Next month, Florida voters will head to the polls for a primary election, with a couple of significant county races set to be decided.
On Aug. 20, the office of sheriff will come down to Republicans Al Nienhuis and Joe Puglia, who as the only two candidates from either party will appear on all ballots. Since the winner will be unopposed in the general election on Nov. 5, there will be no need for that race to go any further, thus making it an open primary.
The incumbent Nienhuis has held the position since 2011 and is seeking to win his fourth straight election. Puglia is a retired NYPD officer looking to unseat him.
Also appearing on every ballot as an open primary will be the county commissioner for District 1, where incumbent Beth Kirshy Narverud, currently the commission chairperson, is running against fellow Republican Ryan
Amsler.
There are no Democrats running in District 1 and only one apiece in Districts 3 and 5. However, Kathleen Cummings, the lone Democrat in the District 5 race, passed away suddenly on July 6. The Hernando County Democrat Party has said it will submit a new nominee for the general election.
Thus, candidates for Districts 3 and 5 will only appear on Republican ballots and the winners will move on to the general election. John Allocco in the incumbent in District 3, going up against Marvin Baynham. Steve Champion will attempt to keep his seat in District 5 against Pam Everett.
The nonpartisan School Board District 4 race will additionally be on all ballots, featuring three candidates. Michelle Bonczek, Mark E. Cioffi and Gregg Laskoski are all vying for the seat currently held by Gus Guadagnino. Someone will need to garner 50 percent of the vote or else the top two will face off in the general election.
Property appraiser will be on the Republican ballots, as Kevin Johnston and Randy Mazourek are looking for the opportunity to go against Seth Noe, who qualified for the general election as a write-in candidate.
Republicans will have to choose between incumbent Rick Scott, John S. Columbus or Keith Gross for the nomination in the U.S. Senate race. Democrats will pick between Stanley Campbell, Rod Joseph, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell and Brian
Rush.
Also, the Republican nominee for the House of Representative District 12 seat will be decided, between incumbent Gus Bilirakis and Hank Dunlap. Rock Aboujaoude Jr. is already the Democratic nominee.
Finally, three circuit court judges for the 5th Judicial Circuit are on the ballot this election cycle. Voters can pick between Erin Daly and Derek Saltsman in Group 7, Heidi Davis and Zach McCormick in Group 13, and Ben Boylston and Barbara Kissner Kwatkosky in Group 20. One candidate must earn 50 percent of the vote to avoid the race going to the general election.
Sample ballots for Democrats, Republicans and nonpartisan votes are now available at www.hernandovotes.gov.
