by ROCCO MAGLIO
Hernando Sun Writer
Most people found the results of the election mixed. People on both ends of the political spectrum have wins and losses in this election.
The Hernando County area and the state of Florida trended to the Republican side of the aisle for the 2018 general election. Voters approved 11 out of the 12 constitutional amendments on the ballot. The approval of Amendment 4, restoring felons voting rights, could possibly sway future elections in favor of Democrats. It also makes the process for restoring rights to felons who have served their time less opaque.
Very tight governor and US senate races in Florida kept voters on the edge of their seats Tuesday night. As of 7AM Wednesday morning, the US Senate race between Rick Scott and Bill Nelson had not been declared. With 100% of precincts reporting, Scott led Nelson by 34,537 votes with over 8 million ballots cast.
Desantis narrowly defeated Gillum to take the role of Florida Governor. He received roughly 55,000 votes over his democratic opponent Andrew Gillum as of 7 AM Wednesday morning with 99% of precincts reporting. Republicans are no doubt relieved as 4 Florida Supreme Court Justice picks will go to DeSantis after he is sworn in.
Locally, Hernando County had a considerable voter turnout for a midterm general election at 60.78%. For the previous midterm general in 2014, there was only a 52% voter turnout in Hernando County. The Orlando Sentinel reported that in every Central Florida county, voter turnout exceeded the 2014 midterms.
Local incumbent candidates kept their jobs. Re-elected local officials include Hernando County Commissioners Wayne Dukes (REP) and Jeff Holcomb (REP). Deborah Salvesen (DEM) fell to Dukes by 13,988 votes, while Nancy Makar (DEM) lost to Holcomb by 18,780 votes.
Incumbent Daniel Webster defeated Spring Hill local Dana Cottrell to keep his job as US Representative in Congress for District 11. State Rep Blaise Ingoglia (District 35), State Rep Ralph Massullo (District 34), State Senator Wilton Simpson (District 10) will remain in office for another term.
Jimmy Lodato will join the Hernando County School Board. Jimmy Lodato was in a runoff election against Diane Rowden. Neither candidate received over 50% of the vote in the primary, resulting in a runoff election in the general. Lodato took in 9285 votes over Rowden.
Doug Chorvat (REP) will succeed his current boss Don Barbee Jr. as Hernando County Clerk of Court and Comptroller. He brought in 26,141 votes over his opponent Michael Lamberti (NPA).
In the City of Brooksville, two former council members sparred for seat 5. Pat Brayton was elected with 215 votes over his opponent Frankie Burnett.
The Details:
Data from Hernando Supervisor of Elections preliminary report
32/32 Hernando County Precincts Reporting, Registered Voters: 81,361 of 133,862 (60.78%), Ballots Cast: 81,361
The vote counts below are for Hernando County only. This is followed by the overall outcome.
Local Races
Clerk of Circuit Court
and Comptroller
Doug Chorvat REP 51,600
Michael Lamberti NPA 25,459
Total Votes 77,059
ELECTED: CHORVAT
Board of County
Commissioners
District 2
Wayne Dukes REP 46,273
Deborah A. Salvesen DEM 32,285
Total Votes 78,558
ELECTED: DUKES
Board of County
Commissioners
District 4
Jeff Holcomb REP
48,838
Nancy Makar DEM 30,058
Total Votes 78,896
ELECTED: HOLCOMB
School Board District 3
Jimmy Lodato 41,676
Diane Rowden 32,391
Total Votes 74,067
ELECTED: LODATO
City of Brooksville,
Seat 5
Pat Brayton NPA 1,473
Frankie Burnett NPA 1,258
Total Votes 2,731
ELECTED: BRAYTON
State Representative
District 35 (Vote for 1)
Blaise Ingoglia REP 43,774
Colleen Kasperek DEM 27,551
Total Votes 71,325
ELECTED: INGOGLIA
State Representative
District 34
Ralph Massullo Jr REP 5,439
Paul John Reinhardt DEM 2,601
Total Votes 8,040
ELECTED: MASSULLO
State Senator District 10
Wilton Simpson REP 49,937
Michael Cottrell DEM 29,299
Total Votes 79,236
ELECTED: SIMPSON
Representative in
Congress District 11
Daniel Webster REP 49,338
Dana Cottrell DEM 30,365
Total Votes 79,703
ELECTED: WEBSTER
Statewide Races:
US Senator:
Rick Scott (REP): 49,470
Bill Nelson (DEM): 30,774
Total Votes 80,244
ELECTED: SCOTT
Governor/Lieutenant Governor:
Ron DeSantis REP 49,650
Andrew Gillum DEM 29,409
Darcy G. Richardson REF 730
Kyle “KC” Gibson NPA 366
Ryan Christopher Foley NPA 228
Bruce Stanley NPA 192
Total Votes 80,575
ELECTED:
RON DESANTIS
Attorney General:
Ashley Moody REP 52,193
Sean Shaw DEM 26,073
Jeffrey Marc 1,749
Total Votes 80,015
ELECTED: MOODY
Commissioner of Agriculture:
Matt Caldwell REP 48,732
Nicole “Nikki” Fried DEM 30,699
Total Votes 79,431
ELECTED: CALDWELL
Chief Financial
Officer
Jimmy Patronis REP 50,555
Jeremy Ring DEM 28,525
Total Votes 79,080
ELECTED: PATRONIS
Judges
Justice of the Supreme Court- Lawson
Yes 51,761
No 20,737
Total Votes 72,498
RETAINED
Fifth District Court of Appeal- Eisnaugle
Yes 48,259
No 23,822
Total Votes 72,081
RETAINED
Constitutional Amendments
Constitutional Amendments require 60% voter approval in order to be considered approved by the voters.
No. 1 Constitutional Amendment
Homestead Exemption Increase
Yes 49,165
No 29,308
Total Votes 78,473
NOT APPROVED
No. 2 Constitutional Amendment
Permanent Cap on Non-homestead
Parcel Assessment Increases
Yes 50,886
No 26,603
Total Votes 77,489
APPROVED
No. 3 Constitutional Amendment
Voter Approval of Casino Gambling
Yes 56,634
No 22,458
Total Votes 79,092
APPROVED
No. 4 Constitutional Amendment
Restoration for Felons’ Voting Rights
Yes 47,576
No 31,783
Total Votes 79,359
APPROVED
No. 5 Constitutional Amendment
Two-Thirds Vote of Legislature to Increase
Taxes or Fees
Yes 54,740
No 23,188
Total Votes 77,928
APPROVED
No. 6 Constitutional Revision
Marsy’s Law Crime Victim Rights
Yes 51,095
No 26,979
Total Votes 78,074
APPROVED
No. 7 Constitutional Revision
Florida First Responder and Military Member Survivor Benefits
Yes 53,677
No 23,913
Total Votes 77,590
APPROVED
No. 9 Constitutional Revision
Florida Ban on Offshore Drilling and Vaping Indoor
Yes 49,622
No 28,340
Total Votes 77,962
APPROVED
No. 10 Constitutional Revision
Florida State and Local Government Structure and Operation
Yes 52,245
No 24,188
Total Votes 76,433
APPROVED
No. 11 Constitutional Revision
Repeal Prohibition on Aliens’ Property
Ownership
Yes 44,395
No 30,606
Total Votes 75,001
APPROVED
No. 12 Constitutional Revision
Lobbying Restrictions for Elected Officials
Yes 60,670
No 16,619
Total Votes 77,289
APPROVED
No. 13 Constitutional Revision
Prohibit Dog Racing in Florida
Yes 51,218
No 27,505
Total Votes 78,723
APPROVED
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Brooksville Opinion Referendum- Fluoride
Yes 1,919
No 1,048
Total Votes 2,967
APPROVED
Brooksville City Charter Cleanup Amendment
Yes 2,098
No 672
Total Votes 2,770
APPROVED
