Primary elections brought some surprise early wins and a few losses for candidates running for local office in Central Florida
Take an in-depth look at what took place in local races in Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties on the August 18, 2020 primary election.
Orange County Commission Races
There will be one new Commissioner this term in Orange County. Orange County Commission Races are non-partisan. Candidates who receive 50% of the votes plus become the winner of the seat. If no candidate reaches that threshold, a run-off election takes place in November.
District 1 Commissioner
Betsy Vanderley was defeated by challenger Nicole Wilson. Nicole Wilson will be sworn into office in early December.
- Betsy Vanderley – 42.45%
- Nicole Wilson – 57.12%
District 3 Commissioner
Mayra Uribe faced former Commissioner Pete Clark as well as candidate Bill Moore. She won her re-election last night.
- Mayra Uribe – 58.70%
- Pete Clark – 30.93%
- Bill Moore – 10.97%
District 5 Commissioner
Commissioner Bonilla faced challengers Mike Miller, former State Representative and Anjali Vaya, PLI Graduate. Emily narrowly won outright last night.
- Emily Bonilla – 51.14%
- Mike Miller – 29.17%
- Anjali Vaya – 19.69%
Orange County School Board
These races are non-partisan. Candidates who receive 50 percent of the votes plus on become the winner of the seat. If no candidate reaches that threshold, a run-off election takes place in November.
School Board District 4
Pam Gould drew 2 opponents. She will face Prince Brown, who is a PLI graduate in a run-off in the general election.
- Pam Gould – 48.31%
- Prince Brown – 31.90%
- Dayna Gaut – 19.78%
School Board District 5
This was an open Seat with three contenders. Vicie-Elaine Felder and former State Representative Bruce Antone will face each other in a run-off in the general election.
- Bruce Antone – 31.51%
- Vicki-Elaine Felder – 40.55%
- Michael “Mike” Scott – 27.93%
School Board District 6
Karen Castor-Dentel drew opponent Jonathan Hacker. Karen Castor-Dental won outright last night and will get another term.
- Karen Castor Dental – 72.46%
- Jonathan Hacker – 27.54%
School Board District 7
Melissa Mitchell Byrd, another PLI graduate, drew 2 opponents but won outright with more than 50% of the vote. She will have another term on the school board.
- Melissa Byrd – 56.48%
- Ericka Bell – 25.17%
- Jeannetta Maxena – 18.35%
Orange County Constitutional Offices
Constitutional Offices are partisan races. However, there were no Republican primaries in any of the Orange County Constitutional races.
- Clerk of Courts Tiffany Moore Russell won unopposed
- Comptroller Phil Diamond won unopposed
- Orange County Tax Collector Scott Randolph won unopposed
- Orange County Supervisor of Elections Bill Cowles won unopposed
Orange County Property Appraiser
Incumbant Rick Singh faced two challengers in the Democratic Primary. Khalid Muneer and Amy Mercado. There were no Republicans which means that Amy Mercado will only face write-in opposition in the General Election. She will be our next Property Appraiser.
- Rick Singh – 31.29%
- Khalid Muneer – 8.69%
- Amy Mercado – 60.03%
Orange County Sheriff
Orange County Sheriff picked up four opponents in the Democratic Primary. There were no Republicans which means that John Mina will continue to serve another term as Sherrif.
- John Mina – 54.36%
- Andrew Darling – 15.06%
- Jose “Joe” Lopez – 13.86%
- Eric McIntyre – 7.92%
- Daryl Shephard – 8.79%
Seminole County Commission Races
These races are partisan.
District 1 Commissioner – Republican Primary
Incumbent Bob Dallari drew a Republican primary opponent. He won last night’s race and will face Democrat, Katrina Shadix in the general election.
- Bob Dallari – 60.16%
- Matt Morgan – 39.84%
District 3 Commissioner – Republican Primary
Incumbent Lee Constantine drew a Republican primary opponent. He won last night’s race and will face Democrat, Kim Buchheit in the general election
- Lee Constantine – 66.37%
- Ben Paris – 33.64%
District 5 Commissioner – Democratic Primary
Pernell Bush won the Democratic primary and will face Republican, Andria Herr, Libertarian, Andre Klass, and write-in, Blaize McMonagle in the general election.
- Pernell Bush – 70.77%
- Mike Clelland – 29.23%
Seminole County School Board
These races are non-partisan.
School Board District 3
Incumbent Abby Sanchez won against Veronica King, retaining her current seat.
- Abby Sanchez – 63.12%
- Veronica L. King – 36.77%
Seminole County Constitutional Offices
These races are partisan.
Clerk of the Court and Comptroller
There was no primary election. However, incumbent Grant Maloy will face a Democratic challenger in the general election.
Seminole County Tax Collector
This is an open seat. Republican Primary. J.R. Kroll will face Democrat, Lynn Moira Dictor in the general election.
- Jeff “J.R.” Kroll – 55.81%
- Brian Beute – 44.19%
Seminole County Supervisor of Elections
There is no primary election. However, incumbent and PLI graduate Chris Anderson will face Democrat, Deborah Poulalion in the general election.
Seminole County Property Appraiser
No primary elections. However, incumbent David Johnson will face former Mayor of Sanford and NPA, Jeff Triplett in the general election.
Seminole County Sheriff
There is no primary election. However, incumbent Dennis Lemma will face Democrat, Paul Spike Hopkins in the general election.
Osceola County Commission Races
These races are partisan.
District 1 Commissioner
Incumbent Peggy Choudhry drew two opponents. Former Commissioner Mark Harford and Kissimmee Mayor Jose Alvarez. There is no opposition from the Republican Party for this seat. Commissioner Choudhry was able to retain her seat last night and will have a second term.
- Peggy Choudhry – 50.41%
- Mike Harford – 36.59%
- Jose Alvarez – 40.34%
District 3 Commissioner
Incumbent Brandon Arrington had no opposition in the primary. He will face Libertarian and NPA candidates in the General Election.
District 5 Commissioner
This is an open seat that was occupied by Fred Hawkins who is now running for the State Legislature. School Board member Ricky Booth (R) faced Wayne Liebnitzky (R) in a primary last night. Ricky Booth will now face Democrat, Tahitiana Chaffin in the General Election
- Ricky Booth – 71.66%
- Wayne Liebnitzky – 28.34%
Osceola County School Board
These races are non-partisan. Candidates who receive 50% of the votes plus on become the winner of the seat. If no candidate reaches that threshold, a run-off election takes place in November.
School Board District 2
This is an open seat that was vacated by Kelvin Soto who ran for Clerk of Courts. Julius Melendez will face a run-off against Kerly Santos in the general election.
- Jochua “Jochy” Cora Santiago – 24.90%
- Julius Melendez – 47.22%
- Kerly Santos – 27.87%
School Board District 3
This is an open seat. John Aguello, PLI graduate won outright.
- John Arguello – 51.97%
- Casmore Alfonso Shaw 48.03%
School Board District 5
This seat was vacated by Ricky Booth who is running for County Commission.
- Robert Bass – 67.25%
- Jeffrey Rivera – 32.75%
Osceola County Constitutional Offices
Constitutional Offices are partisan races. However, there were no Republican primaries in any of the Orange County Constitutional races.
Osceola County Clerk of Courts
School Board Member Kelvin Soto ran in this open seat against former legislator John Cortes and 2 others. Soto won outright last night and is the new Osceola County Clerk of Courts.
- John Cortes – 22.64%
- Jossue Lorenzo – 13.96%
- Armando Ramirez – 20.38%
- Kelvin Soto – 43.02%
Osceola County Tax Collector
Incumbent Bruce Vickers won his election outright last night.
- Orlando Gonzalez – 32.71%
- Bruce Vickers – 67.29%
Osceola County Supervisor of Elections
Incumbent Mary Jane Arrington won her election last night and will face an NPA candidate in the general election.
- Mary Jane Arrington – 69.11%
- Jaime Matos – 30.89%
Osceola County Property Appraiser
Incumbent Katrina Scarboro did not have a primary election but will face an NPA opponent in the general.
Osceola County Sherriff
Russ Gibson was not able to hold on to his seat and was defeated in the primary by Marco Lopez. He faces an NPA opponent in the general election.
- Mike Fisher – 28.96%
- Russ Gibson – 34.45%
- Marco Lopez – 36.59%
