 9/11 meetings ahead of the Afghanistan invasion later in the year.

2003 — Bush hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin.

2012 — Barack Obama hosted the G8 Summit.

2015 — Obama hosted Persian Gulf nations for a summit.

2019 — Trump canceled a secret weekend meeting at Camp David with Taliban and Afghanistan leaders after a bombing in Kabul that killed 12 people, including an American soldier. ———

Associated Press journalist Darlene Superville contributed archival reporting for this timeline.

New York joins a growing number of states filing lawsuits against Kalshi and other companies in a dispute with President Donald Trump's administration over who regulates the fast-growing prediction market. Kalshi and other platforms argue they are federally licensed and regulated, and states have no authority to govern them.

“It’s sad to see this type of political theater from the leadership in our own state,” Elisabeth Diana, a spokesperson for New York-based Kalshi, said in a statement. “States can’t just shut down a federally licensed exchange. This would also hurt New Yorkers, who would be driven offshore. We love New York, we love New Yorkers, and New Yorkers love our product.”

Prediction market platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket allow trading on the likelihood of a wide range of events such as sports, politics, news and even the weather.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James, both Democrats, announced the lawsuit filed in state Supreme Court in Manhattan.

“New York’s gambling laws protect children from underage betting and help combat gambling addiction,” James said in a statement. “No matter what they call themselves, prediction markets like Kalshi are gambling platforms, plain and simple. By ignoring our laws, Kalshi is running an illegal operation and harming New Yorkers in the process.”

James' office is requesting that Kalshi be ordered to forfeit all illegal gains, pay restitution to consumers who were harmed and pay fines equal to three times the company's gains. In a court filing, state officials provided a rough estimate of the damages and costs sought by the lawsuit — $36 billion.

Kalshi had been in negotiations with New York officials in recent weeks over tax and consumer protection issues.

In April, New York filed a similar lawsuit against prediction market platforms Coinbase and Gemini on illegal gambling operation allegations.

State officials say the prediction markets meet the legal definition of gambling “because the outcomes of the events on which its users are betting are uncertain and outside the control of the bettor or hinge on a game of chance.”

New York claims Kalshi has failed to obtain a license from the state Gaming Commission and skirted its obligation to pay taxes like licensed casinos and mobile sports gambling platforms do. The lawsuit also says prediction markets allow users ages 18 to 20, while New York requires mobile sports betting users to be at least 21.

Last October, the Gaming Commission ordered Kalshi to stop what it called the “illegal operating” of an “unlicensed mobile sports wagering platform” in New York. Kalshi responded days later by filing a federal lawsuit against the commission and its members — legal action that remains pending.

Prediction market platforms say they operate differently than gambling operations, because consumers are trading against other consumers — much like how stock markets work. Prices are based on trading, and the platforms only take a fee from the trading, they say.

The platforms also argue federal law gives the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission exclusive jurisdiction to regulate transactions offered in the prediction market. In February, Trump’s appointee atop the federal commission declared that the agency “will no longer sit idly by” while states aim to regulate or ban prediction markets and “undermine the agency’s exclusive jurisdiction.”

States counter that the vast majority of the business on prediction market platforms is sports betting, which they are empowered to regulate, and that is completely different from the commodities and futures contracts that the commission regulates.

On Monday, a federal judge temporarily blocked Minnesota’s first-in-the-nation law banning prediction markets just days before it was to take effect — dealing a setback for states trying to outlaw or regulate the platforms. In April, another federal judge ordered a similar temporary halt to Arizona's efforts to enforce its gambling laws against prediction markets.

A tangle of lawsuits is growing, as states try to use their gambling laws to shut down Kalshi, Polymarket and other prediction market operators. In April alone, the federal government sued Connecticut, Arizona and Illinois, challenging their efforts to regulate the industry.

“Hi,” she said softly as she sat down across from Leo at his desk in the Apostolic Palace.

Wearing a crucifix necklace and hair in her trademark braids, Smith has become an increasingly visible presence at the Vatican thanks to her friendship with the Rev. Antonio Spadaro, undersecretary in the Vatican’s culture ministry.

She has said that while she is not Catholic, she was drawn in particular to Pope Francis and his “gentle, open, and steadfast sense of humanity.”

She also had a thing for Pope John Paul I: Her 1979 tune “Wave,” is about a make-believe conversation with the pope who had just died after a 33-day papacy. It begins “Hi. Hi” uttered in the same breathy voice Smith used with Leo on Friday.

The pope clearly was familiar with the tune. “That was marvelous,” he said.

Earlier this year, Smith performed during the inauguration of the Holy See’s pavilion at the Venice Biennale contemporary art fair. The occasion, May 8, was the anniversary of Leo’s election.

Spadaro, who joined Smith at Friday’s audience, said the encounter between the two Chicago natives was around 40 minutes long. In a text message, he said it “felt more like a conversation between two people discovering they were old friends, sharing memories woven from words and music, dreams, visions, and hopes — both from yesterday and for today.”

He said at the end, Smith said “Bye. Bye.”

Smith met Francis in 2013 and sang for him in 2014. When he died, on April 21, 2025, she wrote a poem on social media, comparing Francis to a dandelion, “humble yet strong.”

“Nature and poetry and the suffering shall miss their champion,” she wrote.

It was Leo's second encounter with a music legend this week. On Wednesday, Leo attended a concert in his honor by tenor Andrea Bocelli.

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

Hamas also said that laying down its heavy weapons, which would come later in the process, was contingent on the creation of a Palestinian state, something Israel's current government adamantly rejects.

Israel has not officially commented on the deal, which is part of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire announced last October. That agreement called for Hamas to disarm and hand over power to an independent Palestinian administration. Israel was to withdraw, and an International Stabilization Force was to deploy.

But progress stalled, with Israel saying everything hinged on Hamas disarming, and Hamas accusing Israel of violating the agreement by continuing to carry out regular strikes on Gaza.

Expectations of implementation are low

Disarming would represent a sea change for Hamas, whose founding charter calls for armed resistance against Israel, and which sees its arsenal, including rockets, anti-tank missiles and explosives, as lying at the heart of its identity.

Israel, meanwhile, appears unlikely to pull back significant forces or make other concessions ahead of its October elections. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a tough reelection battle, with opponents accusing him of failing to prevent the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered the war.

Neil Quilliam, a Middle East expert at London’s Chatham House think tank, said expectations are low that Hamas will actually disarm or that Israel will withdraw from Gaza.

“I think that Netanyahu’s silence speaks volumes,’’ Quilliam said. “This is a massive decision that he has to make.”

“But with the prospect of the elections hanging over his head, with several Cabinet ministers and opposition leaders already counseling not to go ahead with the deal, I think he understands that doing so would likely scupper his chances of reelection,” he added.

The deal would be implemented in stages

In announcing the latest deal on social media, Trump said it would be carried out in “carefully structured phases.”

“As disarmament is completed, Israeli forces will withdraw, and the International Stabilization Force will work with a new Palestinian police force to take responsibility for Gaza being safe for its residents and its neighbors,” he wrote.

A copy of the agreement obtained and verified by The Associated Press said that all weapons held by the Hamas-run police will be transferred to the U.S.-backed Palestinian technocratic committee, known as the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, upon its arrival in the enclave. It’s not clear when that would happen since it is contingent on other steps.

A process to decommission and store heavy weapons, military production sites and tunnels will begin after the arrival of the Palestinian committee and the deployment of international forces. The process will be linked to a phased Israeli withdrawal, according to the agreement.

Israel currently controls around 60% of Gaza, areas that have been mostly destroyed and depopulated. Most of the territory's 2 million Palestinians are in the other part, where hundreds of thousands live in squalid tent camps and destroyed neighborhoods.

In a statement Thursday, an Israeli official said that there will be no Israeli withdrawal before the militant group is disarmed and the strip demilitarized. The statement was made on condition of anonymity in line with government protocol.

A person with knowledge of the situation said that Israel is fully involved, but it's not a signatory to the deal, which is between Hamas and several countries helping to negotiate and guarantee the ceasefire. The person spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss the agreement. The deal's guarantors are the U.S., Turkey, Egypt and Qatar.

It could take years for Hamas to disarm

On Thursday, U.S. and Board of Peace officials, describing the deal to reporters on condition of anonymity under guidelines set by the White House, gave an extremely optimistic assessment. The board was established by Trump to oversee the ceasefire in Gaza.

While Gaza's police force is expected to hand over its arms, that doesn't include the vast majority of Hamas militants, and heavy weaponry is not included in that part of the agreement, according to the officials.

Instead, the surrender of heavy weapons and the decommissioning of Hamas tunnels and other infrastructure are to come later in a process that could take between 200 and 350 days, a Board of Peace official said. That timeline did not appear in the agreement obtained by AP.

A Hamas official and a regional official involved in the process said that Hamas and other groups agreed to “collect and store” arms inside Gaza under the supervision of the Palestinian technocratic committee and that weapons won’t be handed to Israel or non-Palestinian parties.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media, said this would be a gradual process linked to an Israeli withdrawal.

Israel has been deeply skeptical

A U.S. official said Israel, which has been deeply skeptical about Hamas’ willingness to give up its guns or relinquish control of Gaza, had been consulted at every step of the negotiation. The official said Israel was not being asked to do anything more than what it had committed to as part of the October agreement.

A member of the Palestinian technocratic committee told the AP on Friday that it was eager to enter Gaza but was concerned Israel will pose challenges. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. The person said they didn’t expect to enter Gaza for at least two months.

The committee welcomed the progress Friday, but said the work to restore public institutions and services and rebuild the territory would be immense.

The war in Gaza began after a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killed around 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage. Israel’s retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians, including those killed since the ceasefire, Gaza’s Health Ministry said. The ministry, which is part of the Hamas-led government and is staffed by medical professionals, does not distinguish between civilians and militants in its toll but says women and children make up around half of all deaths.

___

Mednick reported from Tel Aviv, Israel, Cooper from Phoenix, and Lee from Washington. Associated Press writers Farnoush Amiri in New York, Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations and Danica Kirka in London contributed.

A statement from the regional Gilgt-Baltistan government identified the three recovered bodies as Nepalese climber Pur Bahadur Gurung, Omani climber Nathira Ahmed and American climber Mallory Geis. It said the bodies had been transported to a hospital.

The announcement came hours after officials said search teams had located the remains of four climbers despite harsh weather. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. They did not immediately identify the fourth body that had been spotted.

Bad weather continued to hamper the rescue effort Friday, according to a statement from the Gilgit-Baltistan region's Chief Minister Amjad Hussain.

The climbers lost contact with their base camp after an avalanche struck Broad Peak while they were attempting to scale the mountain, said Karrar Haidri, vice president of the Alpine Club of Pakistan. “The team has been out of communication since Thursday,” said Haidri, adding that army helicopters were part of the search-and-rescue operation.

Authorities said the search for the missing climbers continued until Friday evening and would resume Saturday.

According to the Alpine Club, the expedition comprised five Nepali climbers in addition to the Omani and American climbers, as well as Pakistani climber Sohail Sakhi, a Chinese climber identified only as Wang, and one other foreign climber.

On Friday, China’s government said it was trying to verify whether any of its nationals were among the 10 climbers missing.

“We will provide assistance to Chinese citizens in need and are also willing to offer help in accordance with the needs of the Pakistani side,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Friday in Beijing.

The expedition leader was the renowned mountaineer Nirmal Purja, a Nepal-born former soldier in the British army widely known as Nims Dai. He climbed the world’s 14 highest peaks in a record 189 days in 2019, an achievement featured in the Netflix documentary, “14 Peaks: Nothing is Impossible.” His record was surpassed in 2023.

Moving Mountains, a travel company based in Pakistan, announced late last month that the expedition team was on its way to the small town of Askole and wished them a safe journey climbing Broad Peak. The company said this was Geis’ first try at an 8,000-meter peak in Pakistan, while it was expected to be Sakhi’s final one.

Sakhi is a guide for the company, as well as a geographer and high-altitude photographer, and has climbed some of the world’s major peaks, according to Moving Mountains’ website.

Geis, 39, lives in San Antonio. She announced on social media earlier this year that she was closing her Pilates studio to take “a giant leap of faith into the unknown to see where life goes. I have a sneaking suspicion there will be lots of helmets, harnesses, and crampons involved.”

Broad Peak, at 8,047 meters (26,401 feet), is the world’s 12th-highest mountain. It lies in Pakistan’s Karakoram range, home to five of the world’s 14 peaks above 8,000 meters, attracting climbers from around the globe.

Accidents are common during climbing expeditions in northern Pakistan because of avalanches and rapidly changing weather.

___

Khan reported from Peshawar, Pakistan. AP journalist E. Eduardo Castillo in Beijing and Hallie Golden in Seattle contributed to this report.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Orange County Judge Group 5

The Orange County Court handles local legal matters, including misdemeanors, local ordinance violations, small civil claims like financial disputes up to $50,000, tenant evictions, and traffic violations.

All county judge races are nonpartisan elections, which means all voters can vote in the election, regardless of party affiliation.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

Our partners at the Vox Populi compiled the candidate responses for the Orange County judicial races, emailing and calling the candidates over several weeks.

Asima Azam

WEBSITE: electasimaazam4judge.vote/

What professional experiences have best prepared you for the bench? For the past 23 years, I have built a civil practice that closely mirrors the work of the County Court. Approximately 80% of County Court cases are civil matters, and my practice has focused on many of the disputes that regularly come before the court, including contract actions, landlord-tenant cases, collections, lien foreclosures, business disputes and real estate litigation. I have handled every phase of litigation, including case evaluation, pleadings, discovery, motion practice, mediations, hearings, and trials. In addition to representing clients in court, I have negotiated settlements with opposing counsel and self-represented litigants, developing the ability to resolve disputes efficiently while ensuring that all parties are heard and treated fairly. My experience as a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator has further prepared me for the bench. Mediation requires impartiality, active listening, patience, and the ability to identify the key issues in a dispute while encouraging communication and dispute resolution. For the past six years, I have also served in a quasi-judicial role as a Special Magistrate for the Orange County Value Adjustment Board. In that capacity, I preside over evidentiary hearings, evaluate witness testimony, interpret and apply Florida law, rule on evidentiary issues, and prepare written recommendations based solely on the evidence and applicable law. My career has also given me significant experience working with self-represented litigants and individuals from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. I understand that for many people, appearing in court is unfamiliar and hard. Every person deserves to be treated with dignity, patience, and respect while receiving a fair opportunity to be heard.

What role should personal values play in judicial decision-making? A judge’s personal values should not dictate the outcome of a case. Every person is entitled to a decision based on the law, the facts, and the evidence presented. My experience as a Special Magistrate for the Orange County Value Adjustment Board has reinforced this principle. For the past six years, I have presided over evidentiary hearings, weighed testimony, ruled on evidentiary issues, and issued written recommendations based solely on the evidence presented and the applicable law. Regardless of my personal opinions or beliefs, my responsibility has always been to apply the law fairly, consistently, and impartially. That experience has strengthened my ability to separate my personal views and values from my legal decision-making.

How do you balance precedent with evolving societal standards? The role of a judge is to apply the law as it is written. Throughout my 23 years of practice, I have advised clients through significant changes in Florida law, particularly in community association, real estate, and business law. My role has always been to understand changing statutes and written decisions and apply them accurately, when they provide clear guidance. As a Special Magistrate for the Orange County Value Adjustment Board, I have been required to decide cases based on the evidence, applicable statutes, and controlling legal authority, when it is available. When the law is unclear and there is no controlling precedent, a judge must rely on established principles of statutory interpretation, the evidence record before the court, and the purpose and intent of the law. The goal should be to reach a decision that is sound, consistent with existing legal principles, and faithful to the spirit and intent of the statute, while providing a well-reasoned analysis for the decision.

At the same time, my experience as a mediator has taught me that every case involves people with their own specific circumstances who deserve to be heard. I would aim to ensure every person has a meaningful opportunity to present their position.

What steps do you take to avoid conflicts of interest? Throughout my 23 years of practice, I have represented a broad range of clients and developed professional relationships within the legal community. If appointed, I would carefully review each case for any actual or potential conflict before presiding. If there is a prior representation, personal relationship, or any circumstance that could call my impartiality into question, I would disclose this to the parties involved. If the conflict cannot be addressed through disclosure, I would recuse myself. Protecting my reputation and the integrity of the process is more important than presiding over any specific case.

While serving on the Board of Zoning Adjustment for over 6 years, and as a Special Magistrate, I have encountered situations where I either had a prior business relationship with the parties coming before me, or had a personal relationship with a party involved. In both situations, I have disclosed the potential conflict and if I felt the relationship could impact my decision-making, I recused myself.

Disclosure and recusal, when appropriate, are the best safeguards against conflicts of interest.

What barriers to justice do you see in the current system, and how would you address them? One of the greatest barriers to justice is delay and the complexity of the legal system, particularly for self-represented persons. Improving judicial efficiency begins with active case management. The recent Florida Supreme Court case management rules recognize that judges play an important role in moving cases forward by setting fair deadlines, holding attorneys accountable to meeting deadlines, and ensuring cases progress on a timely basis.

Another significant barrier is the growing number of self-represented litigants. Throughout my 23 years of practice, I have worked with individuals unfamiliar with the court system, many of whom are scared by the process. While judges cannot provide legal advice, they can clearly explain courtroom procedures, ensure each party understands what is expected, and treat every person with patience, dignity, and respect.

Finally, I believe courts should encourage early alternative dispute resolution whenever appropriate. As a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator, I have seen how mediation can resolve disputes more quickly, reduce costs, and narrow the issues before the court. Early mediation benefits the parties but also reduces court congestion, allowing judges to devote more time to cases that truly require judicial intervention.

Kafi Kennedy

WEBSITE: www.kafikennedyforjudge.com/

What professional experiences have best prepared you for the bench? My professional experience has prepared me for the bench by providing me with a well-rounded perspective on the justice system through service as a prosecutor, public defender, legal educator, and law practitioner. Throughout my career, I have been entrusted with responsibilities requiring sound judgment, integrity, fairness, and a steadfast commitment to the rule of law.

For more than 17 years, I have practiced law in Central Florida. I currently serve as Of Counsel with Having an Attorney When It Matters, where I represent clients in criminal, family, and personal injury matters, conduct court hearings and trials, draft and argue dispositive motions, and mentor attorneys and staff. This work has strengthened my ability to evaluate legal issues objectively, communicate effectively, and ensure that every individual is treated with dignity and respect.

My service as an Assistant State Attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit provided invaluable leadership and courtroom experience. As Director of Pretrial Diversion and Chief of the Booking Release Center, I supervised attorneys and staff, managed court operations, created office-wide training manuals, made charging decisions in misdemeanor and felony cases, and collaborated with judges, law enforcement, corrections officials, and community partners to improve the administration of justice. In addition to prosecuting cases, I handled motions, bond hearings, post-conviction matters, and other court proceedings, experiences that reinforced the importance of fairness, discretion, and accountability.

Before serving as a prosecutor, I spent more than seven years as an Assistant Public Defender in the Ninth Judicial Circuit. I represented hundreds of clients facing misdemeanor and felony charges, conducted jury and bench trials, litigated complex motions, researched and authored appellate briefs, and advocated for clients at every stage of the criminal process. Representing indigent clients taught me the importance of ensuring that every person--regardless of background or circumstance--receives meaningful access to justice and a fair hearing.

My commitment to the legal profession extends beyond the courtroom. I currently serve as a Faculty Member at Florida A&M University College of Law, where I teach Introduction to Analytical Skills. Legal Analysis, and serve as a Bar Coach. I have also taught trial advocacy, training future attorneys in motion practice, courtroom advocacy, witness examination, evidentiary foundations, and ethical legal practice. Teaching requires patience, objectivity, and the ability to explain complex legal principles clearly--qualities that are equally important for a judge.

Earlier in my career, I had the privilege of serving as a judicial intern with the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, where I researched legal issues, drafted memoranda and proposed orders, and observed the judicial decision-making process firsthand. That experience provided an early appreciation for the responsibility, impartiality, and discipline required of members of the judiciary.

Collectively, these experiences have given me a comprehensive understanding of our justice system from nearly every perspective. I have advocated for the State, defended the constitutional rights of individuals, educated future lawyers, supervised legal professionals, and observed the work of the federal judiciary. Those experiences have prepared me to approach every case with an open mind, apply the law faithfully, treat every person with dignity and respect, and render decisions that are fair, impartial, and based solely on the facts and the law.

What role should personal values play in judicial decision-making? Judges take an oath to uphold the Constitution and apply the law fairly and impartially, regardless of their personal beliefs, political views, or life experiences. Every litigant deserves the confidence that his or her case will be decided based on the facts presented, the applicable law, and the governing legal precedent--not on the personal preferences of the judge.

At the same time, a judge must not remember their humanity and show humility, respect, patience, and compassion. These are essential to influence how litigants are treated, ensuring that every person is heard, treated with dignity, and afforded due process.

My experience as both an Assistant Public Defender and an Assistant State Attorney has reinforced the importance of setting aside personal opinions and objectively evaluating each case on its own merits. As an attorney, I was ethically obligated to advocate for my client while respecting the law. As a judge, that responsibility shifts to serving as a neutral arbiter who faithfully applies the law equally to all parties.

Personal values should not play a role in the judicial decision-making process as a Judge is to ensure that justice is administered fairly, impartially, and consistently, thereby preserving public trust in the judicial system and the rule of law.

How do you balance precedent with evolving societal standards? Legal precedent is fundamental to our legal system because it promotes consistency, stability, and predictability in the law. Judges have a duty to faithfully apply binding precedent established by higher courts, even when societal views evolve or personal opinions differ. Adherence to precedent ensures that like cases are treated alike and that the judiciary remains faithful to its constitutional role.

What steps do you take to avoid conflicts of interest? Judges must not only be impartial but must also avoid the appearance of impropriety. I believe that transparency, ethical vigilance, and adherence to the Florida Code of Judicial Conduct are critical to preserving the integrity of the courts.

If elected, I would carefully review each case for any actual or potential conflict, including prior involvement as an attorney, personal or professional relationships with parties, attorneys, or witnesses, or any financial or other interests that could reasonably call my impartiality into question. When appropriate, I would promptly disclose any potential conflict on the record and, when required under the Florida Code of Judicial Conduct, recuse myself so that every litigant has complete confidence in the fairness of the proceedings.

Ultimately, protecting the integrity of the judiciary is more important than presiding over any individual case. By adhering to the law and erring on the side of transparency when questions arise, I will ensure that every person appearing before me can trust that their case is being decided by a fair, impartial, and independent judge.

What barriers to justice do you see in the current system, and how would you address them? One barrier to justice in our court system is delay. As Orange County continues to experience significant population growth, the volume and complexity of cases have increased substantially, placing tremendous demands on the court. Delays in resolving cases can create uncertainty for victims, defendants, families, and businesses while increasing costs for everyone involved. I

Another significant barrier is unequal access to the legal system. Many individuals appear in court without legal representation or have limited understanding of court procedures. While judges must remain impartial and cannot serve as advocates, they can ensure that proceedings are conducted with patience, respect, and clarity so that every person understands the process and has a meaningful opportunity to be heard.

My experience has given me a unique perspective on these challenges. As an Assistant Public Defender, I represented individuals who often faced significant obstacles in navigating the legal system. As an Assistant State Attorney, including serving as Director of Pretrial Diversion and Chief of the Booking Release Center, I worked to improve efficiency, develop training programs, and collaborate with community partners to promote fair and effective case resolution. Those leadership experiences taught me the importance of balancing efficiency with fairness while ensuring that justice is never sacrificed for speed.

If elected, I will work diligently to manage my docket efficiently, prepare thoroughly for every hearing, treat every person who enters my courtroom with dignity and respect, and apply the law fairly and consistently.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Osceola County Commission District 4 Democratic Primary

The Osceola County Commission has five districts, and these are partisan races, which means you must be a member of a political party to vote in August. All voters will be able to choose from a final slate of candidates in November.

The winner of the Democratic primary for the District 4 commission seat will go on to face the winner of the Republican primary in November.

County Commission District 4 encompasses part Central Osceola County, including the Downtown Kissimmee area. You can see a map of the district HERE.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

Our News Collaborative partners at Osceola News Gazette compiled the candidate responses for Orange County Commission District 4. Below is an excerpt of each candidate’s profile.

You can see the full Osceola News Gazette Voting Guide HERE.

Mary Downey

WEBSITE: http://www.votemarydowney.com

Why do you deserve to be elected by the Commission by those in District 4 in this race? For the last 20 years, I have served alongside public and private partnerships in Osceola County and the State of Florida to provide quality care and housing to those experiencing poverty and homelessness. As the founder and CEO of Hope Partnership I’ve had the honor of working with these families and individuals and have helped them secure affordable housing, healthcare, and support services since 2008. This experience has helped me build a resume that reflects the skills needed for this position. Building relationships, strong business acumen, strategic leadership, and compassionate care are what make me deserving of this office.

What do you feel are Osceola County’s three most pressing problems and give a brief explanation of how you’d advocate they’d be solved:

Roads/Infrastructure: Balancing the needs of the fastest-growing county in Florida with the protection of our natural resources is difficult. We must make careful choices that help alleviate the traffic congestion without increasing damage to our precious wildlife and land. We need to make sure we have infrastructure in place before we continue to develop and slow our rapid growth in a way that helps us both welcome new neighbors without destroying the community we have all worked so hard to build together.

Affordable Housing: We increase the supply of affordable housing by continuing to encourage private investment, while ensuring we explore all opportunities created through federal and state legislation for more opportunities around low-income tax credits and encourage initiatives that provide for the full housing continuum.

Sustainable Job Growth: One of the best things about Osceola County right now is our Osceola Prosper program providing financial support for any high school graduate in Osceola County to attend Valencia College. As a first-generation college graduate, I value the opportunity for our students to get the education they need to succeed. With funding opportunities available, more and more students will be able to explore future careers. I would continue to fight for this as a County Commissioner, as well as continue to strengthen partnerships and collaboration through organizations like the School District of Osceola County and CareerSource of Central Florida.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? For the last 20 years, I have fought for those who need access to safe and affordable housing in Osceola County and I’m committed to continuing to focus on making sure our community is a safe place for all. Thrive Studios by Hope Partnership, a hotel conversion project into affordable housing, recently opened and I continue to advocate for other nonprofits, affordable housing developers, and private organizations that invest in affordable housing. We increase the supply of affordable housing by continuing to encourage private investment, while ensuring we explore all opportunities created through federal and state legislation, including the most recent changes to Live Local that allow for easier development for affordable housing by religious organizations and faith-based organizations.

Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: No. We simply do not have enough information about how eliminating the property tax will affect our communities. It was passed through the legislature very quickly and without much data on its effects. An issue of this magnitude should have been given more time and attention and should have been done in a way that the public could understand. Even the website where citizens can estimate their own savings does not display correct information. When our public safety personnel tell us that this will stop us from being able to provide necessary services for public safety, we must listen to them.

Jose Gonzalez

WEBSITE: www.facebook.com/people/Jose-Gonzalez-For-Osceola-County-Commissioner-District-4/61590725015234/

Why do you deserve to be elected by those in District 4 in this race? I am not running to be another politician. I am running as a resident, small business owner, husband, father, grandfather, and community advocate who understands the everyday struggles families are facing. For more than 15 years, I have been actively helping people, supporting community efforts, and working with residents from different backgrounds. I am not someone who just appeared during election season. I love Osceola County, and I want to serve with honor, integrity, and dedication. District 4 needs a commissioner who will listen to residents, protect taxpayers, support small businesses, address affordability, improve infrastructure, and make sure growth is responsible. I will bring common sense, hard work, and a people-first approach.

What do you feel are Osceola County’s three most pressing problems and give a brief explanation of how you’d advocate they’d be solved.

Affordability and housing costs: Local families in Osceola are being squeezed by rising rent, home prices, insurance, groceries, utilities, and everyday expenses. Many working families are doing everything right and still struggling to keep up. I will advocate for responsible policies that support attainable housing, workforce housing, and homeownership opportunities. The county must work with cities, builders, nonprofits, state partners, and community organizations to increase housing options while protecting neighborhoods and making sure infrastructure keeps up with growth.

Affordability is not just about housing. It is about helping families stay in Osceola County without being priced out of the community they helped build.

Traffic, roads, and infrastructure: Growth has moved faster than our roads, intersections, public transit, and infrastructure. I will advocate for better planning, faster road improvements, safer intersections, improved traffic signal timing, and stronger coordination with FDOT, MetroPlan Orlando, LYNX, the cities, and regional partners. Development should not be approved without a clear plan for roads, drainage, public safety, schools, and infrastructure. Growth must pay its fair share, and residents should not be left sitting in traffic because the government failed to plan ahead.

Economic opportunity and better jobs: Osceola County must focus on bringing better-paying jobs, supporting small businesses, and expanding economic opportunities for residents. Too many people live here but leave the county every day for better employment. As a small business owner, I understand how hard it is to build, operate, and grow a business. I will advocate for policies that support local businesses, workforce training, entrepreneurship, tourism, technology, trades, and partnerships that connect residents to real career opportunities. Economic development should not only benefit large projects. It should also benefit working families, small businesses, and residents.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? My focus would be on practical, local action. Osceola County needs more attainable housing options, stronger partnerships with cities and nonprofits, responsible development, and better planning so housing is connected to roads, jobs, schools, public safety, and services.

We also need to protect existing residents from being pushed out. That means supporting homeownership opportunities, workforce housing, rental stability programs where appropriate, and partnerships that help residents stay housed. Affordability cannot be solved by one government alone. It will take the county, cities, state agencies, builders, nonprofits, employers, and community partners working together. My focus will be on solutions that help working families stay in Osceola County and build a future here.

Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: No vote given. I believe this decision belongs to the voters. I am not going to tell residents how to vote on a constitutional amendment. I encourage every voter to do their own research, read the full language, ask questions, and understand both the benefits and the consequences before making a decision. I understand that homeowners need relief. Families are feeling pressure from housing costs, insurance, utilities, groceries, and everyday expenses. At the same time, there is no such thing as “free” government services. When revenue is removed from one place, it usually has to be replaced somewhere else, reduced from services, or shifted in another way.

Property tax revenue helps support essential services such as public safety, fire rescue, roads, parks, public works, emergency response, and basic local government operations. My concern is making sure residents understand the full impact of any major tax change before they vote.

Rafael A. Lebron

WEBSITE: votelebron.com/

Why do you deserve to be elected by the Commission by those in District 4 in this race? My business and education background give me the tools required to represent our citizens as a commissioner, from understanding budgets to building strong relationships and creating consensus amongst teams. With over 20 years of leadership experience and as director of business development at Lebron Law, PLLC, I understand how to deliver results. I will prioritize affordable housing to keep families in District 4, ensure competitive wages for our workers, invest in youth and education to build our future, address traffic and congestion challenges, and support our most vulnerable seniors and veterans. I am excited to work tirelessly, and I’m committed to bringing full transparency and dedicated focus to this role to ensure our future is bright.

What do you feel are Osceola County’s three most pressing problems and give a brief explanation of how you’d advocate they’d be solved:

Smart growth and infrastructure. Our county is growing faster than our infrastructure can handle. I will push for a transportation strategic plan and bring back local concurrency through an interlocal agreement with the school district and both cities. I will prioritize improving existing roadways, invest in transit, and streamline permitting to cut red tape, all while protecting our conservation lands like Split Oak Forest and limiting urban sprawl. Perpetual deed protections must be respected. In my first board meeting, I will move to reconsider and reinstate the land deed protections and demand that CFX and Tavistock pursue an alternative route. I will also propose a charter change requiring a voter referendum before any public conservation land can be repurposed. Let the voters decide.

Economic development and job creation. Wages aren’t keeping pace with our cost of living. I will champion trade and skilled workforce education in our K-12 schools to create a pipeline of good-paying jobs. As part of a small business family in downtown Kissimmee since 2015, I know the struggles our local businesses face firsthand, and I will make sure key stakeholders have a seat at the table on policy decisions.

Public safety and community well-being. I will ensure our first responders have the resources and support they need, and I am proud to be endorsed by the Kissimmee Professional Firefighters Local 4208. I will hold quarterly town halls in my district so residents are truly heard, with a special focus on our most vulnerable seniors, veterans, and youth.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? We must increase the supply of true workforce and affordable housing through smart growth planning, incentivize responsible development, streamline the permitting process to lower building costs, and encourage home ownership. Just as important, we need to raise affordability from the other direction by investing in trade education and skilled jobs that create upward economic mobility for working families.

Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: Undecided, I am still doing my research.

Hayden Anthis, a geometry teacher at Harmony High since 2017, was arrested after detectives with the St. Cloud Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children unit say he began corresponding in an online forum with who he thought was a 14-year-old girl. Back in June, detectives say the conversations began. On Thursday, police say Anthis offered to meet for sex — and showed up with condoms.

He met officers instead.

Charges

Anthis faces two charges:

• Traveling to Meet a Minor
• Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device

School District Response

Osceola County Schools confirmed Anthis had been employed as a geometry teacher at Harmony High since 2017. The district says he has been banned from all Osceola School District properties effective immediately.

“Our commitment remains on providing a safe, supportive, and secure learning environment for every student,” the district said in a statement.

ICAC Detectives

St. Cloud’s ICAC unit typically assists other law enforcement agencies in building cases against online predators. In this case, detectives say the target was local.

“This behavior is inexcusable,” police said in a statement.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Osceola County Commission District 4 Republican Primary

The Osceola County Commission has five districts, and these are partisan races, which means you must be a member of a political party to vote in August. All voters will be able to choose from a final slate of candidates in November.

The winner of the Republican primary for the District 4 commission seat will go on to face the winner of the Democratic primary in November.

County Commission District 4 encompasses part of Central Osceola County, including the Downtown Kissimmee area. You can see a map of the district HERE.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

Our News Collaborative partners at Osceola News Gazette compiled the candidate responses for Osceola County Commission District 4. Below is an excerpt of each candidate’s profile.

You can see the full Osceola News Gazette Voting Guide HERE.

Nelly Hernandez

WEBSITE: www.votenelly.com/

Why do you deserve to be elected by the Commission by those in District 4 in this race? I believe I am qualified for this office because of my experience as a business owner, community advocate, and someone who has worked closely with residents on real local issues. My background has taught me the importance of listening, being responsible with budgets, finding practical solutions, and making decisions that put the community first.

What do you feel are Osceola County’s three most pressing problems and give a brief explanation of how you’d advocate they’d be solved:

Infrastructure and mismanaged growth. Osceola County’s growth has outpaced our roads, drainage, and public services, and residents are the ones paying the price through traffic, flooding concerns, and strained services. I would advocate for common-sense growth management, including a temporary pause on major new residential land-use changes so infrastructure can catch up. New development should be compatible with the area, pay its fair share, and be approved only when roads, drainage, public safety, and services can support it.

Wasteful spending and lack of accountability. Residents deserve to know that every tax dollar is being used wisely. Too much money has been spent on projects and programs that do not directly improve the daily lives of Osceola families. I would advocate for stronger oversight, better transparency, and a careful review of county spending so dollars are redirected toward core needs like roads, drainage, public safety, and services residents actually use.

Rising property taxes and affordability for homeowners. Families should not feel like they are being taxed out of the homes they worked hard to buy. I would advocate for reducing the tax burden on homesteaded homeowners and protecting the American dream of homeownership.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Housing affordability is one of the biggest issues facing Florida families, and in Osceola County, it is tied to rising property taxes, insurance costs, and mismanaged growth. My solution is to protect homesteaded homeowners from being taxed out of their homes, review county spending before asking residents to pay more, and make sure growth is responsible and supported by proper roads, drainage, schools, and public safety. We need to make government spend smarter, reduce the burden on families, and protect the American dream of homeownership.

Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: Yes.

Homeowners need real relief. Property taxes continue to climb, and many families are feeling the pressure even after doing everything right.

This amendment is a step toward making Florida more affordable. I also believe local governments must be prepared to tighten budgets, cut waste, and focus on the services residents truly need.

Donald Shroyer

WEBSITE: www.donaldshroyer.com/

Why do you deserve to be elected by the Commission by those in District 4 in this race? I bring a unique combination of experience, relationships, and a proven record of delivering results for Osceola County. I am the only candidate in this race who has previously served as an elected official. That experience has given me firsthand knowledge of how government works, how decisions are made, and how to effectively advocate for our community’s needs. As a lifelong member of the Osceola County community, I understand the challenges and opportunities facing District 4 because I have lived them. My commitment is not a political ambition, but to serving the people and protecting the future of our county.

I have established strong working relationships in Tallahassee and throughout Florida government. Those connections matter because they help ensure that Osceola County has a seat at the table when important decisions are being made. Most importantly, I have a proven track record of securing appropriations and bringing resources back to our community. Results matter, and my experience demonstrates that I can successfully advocate for District 4 and deliver the funding needed for infrastructure, public safety, economic development, and quality-of-life improvements.

What do you feel are Osceola County’s three most pressing problems and give a brief explanation of how you’d advocate they’d be solved:

Rapid population growth: For a fast-growing community like St. Cloud or other parts of Osceola County, our biggest tools are infrastructure concurrency, impact fees, strategic zoning, and phased development approvals. These allow us to maintain quality of life while still accommodating population growth. Infrastructure is a must and needs to remain our top priority.

Massive traffic congestion: Often our biggest gains come from synchronizing signals on major corridors; Building additional east-west and north-south connections to reduce reliance on a few major roads; Coordinating development approvals with transportation capacity; Securing state and federal transportation funding; Expanding regional transit connections.

Flooding and storm water run-off: Stormwater management requires a proactive approach. We must invest in modern drainage infrastructure, protect wetlands, require responsible development practices, and maintain our stormwater systems to ensure existing residents are not burdened by the impacts of rapid growth. By planning and securing state and federal funding, we can improve public safety, protect property values, and build a more resilient community.

According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Our crisis starts with housing but it affects every aspect of daily life — insurance costs, utility bills, transportation, childcare. According to polling, many working families can no longer afford to live in the communities they serve.

My approach focuses on improving infrastructure and reducing the hidden costs that drive up living expenses. We must encourage the development of workforce and attainable housing for teachers, first responders, healthcare workers, and young families. Local governments should streamline permitting, reduce unnecessary regulatory delays, and partner with the private sector for affordability while maintaining community standards.

Second, we need to invest in infrastructure before growth occurs. When roads, utilities, and public services lag development, taxpayers end up paying more in the long run. Smart growth planning helps keep costs down and protects quality of life.

Third, we must advocate at the state level for solutions to rising property insurance costs, which have become one of the biggest housing expense drivers in Osceola County. Homeowners and renters alike are feeling the impact of these increases.

Finally, economic development must focus on attracting high-wage jobs and supporting local businesses. Affordability is not only about lowering costs, but also about creating opportunities for residents to earn higher incomes and build financial security. My goal is to ensure that people who work in our community can also afford to live in our community.

Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: Yes.

I support less taxes and less government. I believe property taxes make homeowners continue paying the government every year, just to keep property they already purchased.

Property values have risen dramatically across Osceola County, causing tax bills to increase even when residents’ incomes have not. Eliminating property taxes could help seniors, retirees, and long-time residents stay in their homes. Lowering or eliminating property taxes could reduce monthly housing costs and make Osceola more affordable for families. Osceola County already benefits from having no state income tax. Eliminating property taxes could make the state even more attractive to retirees, entrepreneurs, and businesses looking to relocate.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Osceola County School Board District 1

All school board races are nonpartisan elections, which means all voters can vote in the election, regardless of party affiliation.

There are five school board districts in Osceola County, with a board member representing each one. District 1 covers West Osceola County, as well as the Celebration area. A map of the school districts is available HERE.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

Our News Collaborative partners at Osceola News Gazette compiled the candidate responses for Osceola County School Board District 1. Below is an excerpt of each candidate’s profile.

You can see the full Osceola News Gazette Voting Guide HERE.

Greg Filak

WEBSITE: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557358152399

Why do you deserve to be elected to the open seat in this race? I have a 30-year record of public service going back to 17 years as a volunteer fireman and EMT starting in high school, as a police officer for 5 years, as a supervisor and Chairman of Celebration’s town board, as the Vice Chair of Osceola County school district’s Business Advisory Board and as a community volunteer for the past 15 years in Osceola County as a youth sports coach and Cub Scout leader. Osceola deserves a school board member who is a demonstrated community leader who can build consensus without controversy nor ethics violations. I have endorsements from Osceola’s teachers’ union, current District 1 Vice Chair Terry Castillo and other community leaders. I have shown that I can bring together different people from varying viewpoints to focus on what is most important: our students and our children.

What do you feel are the Osceola School District’s three most pressing problems and give a brief explanation of how you’d advocate they’d be solved:

Osceola’s massive growth, levying more needs on the school district with higher student populations, diverse languages and student needs: The board needs leaders who can tackle tomorrow’s challenges, set strategic visions and organizational accountability for the realities of where Osceola is today and is headed tomorrow, and who have the trust of the community based on demonstrated level-headed leadership. I’m that future-looking leader. As a young parent, I’m living today’s challenges and opportunities in Osceola’s public education system.

Safety and security in our schools: I understand the vital importance of School Resource Officers (SRO) in each school and was requested to be a part of Osceola’s SRO Task Force in 2021 to retain our deputies when the prior sheriff was planning to remove SROs from Osceola’s schools. We need to guarantee our SRO partnerships and expand their capabilities with the use of technology around our campuses.

Rapidly-changing requirements for joining the workforce: Osceola must continue to expand its Career Technical Education programs for hands-on training, industry certifications, mentorships, networking, and pathways to employment for our students who want to enter the workforce immediately after graduation. Local partnerships in hospitality and the trades are a good start, but we must expand to other regions and opportunities for our students outside of Central Florida. We must also measure objective feedback after graduation to ensure the education and training provided is meaningful and aligned to the needs of employers.

Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: As a homeowner who pays property taxes, and as a current board member of a government taxing authority in a Development District where

I voted “no” on two years of increases, I understand the burden that the multiple layers of government impose on all of us as residents and citizens. As a business executive, I recognize a government is not a business and does not exist to make money, but also I recognize budgets need to be responsible and instill confidence with taxpayers to know that necessary services will be provided. I believe in Florida’s long history of Home Rule, which bestows important decisions on local services down to local governments, where elected leaders have the best awareness of the community’s needs. I cannot support sweeping changes to local tax rules implemented exclusively by a few officials in Tallahassee from all over Florida who do not know Osceola’s needs, challenges, and opportunities. Osceola’s voters are smart enough, vocal enough, and strong enough to make our own decisions on what our funding priorities should be.

Should you be elected, what would your initial message to students’ parents and guardians from the dais? Osceola’s students and schools have new challenges and new opportunities from where we have been in the past years. As a current town board leader in Celebration and the Vice Chairman of the Osceola School District’s Business Advisory Board, I have established relationships within and around the school district, and the knowledge to lead our school board on behalf of the larger West Osceola community. I live the “highs” and the “lows” of what is happening inside Osceola’s classrooms every day. As I do on my various community boards, as well as in my daily job as an executive at a Fortune 500 company, I will ensure accountability for the District’s actions, strategic vision, use of tax dollars, and how we spend each day to ensure every one of our students is receiving the best education we can provide. I will govern with humility and maturity, not as past District 1 board members who have disgraced their office with ethics violations and combative showmanship. Our students, our teachers, and our communities deserve better.

Jay Wheeler

WEBSITE: www.jaywheelerosceola.com/

Why do you deserve to be elected to the open seat in this race? I do not need on-the-job training and can hit the ground running with a proven track record of accomplishments. I am dialed into student, employee, and community needs laid out below, with specific challenges along with how to turn those challenges into successes.

When first elected in 2002, Osceola only had two schools with an A or B grade; when I left all our schools were an A or a B School. I held charter schools accountable for performance or cancelled their charter. New HS Arts and Athletics programs were started and expanded.

In 2002, we had just under 40,000 students. When I left in 2018, we had just over 60,000 students. I 100% understand growth management; 11 new schools opened while I served on the school board.

What do you feel are the Osceola School District’s three most pressing problems and give a brief explanation of how you’d advocate they’d be solved:

Expanding career and technical education: The only way to expand these opportunities is to develop a public-private partnership with businesses to provide instructors who are on that business’s payroll to develop a pipeline of skilled workers they can hire into an apprenticeship. I have engaged Trane Corporation and Osceola Schools’ CTE director to look at starting a pilot program. As a school district, we would provide the students and the space. Public school districts cannot pay market rate to get these instructors, who would have to take at least a 50% pay cut to be a public-school employee.

Max out VPK enrollments and expand VPK capacity: The lowest hanging fruit to improve public education the fastest: students who start Kindergarten having already attended VPK are exponentially better prepared. Engage local pediatrician/family practice physicians who see all these students and get them to advocate for VPK just like they advocate for healthy diet/lifestyle. I am 100% certain I can get to the doctors and get this done.

Increase student participation in after-school activities: Students involved with after-school activities do better in school and are happier. The problem for most is transportation. When I was on the School Board, I worked with Lynx to change some bus routes for a 5:30 p.m. detour on school days to Celebration and Poinciana High Schools. Sadly, this “activity bus” program is no longer in place. I’d get on this right away.

Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: No.

This is a bait-and-switch PR move by the Governor. Currently, homeowners with homestead exemptions have protections from jumbo tax increases. If property taxes go away, it will surely spawn new programs with fees that will have no protections from increases similar to homestead. Plus, the state will place new restrictions on money it gives out, and many municipal agencies will lose local control. In Osceola, it will force the county to cut the Osceola Prosper college scholarship program, that will result in a double- digit college matriculation rate declines. The School Resource Officer program will be scaled back and probably have very severe cuts.

Should you be elected, what would your initial message to students’ parents and guardians from the dais? To employees, thank you for choosing a career helping our kids succeed. I know how hard you all work; from bus drivers and cafeteria workers all the way up to the District

Administrative team. My primary mission on your behalf is to get you a break on what you spend for benefits. We are all in this together. A lot will be expected from you; in return you can count on me to give both students and employees my best effort every day. Fortunately, I am not easily discouraged, especially when I know I am right.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Osceola County School Board District 3

All school board races are nonpartisan elections, which means all voters can vote in the election, regardless of party affiliation.

There are five school board districts in Osceola County, with a board member representing each one. District 3 covers South Central Osceola County, including the Poinciana area. A map of the school districts is available HERE.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

Our News Collaborative partners at Osceola News Gazette compiled the candidate responses for Osceola County School Board District 3. Below is an excerpt of each candidate’s profile.

You can see the full Osceola News Gazette Voting Guide HERE.

Natalie Guzman

WEBSITE: natalieguzman.us/about

Why do you deserve to be elected to the open seat in this race? I bring the perspective of a parent, business owner, and active member of our community. I understand that every decision made by the School Board affects real families, our children’s futures, our teachers, and the growth of Osceola County. As a business owner, I know the importance of financial responsibility, accountability, budgeting, and making decisions that create long-term success. I believe those same principles should be reflected in education — from how we manage resources to how we prepare our students for life beyond graduation.

As a parent, I understand families want to feel heard and confident that their children are receiving a quality education in a safe and supportive environment. My goal is to bring a fresh perspective, collaborate, listen to all sides, and strengthen the partnership between schools, parents, teachers, and our community while focusing on preparing students academically and practically for their future.

What do you feel are the Osceola School District’s three most pressing problems and how would you advocate they be solved?

Preparing Students for Financial Literacy & Career Readiness After Graduation: Education should prepare students not only to pass a test, but to succeed in life. Financial literacy is one of the most important life skills we can provide. Every student should have a strong understanding budgeting, credit, saving, entrepreneurship, responsible financial decisions, and planning for their future. I would advocate for expanding opportunities that connect education to real-life success, including financial literacy, career and technical education, entrepreneurship, trade opportunities, college readiness, and partnerships with local businesses. I am currently working on community partnerships with financial institutions to host financial literacy workshops. This will not tap into the boards budget, so that everyone can see the value, while we work on getting it mandated so that every student takes the course before graduation.

School Safety, Student Well-Being & Parent Engagement: Students cannot reach their full potential unless they feel safe, supported, and ready to learn. School safety must remain a top priority —safe campuses, preventative measures, communication, and ensure schools have the resources to protect students and staff. Parents and guardians are essential partners in education. I would advocate for stronger communication between schools and families because when parents, teachers, and communities work together, our students benefit. Expanding and making mental health more accessible will ensure our schools remain safe.

Teacher Retention & Support: We must make sure our teachers and staff feel valued, respected, and equipped with the tools they need inside the classroom. I would advocate for open communication with educators, reviewing where resources are being allocated, reducing unnecessary burdens, and prioritizing decisions that allow teachers to focus on what matters most — educating and inspiring our students.

Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. At this time, I would need to review the final language of the amendment before committing to a vote because the details matter. School taxes are exempt for the constitutional amendment increasing the homestead exemption. As a homeowner, I understand the financial pressure families are facing. Rising costs have impacted many households, and I support finding responsible ways to provide relief and ensure taxpayer dollars are being used efficiently. But as a School Board member, my responsibility would be to understand how any changes impact school funding, safety, classroom resources, teachers, staff, and our students.

Should you be elected, what would your initial message to students’ parents and guardians from the dais? Your voice matters, and you have a seat at the table. We get this done together! Parents are a child’s first teachers, and strong schools require strong partnerships between families, educators, and the community. My commitment is to encourage communication, transparency, safety, and decisions that always put students first. Together, we can build schools where our children are safe, supported, and prepared not just for graduation but for life.

Alyssa Noel

WEBSITE: alyssanoelforschools.com/

Why do you deserve to be elected to the open seat in this race? I am not running to learn about our schools. I have already been serving them. As a member of those boards and a parent, former mental health professional, and longtime community advocate, I have spent years listening to families, supporting students, and working alongside educators. When I saw gaps, I took action, starting literacy and history initiatives to encourage learning outside of the classroom. I understand both the opportunities and challenges facing Osceola County Schools because I have seen them firsthand. My background in mental health has given me a unique understanding of the challenges students and families face both inside and outside the classroom, while my service in our schools has shown me the importance of trust, accountability, and collaboration.

I am running to help restore trust in our public schools, strengthen accountability, and ensure decisions are guided by what is best for students.

What do you feel are the Osceola School District’s three most pressing problems and give a brief explanation of how you’d advocate they’d be solved.

Declining Enrollment: Every student who leaves our district represents a family that has lost confidence in something. Families want to know their children are safe, challenged academically, and being prepared for the future. I would advocate for greater transparency, stronger parent engagement, and regular opportunities for families to provide meaningful feedback. We must rebuild trust by listening to parents, communicating clearly, and demonstrating that their concerns matter. When families trust their schools, they are more likely to stay invested in public education.

Fiscal Accountability and Long-Term Financial Planning: As enrollment changes and funding pressures continue, we must prioritize proactive planning that allows the district to respond effectively to future needs. I would advocate for greater transparency around budget decisions, long-range financial planning, and regular evaluation of district priorities to ensure resources are aligned with student needs. Our community deserves confidence that taxpayer dollars are being managed responsibly while protecting the programs and services that have the greatest impact on students.

School Safety and Student Well-Being: We must continue building on the foundation of significant investments in school safety, but it is not a one-time achievement; it requires ongoing attention, collaboration, and adaptation to new challenges. I would support continued investment in safety training, strong partnerships between schools, families, and law enforcement, and resources that support students’ emotional well-being.

Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: No.

While property tax relief is important for many families, public schools rely heavily on local funding to provide essential services and educational opportunities. Before reducing a major source of school funding, there must be a clear, sustainable plan to ensure students, teachers, and schools are not negatively impacted.

Should you be elected, what would your initial message to students’ parents and guardians from the dais? I see you, I hear you, and your voice matters.

Whether you have been involved for years or are just beginning to engage with your child’s school, you deserve transparency, respect, and a seat at the table. I will work every day to earn your trust and ensure that decisions are made with students at the center.

I will approach every decision with one question in mind: “How does this impact students and families?” If we keep that focus, we can strengthen confidence in our schools and create better outcomes for the children we serve.

“This is the first fire I'm experiencing real-time, and I can tell you it’s vicious," said Pauner, 64. “It’s underground, it comes out at any moment, and no matter how much we try to extinguish it, re-extinguish it, re-extinguish it, it keeps restarting."

“It’s like a steamroller that’s constantly, constantly rolling,” said Pauner, wearing shorts, boots and sunglasses on a string around his neck on a road through cultivated pine trees, as the ground smoldered.

Pauner is among the untold numbers of volunteers who have mobilized to support firefighters battling the biggest wildfires in years in France.

“I’m protecting my forest, and my home,” he said, pouring his watering can into a smoking ditch as if watering a garden, then huffing in the heat.

Hundreds of thousands forced from their homes

The wildfires that tore through cultivated forests on an Atlantic coast also known for towering sand dunes and tourist resorts devastated 42,000 hectares (about 162 square miles) west of Bordeaux, driving nearly a quarter-million people out of their homes and vacation sites.

Many other places in France have been hit by fires this summer, including in the Mediterranean Var region where a blaze in the Gros Bessillon mountain ridge flared up again on Friday, driven by violent winds, local authorities said. Several towns in the area were evacuated.

Europe is facing an extremely hot summer, fueling wildfires from the Atlantic coast to the eastern Mediterranean. The United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, Greece and Turkey battled blazes this week.

As cooler, more humid air moved into southwest France this week, authorities allowed two-thirds of the 224,000 evacuees to return home, including some more on Friday.

But the ground still simmers in many places.

“It’s stabilized, but not totally stopped,” French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez told RTL radio. “Hot spots remain.”

Volunteers like Pauner — what he calls “little eyes” on watch to report flare-ups to firefighters — do what they can with limited resources. Others have mobilized their trucks and giant jerrycans to supply water to fire crews.

Drought has left forests dangerously dry

Prolonged drought and climate change have created fire-prone conditions. Pauner said the region endured more than two months without significant rainfall, leaving vegetation exceptionally dry.

In the smoking forests, fire crews used rakes to dig down into the smoldering forest floor so buried embers can be doused with water, a long and painstaking job. Ukraine became the latest country to send help, dispatching 70 people and 10 vehicles in the coming days, Nunez said.

Investigators suspect that contractors clearing away vegetation inadvertently ignited the blaze last week. But other fires have been attributed to arsonists or criminal negligence.

Nunez said police have made 308 arrests in connection with blazes this summer — more than 120 of them involving minors — and that 33 people have either been convicted or are being held pending court rulings.

Elsewhere in Europe, fires are also burning

Blazes continued in other parts of Europe.

Many parts of Greece were listed at high or extreme risk of wildfires, with strong winds. Three Greek firefighters died fighting fires this week on the southern island of Crete.

Firefighters were tackling 73 wildfires around the country, 51 of which broke out on Friday, Fire department spokesman Col. Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said.

The fire department and coast guard used boats to evacuate more than 250 people from one of the largest fires, in Boeotia, and evacuation orders were issued for several other fires, including one on the western fringes of the Greek capital.

Gale-force winds were hampering aircraft from dumping water on the wildfires, he said.

In England, where half the country is gripped by drought, firefighters battled a wildfire on an east coast heath in Suffolk, near a nuclear power station that fire services said wasn't threatened. More than 100 firefighters were deployed.

“I wouldn’t say it is under control," said Henry Griffin, a fire officer.

___ Macpherson reported from Paris. Elena Becatoros in Athens, Greece, Danica Kirka in London, Jamey Keaten in Geneva and John Leicester contributed to this report.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Seminole County Judge Group 3

The Seminole County Court handles local legal matters, including misdemeanors, local ordinance violations, small civil claims like financial disputes up to $50,000, tenant evictions, and traffic violations.

All county judge races are nonpartisan elections, which means all voters can vote in the election, regardless of party affiliation.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

Our News Collaborative partners at Oviedo Community News compiled the candidate responses for Seminole County judge. Below is an excerpt of each candidate’s profile.

To see the full responses, go to the Oviedo Community News candidate page link for each candidate.

You can also see the full Oviedo Community News Voting Guide HERE.

Sylvia A. Grunor - Incumbent

WEBSITE: www.seminolevalues.com/

Oviedo Community News Candidate page: oviedocommunitynews.org/profile/sylvia-a-grunor/

Candidate Q&A: The questions below are based on voter questions and expressed priorities. Each of the candidates within a race was asked the same questions and given the same amount of time to respond. The candidates’ answers were fact-checked, checked for spelling and grammar but otherwise unedited.

What role should personal values play in judicial decision-making? A Judge should follow the law while making decisions.

How do you balance precedent with evolving societal standards? A Judge should follow the law.

What steps do you take to avoid conflicts of interest? If a conflict arises, I recuse from the case.

What barriers to justice do you see in the current system, and how would you address them? That is not the job of a Judge. A Judge should follow the law.

Nathan A. Skop

WEBSITE: skopforjudge.com/

Oviedo Community News Candidate page: oviedocommunitynews.org/profile/nathan-a-skop/

Candidate Q&A: Candidate Q&A: The questions below are based on voter questions and expressed priorities. Each of the candidates within a race was asked the same questions and given the same amount of time to respond. The candidates’ answers were fact-checked, checked for spelling and grammar but otherwise unedited.

What professional experiences have best prepared you for the bench? I grew up here locally, graduated from Lake Mary High School in 1985 and came from very humble beginnings. My dad died at 13, my mother was an alcoholic and I went to live with my legal guardians who were both WWII Marine veterans. I would not have been successful in life without the quality education that I received in Seminole County Public Schools and hard work.

Professionally, I’m an experienced attorney with a multi-disciplined education (JD, MBA, BS aerospace engineering) and have been a member of the Florida Bar in good standing for over 19= years. After a successful aerospace engineering career (which included building the batteries for the Space Station, building nuclear submarines for General Dynamics and building airplanes for Boeing), I went back to law school at the University of Florida later in life.

After graduating from law school, I served the State of Florida in a quasi-judicial role as a commissioner on the Florida Public Service Commission. As a commissioner, I served as the presiding officer and prehearing officer during quasi-judicial hearings, conducted evidentiary hearings, ruled on motions, ruled on objections, issued orders, wrote concurring and dissenting opinions, and adjudicated administrative law cases subject to direct appeal to the Florida Supreme Court. Every major newspaper in the state of Florida commended my integrity, ethics, and qualifications while serving the state of Florida as a commissioner.

Additionally, while serving as a former Assistant State Attorney (prosecutor) in Seminole County, I worked with our law enforcement officers and victims of crimes to prosecute criminals and keep our community safe. My experience includes prosecuting felony and misdemeanor delinquency cases before the Circuit Court, and prosecuting criminal misdemeanor cases (including DUI, BUI, domestic violence, battery, petit theft and solicitation cases) in Seminole County Court. In this role, I represented the state of Florida before Circuit and County Court judges at initial appearances, arraignments, bond hearings, motion hearings, suppression hearings, violation of probation dockets, pre-trial conferences, docket review and jury trials.

My legal career also includes serving as the general counsel, executive vice president and corporate officer for a privately held aerospace and defense company. In this role, I effectively managed all legal, litigation, compliance, corporate governance, contracts, risk management, industrial security and government/regulatory affairs activities for eight domestic and international companies.I am also a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator, have a published case comment in a law journal [Nathan A. Skop, Comment, Patent Law: Four Factors to Injunctions in the Wake of eBay, 12 U. FLA. J. TECH. L. & POL’Y , 135, 140 (2007)], and previously served the State of Florida as a Guardian ad Litem.

Why does this matter? We need judges who are fair and impartial, but equally need more well-rounded judges who have the ability to understand the complex technology and finance issues that come before the court.

Many of the 4,500+ Seminole County registered voters who took the time to sign my ballot petition liked my humble background, liked that I actually grew up and went to school in Seminole County, liked that I haven’t been an attorney my entire career, liked my multi-disciplined education and work experience, and liked that I served as former Assistant State Attorney (prosecutor) in Seminole County.

In closing, my professional experience and local upbringing would allow me to bring experience, trusted leadership, professionalism, common sense and years of wisdom to the bench as your next Seminole County Court Judge. It would be a tremendous honor to serve as your judge in the community where I grew up. I would love to earn your trust and vote on or before August 18, 2026.

What role should personal values play in judicial decision-making? Prior to taking the bench, a judge takes an oath to uphold the law and Constitution. Simply put, a judge is bound to follow the law in judicial decision-making situations even if the judge personally disagrees with the law. Judicial opinions often reflect this separation of powers conflict where judges follow the law as written, but suggest that the underlying law is defective or should be changed for various reasons. Personal values do seem to have an appropriate role in judicial decision-making where judges have the ability to exercise their judicial discretion (e.g., sentencing), relying on common sense, life experiences, wisdom and knowing right from wrong.

How do you balance precedent with evolving societal standards? A judge is legally bound to follow binding legal precedent (controlling case law) even if the judge personally disagrees with the precedent. As societal standards evolve over time, the law is subject to being revised through legislative action, Constitutional amendments or subsequent judicial decisions. Until such time as the binding legal precedent (controlling case law) changes, the judge is legally bound to follow the law consistent with their oath of office prior to taking the bench.

What steps do you take to avoid conflicts of interest? Ethics and integrity are very important to me. Exercising sound judgment and doing the right thing are typically sufficient to avoid any conflicts of interest. When a potential conflict does unexpectedly arise (e.g., the judge personally knows one of the parties appearing before the court), the judge should immediately disclose the potential conflict and offer to recuse themselves and/or reassign the case to another docket, openly disclosing the reason for doing so.

What barriers to justice do you see in the current system, and how would you address them? A current barrier to justice in the court system is lack of access to the courts and congested court dockets. Both of these issues can be addressed by additional funding and resources for the courts (e.g., additional judges to address the population growth in Florida) along with adopting best practices for judicial docket management (mandatory aged case review) to help keep cases moving along and reduce the open case backlog. Tallahassee holding open a Seminole County Court judicial vacancy for over seven months was also unnecessary and counterproductive to reducing the open case backlog.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Seminole County Judge Group 6

The Seminole County Court handles local legal matters, including misdemeanors, local ordinance violations, small civil claims like financial disputes up to $50,000, tenant evictions, and traffic violations.

All county judge races are nonpartisan elections, which means all voters can vote in the election, regardless of party affiliation.

Since there are four candidates in the race, the top vote-getter must get more than 50% of the vote (50%+1) in order to win outright. Otherwise, the top two candidates will go to a runoff in November.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

Our News Collaborative partners at Oviedo Community News compiled the candidate responses for Seminole County judge. Below is an excerpt of each candidate’s profile.

To see the full responses, go to the Oviedo Community News candidate page link for each candidate.

You can also see the full Oviedo Community News Voting Guide HERE.

Alena Chaban

WEBSITE: www.chabanforjudge.com/

Oviedo Community News Candidate page: oviedocommunitynews.org/profile/alena-chaban/

Candidate Q&A: Candidate Q&A: The questions below are based on voter questions and expressed priorities. Each of the candidates within a race was asked the same questions and given the same amount of time to respond. The candidates’ answers were fact-checked, checked for spelling and grammar but otherwise unedited.

What professional experiences have best prepared you for the bench?

I’ve spent my career in the courtroom, not just around it. In my firm, I’ve practiced family law, criminal defense, traffic law and estate planning. This means I’ve stood on both sides of nearly every kind of case that comes through Seminole County Court. I’ve represented parents fighting for time with their children, defendants facing the weight of the state and families trying to protect what they’ve built for the people they love.

That range matters. A county court judge doesn’t get the luxury of specializing; one morning it’s a landlord-tenant dispute, the next it’s a misdemeanor docket, the next it’s a small claims trial. I’ve been preparing for that breadth my entire career.

I’d also point to my work as a Guardian ad Litem, where my job is to represent a child’s best interests, not any adult’s agenda. That role requires exactly what I’d bring to the bench, which is listening carefully, setting aside assumptions, and making a recommendation based on what the evidence actually shows, not what’s easiest or most convenient.

What role should personal values play in judicial decision-making? None, when it comes to the outcome of a case. A judge’s obligation is to apply the law as written and the facts as presented, not to substitute personal belief for legal analysis. That’s not a limitation; it’s the job. People don’t come to court hoping the judge agrees with them personally. They come hoping for someone who will follow the law fairly and consistently, regardless of who is standing in front of them.

Where personal character does matter is in how a judge conducts the courtroom, as in whether people are treated with respect, whether both sides are actually heard, and whether rulings are explained clearly enough that even the losing party understands why.

How do you balance precedent with evolving societal standards? Precedent is not optional. It’s what gives people confidence that the law will be applied the same way tomorrow as it was yesterday. A trial court judge’s role is not to decide whether a precedent is still fashionable; it’s to apply controlling law as the appellate courts and legislature have written it.

That said, precedent is naturally tested and refined by higher courts as new facts and circumstances come before them. That’s how the system is designed to evolve, through the appellate process, not through individual trial judges deciding case by case which rules still apply to them. My job at the county court level is to apply the law faithfully and let that process work as intended, not to get ahead of it.

What steps do you take to avoid conflicts of interest? I take this seriously both in practice now and in how I’m building my campaign. In my current practice, I run conflict checks before taking any matter, and I will not take a case when a personal or previous client relationship could reasonably call my impartiality into question, even if I believe I could still be fair.

As a candidate, that same discipline shows up in complying with Canon 7. I don’t personally solicit contributions or endorsements, campaign fundraising runs through my committee, and I’ve been careful about how attorney outreach is handled so it can’t be perceived as influencing anyone who might appear before me.

What barriers to justice do you see in the current system, and how would you address them? The biggest barrier I see, especially in family court, is delay. I’ve had clients wait months just to get in front of a judge on custody or timesharing matters; meanwhile, a parent isn’t seeing their children, and a case that should take weeks stretches into half a year or more. That backlog does not just inconvenience people. It actively harms families and children during the exact window when stability matters most.

The second barrier is access. Many people in county court, especially in small claims and traffic, do not have attorneys. If a courtroom is not run in a way that is clear and navigable for a self-represented person, justice becomes something only available to people who can afford a lawyer.

I’d address both by running an efficient docket, which means being prepared, starting on time, and making rulings promptly. I would also make sure my courtroom is a place where a self-represented litigant can understand what’s happening and why, without needing to already know the system to get a fair hearing.

Wayne Culver - Incumbent

WEBSITE: www.seminoleforculver.com/

Oviedo Community News Candidate page: oviedocommunitynews.org/profile/wayne-culver/

Candidate Q&A: The questions below are based on voter questions and expressed priorities. Each of the candidates within a race was asked the same questions and given the same amount of time to respond. The candidates’ answers were fact-checked, checked for spelling and grammar but otherwise unedited.

What professional experiences have best prepared you for the bench? I was an assistant state attorney in Brevard County from 2001 to 2004. I had my own law practice in Seminole County from 2004 to 2009 with areas of practice in: criminal law, family law, bankruptcy law, dependency cases, civil litigation, and real estate transactions. I worked at the Office of the Public Defender from 2009 to 2021, practicing criminal law and was a supervisor for five years, training new attorneys in the misdemeanor division. I have served as a county court judge from 2021 to present in both the criminal and civil divisions. I currently have over 4,000 civil cases and resolve about 1,200 cases per month for the citizens of Seminole County.

What role should personal values play in judicial decision-making? A judge must resolve case in accordance with the law. Personal values do not play a role in ruling in a case; only experience and knowledge guide a judge’s decision.

How do you balance precedent with evolving societal standards? A judge must follow precedent and the law. Evolving societal standards are for the legislative branch of government to consider.

What steps do you take to avoid conflicts of interest? If I know a party in litigation, I disclose that to each party and if they request a reassignment of the case to a different judge, I comply with their request.

What barriers to justice do you see in the current system, and how would you address them? A general lack of understanding of the legal system. In criminal cases, I appoint the Office of the Public Defender to represent defendants. In civil cases, Legal Aid is a great assistance to many litigants. In general, a judge must be patient with people who represent themselves; they are going through a difficult time in their lives and the legal system can be challenging to navigate on their own. A judge cannot give legal advice but can be a patient and understanding arbiter of justice.

Erik Swenk

WEBSITE: voteswenk4judge.com/

Oviedo Community News Candidate page: oviedocommunitynews.org/profile/erik-swenk/

Candidate Q&A: Candidate Q&A: The questions below are based on voter questions and expressed priorities. Each of the candidates within a race was asked the same questions and given the same amount of time to respond. The candidates’ answers were fact-checked, checked for spelling and grammar but otherwise unedited.

What professional experiences have best prepared you for the bench? As the owner of my own law firm, I practiced in both county and circuit courts throughout Central Florida, representing financial institutions in foreclosure and creditor’s rights cases. I also dedicated my time as a volunteer attorney with the 9th Circuit State Attorney’s Office, helping advocate on behalf of victims to prosecute crimes while supporting our local law enforcement. Largely, the bulk of my legal experience is derived from my close to 10 years serving the State of Florida as a hearing officer and hearing officer supervisor. In these roles, I have served in a quasi-judicial capacity, ruling on motions and objections, conducting evidentiary hearings, and presiding over and adjudicating administrative appeals subject to direct appeal to our State District Courts of Appeal. I have also developed and provided direct training to my office’s hearing officers throughout the state on the matters of high-volume order writing, guidance for administrative disqualification hearings, guidance for managing pro se parties and building a record, and procedure for default judgments. Professionally, I also believe my years in the restaurant industry as a server and my service on many different boards in our county provide great experience when it comes to working with people and understanding the different resources available in our county to address the many underlying issues that cause the actions that bring our citizens into our courts in the first place.

What role should personal values play in judicial decision-making? Certain values such as integrity, temperament, compassion and work ethic broadly play an important role in carrying out the general duties as a judge. Temperament and compassion allow a judge to better relate to the parties when it comes to identifying and understanding the issue and to help moderate many of the emotions that are inextricably tied to the process. Some of these personal values, such as integrity, may even play a role in the decision-making process. However, largely, personal values have, or should have, very little bearing on the decision-making process itself. The guiding force behind judicial decision-making is largely based solely on the facts of the case and the application of law to those facts while keeping separate personal values, beliefs or emotions.

How do you balance precedent with evolving societal standards? In the administrative realm, as it is on the county bench, our judges are not afforded the discretion to deviate away from precedent. Precedent serves a great purpose in continuity and provides our communities reliable guidance on what actions can and cannot be taken. Our Seminole County Court is bound by decisions made by our 18th Circuit as it is by our 5th DCA and Florida Supreme Court. Our county court judges, just as personal values are separated from decision-making, are likewise bound from allowing personal values or societal influences to provide grounds to deviate from binding precedent.

What steps do you take to avoid conflicts of interest? I generally do not involve myself in organizations or activities that could create conflicts of interest. When a conflict is ever discovered, I immediately remove myself from the occurrence to resolve the conflict.

What barriers to justice do you see in the current system, and how would you address them? Some of the biggest issues involve state funding to ensure highly qualified and long-term support staff of the judiciary as well as additional judicial seats to ensure proper and timely administration of our justice system. After all, justice delayed is justice denied. Though some of this is largely a legislative issue and something difficult for only one person to address or overcome, there are a few ways that I could address these issues, at least when it comes to proper and timely administration of cases. First, as a hearing officer, I presided over 1,600 appeals in my first three years and did so without missing a deadline or having received any negative treatment for any order of mine that was appealed to one of our state’s DCAs. This is a product of great time management, use of multiple management tools and dedicated preparation and review of pleadings prior to hearing. Second, what I practiced as a hearing officer is something I learned as an attorney in many of our county courts, and that is providing general procedural guidance to an entire courtroom gallery so that all parties, pro se or not, are apprised of how their case will proceed, what authorities will govern and what actions they can and cannot take on their case. This, I have found, drastically reduces confusion and streamlines the procedural process, particularly in county court.

Zurich-based executive Kevin Lamour all but invited Infantino to fire him in a statement to The Associated Press that defended his colleagues amid intense fallout from the FIFA boss' plan to sell stakes in future World Cup profits to private equity funds.

Lamour wrote that staff were “deceived” by Infantino’s lack of openness in planning the sale over recent months and “deserve better than contempt and intimidation.”

“It is the project of one person,” Lamour, a long-time colleague of Infantino at both FIFA and European soccer body UEFA, wrote. “Not only must this project not go ahead … but the time has now come for football political leaders to ask themselves the right questions and make the right decisions.”

Lamour's statement came hours after Infantino's senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro, a former Goldman Sachs banker who represented the soccer body on the White House Task Force for the World Cup, resigned and urged other senior FIFA staff to speak out.

“I cannot stand by while FIFA considers selling a stake in the World Cup,” Cordeiro wrote in a statement. The former U.S. Soccer Federation president said he was not included in talks about the plan backed by a New York investment fund created by Joshua Kushner.

“Let me be clear. I had no involvement in this proposal, and I oppose it unequivocally,” Cordeiro said. He called the $20 billion commercial subsidiary “a bad deal for football.”

Lamour did not resign the post he has held since 2024 but said he had a duty to his colleagues.

“And if that means I lose my job then so be it” the French official said. “I will understand and respect that decision. At least I’ll sleep well tonight.”

Lamour came to soccer from politics two decades ago as an aide to then-UEFA president Michel Platini. He often had an international role in soccer politics liaising with FIFA member federations in Africa and Asia who are weighing their own decisions about Infantino's offers of $20 million each by a Sept. 19 deadline.

Cordeiro often joined Infantino on working visits to meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in recent years.

“Football has been central to my life, and after more than 35 years in banking I understand both the value of this asset and the consequences of giving part of it away,” he said. “That is why this proposal should be rejected.”

Infantino has proposed spinning off FIFA’s commercial businesses — including World Cups and Club World Cups for men and women — into a $20 billion subsidiary with 20% owned by private investors. The “anchor investor,” described by FIFA, is Kushner, the younger brother of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.

“FIFA already has access to extraordinary financial resources. The organization sits on billions of dollars in reserves and no debt,” Cordeiro said. He noted FIFA's revenue of $15 billion over the last four years tied to the men's World Cup just ended.

“Against that backdrop, selling a permanent stake in football’s most valuable asset to raise $4.2 billion makes little sense. It is mortgaging football’s future without any compelling justification,” he said.

Cordeiro said he shared five years of working for FIFA alongside Infantino with “dedicated, principled people who care deeply about the game.”

“I hope they, too, will speak up,” he wrote, “because decisions of this magnitude should be made in the interests of football, not those who stand to profit from it.”

Infantino has been president of FIFA for more than 10 years and seemed sure to be re-elected unopposed next March. FIFA has set a Nov. 18 deadline for challengers to come forward.

Lamour was part of Infantino’s inner circle that campaigned for him to become the surprise winner of that FIFA presidential election in February 2016.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and AP World Cup coverage

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Seminole County School Board District 1

All school board races are nonpartisan elections, which means all voters can vote in the election, regardless of party affiliation.

There are five school board districts in Seminole County.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

Our News Collaborative partners at Oviedo Community News compiled the candidate responses for Seminole County School Board. Below is an excerpt of each candidate’s profile.

To see the full responses, go to the Oviedo Community News candidate page link for each candidate.

You can also see the full Oviedo Community News Voting Guide HERE.

Kristine Kraus - Incumbent

WEBSITE: krausforschools.com/

Oviedo Community News Candidate page: oviedocommunitynews.org/profile/kristine-kraus/

Candidate Q&A: The questions below are based on voter questions and expressed priorities. Each of the candidates within a race was asked the same questions and given the same amount of time to respond. The candidates’ answers were fact-checked, checked for spelling and grammar but otherwise unedited.

If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?

1. One of our biggest challenges is ensuring that every student is reading on grade level. As a former preschool teacher, I know early literacy is the foundation for everything that comes after. We need to continue investing in evidence-based reading instruction, early intervention and giving teachers the training and resources they need to help struggling readers before they fall behind.
2. Recruiting and retaining outstanding teachers remains a priority. Great schools start with great educators. I will continue to advocate for competitive salaries, reducing unnecessary administrative burdens, strengthening our teacher pipelines through partnerships with Seminole State College and ensuring teachers have the support they need to stay in the classroom. Our NEST (New Educator Support Team) is a great example of that effort.
3. Preparing students for success after graduation is critical. I’ve worked to expand career academies in healthcare, culinary, engineering, cybersecurity, emergency services and education, and I want to continue building partnerships with our local business community and colleges so every student graduates prepared, and with a pathway for their future.

How should the district handle teacher shortages? Great schools start with great teachers. I understand both the challenges and the incredible impact educators have on our students. During my time on the school board, I have supported teacher raises even in difficult financial years. I have expanded programs that help grow our on future educators and worked to make sure teachers have the support they need to succeed. We have to keep investing in our educators if we want to continue providing the high-quality education Seminole County families deserve and expect!

Florida ranked last in the nation for academic growth in reading. How would you improve that? Reading begins long before third grade. As a former preschool teacher, I know the importance of building strong literacy skills early. We should continue investing in evidence-based instruction, targeted interventions, teacher training and support, and consistent progress monitoring so students receive help as soon as they need it. Every child deserves the opportunity to become a confident reader.

What changes, if any, would you make to school safety policies? School safety is deeply personal to me. When I was 15 years old, I survived a school shooting and that experience has shaped my commitment to keeping our schools safe. I support strengthening campus security, maintaining strong relationships with our Sheriff and law enforcement partners and expanding mental health services. We must continue to review safety procedures and threat assessment reviews, so that we are always improving. Safety is never something we can take for granted. I support having mental health counselors on every campus.

How should book challenges and library removals be handled? We currently have an effective process that aligns with state requirements on reviewing all books in our schools. Parents deserve transparency and students deserve access to age-appropriate educational materials. There has always been an opportunity for parents to question the appropriateness of a book and have that reviewed. We should continue to follow the district’s established review process with educators, media specialists, and community input. Decisions should be made thoughtfully, consistently and according to Florida law and district policy rather than politics.

What outside organizations or endorsements are supporting your campaign? I am proud to have earned the support of educators, parents, community leaders and organizations that believe in strong public schools. I am honored to be endorsed by the Seminole Education Association (UniSERV), the Orlando Regional REALTOR Association (ORRA) and Moms Demand Action and other community organizations that recognize my record of supporting teachers and students, keeping all staff safe and putting children first!

If elected, what policy would you try to pass in your first year? After serving on the school board the past eight years, I know there isn’t one single policy that solves every challenge. My priority is to keep building on what we’ve accomplished by supporting our teachers, improving student achievement, expanding career pathways and maintaining safe, high-quality schools. My guiding principle has always been simple: put students first in every decision.

Antonio Pizza

WEBSITE: pizzaforschool.com/

Oviedo Community News Candidate page: oviedocommunitynews.org/profile/antonio-pizza/

Candidate Q&A: The questions below are based on voter questions and expressed priorities. Each of the candidates within a race were asked the same questions and given the same amount of time to respond. The candidates’ answers were fact checked, checked for spelling and grammar but otherwise unedited.

If elected, what are the three most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?

1. Debt: The current board put us $17 million in debt. Every year the board approves a budget; they know how much money they are going to get from the state. Why would they approve a budget that puts them into a bigger deficit? We need to get a financial autopsy done and go through the waste, line by line. I looked at the budget and there are things we can cut, not to mention optimizing the revenue that comes in. We have generous local businesses that pay the school system for sponsorships; you can see banners for these amazing businesses at sporting events. We should be encouraging more businesses to join in this effort, while also making sure the revenue we take in from them is used wisely. For example, I saw a movie theater ad for SCPS and was informed it was paid for with this revenue. However, the ad played in an empty theater, which is not a good use of funds. Currently, the board’s only major solution seems to be firing teachers and staff. This, in turn, affects everyone from the personnel to the students. By my senior year, none of my core teachers from my freshman year were still there. As a result, they weren’t able to provide letters of recommendation, which should come from teachers who have seen you grow. On top of that, elective teachers are taking on subjects that they may not be fully up to date on, pushing them out of their comfort zone. In the long run, this will heavily affect the students. We cannot continue year after year firing more teachers and staff while accumulating more debt. Eventually, we will have to pay off this debt, and at the rate the current board is going, it will be through an increase in property taxes. Let’s stop the wasteful spending now before it affects the entire county. Once the debt is fixed, we can start addressing other problems.
2. Pushing students through the system and career readiness: In Seminole County, if you are failing a class, you can drop that class and enroll in an online class where there are no barriers to catch you cheating your way through. That may not be all students, but it is a lot of them. Not to mention, students who fail a semester and need credit recovery can attend summer school — not in a real school building, but in front of a laptop. The online system quizzes students on the entire class curriculum, and whatever you get wrong, that is what it teaches you. The system we have is designed not to teach and educate the students who are truly struggling, but to pass them through the system like they are numbers on a spreadsheet. That is why our graduation rate is above the state’s average from recent years. This looks great on paper, but what it actually shows is the willingness to push students through. We need to have these students who are struggling learn in front of a real teacher with a textbook, not a laptop. We also need to recognize that not every student wants to go to college; more and more students want to go directly into a career. That is why we need to bring back vocational learning in full swing. We should be partnering with our local businesses to offer students opportunities to get real-life work experience. This would fill those elective credits for those students and leverage them better in the job market. Currently, the school system offers few vocational learning opportunities in the school itself, mostly known as the CTE programs, such as culinary and TV production. In high school, I participated in TV production and helped lead the live stream program. This program was highly beneficial to students who wanted to go into that career, as it taught them the proper care of gear and how to transport them, along with how to use live stream software you would not use in the classroom, along with the camera movements and hustle of what went into the streams. These streams of sporting events were broadcast on YouTube for families to watch for free. This past year, the school signed a livestream contract with an AI company that removed all human interaction. The ball was now tracked by an AI camera and livestreamed on their own site, which created a paywall forcing families to pay to watch the game. Most of all, they signed a non-competition contract, which shut down the livestream program. The school system took a student-led vocational program and made it into an easy money grab. We need to increase programs like the livestream program that was at Hagerty High School to every school, and create lasting partners with local businesses to equip our youth with career readiness. Editor’s note: Seminole County Public Schools spokesperson Katherine Crnkovich said that yes many schools now have a contract with the National Federation of High Schools for a paid subscription service to watch games, but “Student groups can still broadcast events as part of their curriculum. This contract in no way prohibits students from having that opportunity.”
3. More transparency: Currently, the school lacks transparency and clear communication with parents, students, teachers and staff. This was evident when an email was sent to all principals in Seminole County, informing them that all out-of-state and overnight field trips would not be approved. This led to a flood of worried parents, teachers, staff and students attending the school board meeting to express their concerns. The board members then issued the same message, calling the email a “rumor.” They tried to gaslight the public into believing the email was never sent and that they did not intend to cancel field trips. We need leadership that tries not to hide plans from parents and takes accountability when a mistake is made. I believe that every meeting’s agenda and slideshow should be emailed to every single parent, staff member, teacher and student prior to the meeting, and the recording should be emailed afterward. It is also interesting that the school board holds its workshop meetings to discuss important topics around noon on weekdays. Holding meetings at this time prevents parents, students, staff and teachers from participating, as parents are at work, students are in school and teachers are teaching. If we want clear communication, we need to have these meetings at a time when everyone in the community can participate. I believe it is also important that parents and students alike know the policies and procedures of the schools. A student handbook should be emailed to every parent and student covering policies such as the dress code, absentee policy, makeup work, cheating, etc., along with the consequences of breaking each policy. This will allow parents and students to know all the rules and be aware of what happens if a student breaks them. These handbooks should also include important contact information for everyone at the district level, such as the superintendent and school board members. All school board members should be open to hearing the concerns of parents and students. There should also be a requirement for a class’s syllabus to cover every single topic taught in class, including the textbooks used, along with any books they may read. This syllabus must be signed by a parent. This will ensure that parents know exactly what is being taught in every class their child is involved in. Overall, our community is a team. From teachers and students to parents and school board members, we need to have open communication with each other. We should not work against each other or hide things, but rather work together to deliver a better education.

How should the district handle teacher shortages? The best way we can handle teacher shortages is to start promoting the career opportunity. The current board is doing the same old job fair it has been doing for years, but we can level up our school district in so many more ways. For students interested in becoming a teacher one day, we can have them shadow elementary and middle school teachers as part of a vocational program, which would allow them to get hands-on experience in the career.

We can also partner with colleges to hold after-school programs that would explain what goes into being a teacher, what degree you need and how much it can cost. We can also sponsor more scholarships with the revenue we bring in from local business support for those seeking to join the career path of teaching. The shortage of teachers is across the country, but what we can do is leverage the teacher experience that students can gain in our school system. We have the mentors — it’s the teachers. Let’s give the students an opportunity to see the behind-the-scenes work of these teachers, and set up the students who are interested in that career path with experience and knowledge of what to expect.

Florida ranked last in the nation for academic growth in reading. How would you improve that? While this is a complex situation, there are many things we can do that we are not already doing. Starting with supporting our local libraries, we can arrange field trips for every first grader to go to the local Seminole libraries to get a library card and learn how to properly look for a book, while also exploring what our local libraries offer.

If we can get students interested in reading on their own, they are more likely to read outside of the classroom and improve. Practice makes perfect. I believe that, as a school district, we should host reading competitions and award students at our school board meetings. This will encourage students to continue reading. Most of all, we need to retain the best teachers we have. As the school board fires more and more teachers each year, we need to make sure we prioritize the teachers and educators who make our school system what it is within our budget. Not to mention, if we do go over our budget, we will launch the largest fundraising efforts to ensure that we do not lose teachers; they should be the last on the chopping block, not the first.

What changes, if any, would you make to school safety policies? This year, we saw multiple times how our school safety policies have failed us. In two of our high schools, students brought guns on campus. Although they had no harmful intentions, this is still a serious concern. Furthermore, there was a lack of clear communication to parents after these incidents occurred.

On the flip side, there was an incident where special AI detectors misidentified a musical instrument as a firearm. Luckily, this was just a pilot program, and hopefully, it is not something we will move forward with after these errors. What needs to happen is that every parent and student must know the school rules, specifically what is and is not allowed on campus. We have been too afraid to speak about guns in schools, even though nearly half the population owns a firearm or has lived in a house with a gun, according to a YouGov poll. We should teach our students that guns have no place in school, instead of avoiding the topic entirely. A clear policy needs to be written to inform parents and students of this. There has also been confusion about whether guns can be kept in student cars while parked in the student lots.

To fix these failures and protect our students, I will push to implement the following policies:

• Establish a clear student safety handbook. The simple solution is to send these rules to parents and students in a mandatory student handbook. This handbook will explicitly state that firearms are strictly prohibited everywhere on campus, including inside student vehicles parked in school lots. When students and parents know the exact rules and the consequences of breaking them, it will discourage students from attempting to break them. 
• Mandatory Crisis Communication Protocol: We cannot leave parents in the dark. I will implement a strict policy requiring immediate, transparent, and accurate updates to families during and after any security event to eliminate confusion and maintain community trust. 
• Halt and re-evaluate flawed AI security tech: I will oppose rolling out expensive AI weapon detection systems across the district. We must halt these programs until the technology is proven reliable enough to tell the difference between a musical instrument and a weapon.
• Proactive campus education: We must stop avoiding the topic. I support integrating realistic, age-appropriate educational initiatives that explicitly teach students why weapons have absolutely no place in an environment of learning. 
• One unified safety program: Each school has different software, security cameras, and equipment. We need to unify them so that the Sheriff’s Department can easily access all of them at once in case of, God forbid, a multiple-school attack. What we also need to do is make a safer environment for schools. While attending Hagerty High School every year, we answered a survey on where we felt less safe, and time and time again it was the bathroom, simply because students vape and do drugs in there.