As part of our commitment to providing you with what you need to make an informed decision in the 2026 elections, News 6 joined with the News Collaborative of Central Florida to present the Voting Central Florida 2026 Voter’s Guide.
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.
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[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.