BY TRACY LEE TATE
Times Editor
The year 2022 is an election year and although it is a bit early to print lists of candidates, it is time to let the citizens of Lake Butler and Union County know what races will be on the ballot.
Locally, the first election will be three seats on the Lake Butler City Commission. Qualifying for the election will take place from 12 noon on Monday, May 23 through 12 noon on Friday, May 27. Seats up for election and/or retention for the city will be: Seat 3, currently held by Annette Redman, Seat 4, currently held by Jimmy Beasley and Seat 5, currently held by Fred Sirmones. The election is being supervised by Deborah Osborne, Union County Supervisor of Elections and will be held on June 28.
Three seats are also to be decided on the Union County School Board this year. Qualifying for candidates will be held from 12 noon on Monday, June 13 until 12 noon on Friday, June 17. Qualifying by petition ends at 12 noon on Monday, May 16. Three seats are to be decided this year on the school board. These are: Seat 1, currently held by Allen Parrish, who has already announced that he will be retiring and as such will not run; Seat 3, currently held by Curtis Clyatt and Seat 5, currently held by Terra Johonson. The primary, should one be necessary, will take place on Tuesday, August 23, 2022, with the General Election to be held on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022.
Two seats are to be decided on the Union County Board of Commissioners in 2022. Qualifying information for the county seats is the same as outlined in above paragraph, as are the primary and election dates. Seats to be decided in 2022 are: Seat 2, currently held by freshman commissioner Channing Dobbs and Seat 4, currently held by Lacey Cannon, also just concluding his first term this year.
It should be noted that there is still time for anyone interested in running for a city or county office to get their necessary information from the office of the Union County Supervisor of Elections and qualify to participate and serve their community.
There are also a number of offices to be decided on the federal and state level this year. On the federal level there is one seat coming up for election or retention in the U.S. Senate and all the seats in the House of Representatives (Congress). Everyone who votes will make a selection for the above mentioned positions, regardless of what effect the current redistricting process my have on exactly who will be on the ballot come the primary.
The ballot for the state races will be a full one, including both the positions of Governor and Lieutenant Governor. Also on the ballot will be: the Attorney General, the Chief Financial Officer, the Commissioner of Agriculture, State Senators (in all districts), State Representatives (in all districts), the State Attorney (6th and 12th Judicial Circuits) and the Public Defender (for the 20th Judicial Circuit). Election dates for both the state and federal elections will be the same as above for most of the county races – Tuesday, Aug. 23 for the Primary Election and Tuesday, Nov. 8 for the General Election.
Supervisor of Elections for Union County, Deborah Osborne wants all the county voters to remember to be sure and check their registration and make sure it is still valid and the address listed is still correct. She asks that voters also consider whether or not their handwriting has changed in the past few years through injury, a name change or just plain old age and, if so, to come by the elections office to sign a new signature card so to be sure that their choices will be counted in the coming elections. Information about early voting is also available, as is that for Voting by Mail.
Polling places will be announced prior to the elections and, if your assigned location is a problem you can always come to the elections office in Lake Butler to cast your vote during early voting (dates to be announced).
To find out everything you need to know to participate in one of our nation’s greatest privileges, just call or drop by the office of the Supervisor of Elections, located at 175 West Main St. in Lake Butler. The phone is (386) 496-2236. The office also hosts an information website: www.unionflvotes.com.
