Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect that that Melissa Dukes McNeal won the Union County District 3 election. It was previously reported that there would be a runoff in November. We apologize for the error.
Union supports library funding again
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
Bradford’s election Aug. 20 went to the incumbents, with Superintendent of Schools Will Hartley winning the Republican primary and Candace Osteen and Diane Andrews retaining their seats on the school board and county commission.
Hartley’s win places him on the November general election ballot with Alan Bhajan, who qualified to run as nonpartisan.
Hartley won with a massive lead over fellow Republican Tracey Kendrick. More than 70% of the 3,881 votes cast went to Hartley in the countywide primary.
Osteen was facing two challengers, Dana Bell and Mitchell Gunter, and a possible runoff in November, but she won the day with nearly 59% of the 1,244 votes cast in District 4. Bell had nearly 26%, with the remainder going to Gunter.
District 5 chose to keep Andrews on the county commission with more than 56% of the voters selecting her in a tighter race against Brian Outlaw.
Bradford voters also showed overwhelming support for Senate candidates Rick Scott, the Republican candidate, and Debbie Mucarsel-Powell in the Democratic primary. Scott received nearly 83% of the vote in Bradford, and Mucarsel-Powell received nearly 56%. Rep. Kat Cammack also won Bradford with nearly 92% of the vote.
Mucarsel-Powell won the Democratic primary overall and will run against Scott for his seat.
Cammack won the Republican nomination in the 3rd Congressional District and will run against Democrat Tom Wells, who was unopposed for than nomination.
With 58% of the vote in Union County, incumbent Kellie Hendricks Rhoades held onto the clerk of court’s office, defeating fellow Republican Ryan Perez in the countywide election.
Union’s District 3 county commission seat went to Melissa Dukes McNeal with just over 37% of the vote. Danny Tomlinson received nearly 21%. Shelton “Junior” Arnold received 18.64%, Martie V. Touchstone 12.83%, Chad Ali 9.26% and Ed Dwight Rainey 1.34%.
Nearly 82% voted to pass the Union County Public Library funding referendum.
Almost 80% supported Sen. Scott, 42.5% supported Mucarsel-Powell and nearly 94% voted for Rep. Cammack.
The Republican primary for state representative from District 20 went to Judson Sapp with nearly 72% of the vote in Clay County compared to Jamie Watts. Sapp won districtwide and will face Democrat Tony Connolly in November.
Clay votes also went nearly 86% for Scott and more than 67% for Mucarsel-Powell.
Clay’s District 2 school board race was tight, with Robert Alvero (30.14%) and Jim Hughes (24.45%) receiving enough votes to continue to November.
The tight race for circuit judge ended with barely over the top Nancy Cleaveland with more than 51% of the votes cast.
Voter turnout was less than 27% in Bradford, more than 41.5% in Union and less than 19% in Clay.
