The Citrus Peel

Today marks the fifth day of Early Voting in Citrus County, Florida, and this article is for those of us who have not yet voted and want the scoop on all the candidates and the voting process. This article is meant to be a non-partisan review of each candidate with links to information on the candidates as well as the candidate’s website. It will also provide information and reminders on how a closed primary works, when, where, and how you can vote, and finally where you can find more information if you have any further questions. As a former employee of the Supervisor of Elections Office here in Citrus County, I am well versed in the concerns and question of voters as they relate to the voting process, and I am writing this article to provide a one-stop-shop for all your questions!

What is a “Closed Primary”?

Florida is one of fourteen other states and the District of Columbia that have a Closed Primary. Essentially what this means is that during the Primary, the election that determines what candidates will be on the ballot for the General Election, you can only vote for candidates in your own party. However, if a race does not have candidates of more than one party running for that office, members of another party would still be able to vote on that race. For example, if I am a registered member of the Democratic party, I will only be able to vote for which Democratic candidate goes on to the General Election. I would only be able to vote for a Republican candidate if there are no Democrats running for that office. For example, there are Republican and Democratic candidates running for United States Senator in Citrus County’s congressional district, so I will only be able to vote for which Democratic candidate I want to go on to the General Election. However, there are only Republican candidates running for the office of County Commissioner Districts 1 and 3, therefore these races become a “Universal Primary Contest” where members of any party (Democrat, Republican, or Third Party affiliated) will be able to vote for a Republican candidate, and because there are only Republican candidates in this race, these races will not go on to the General but will instead be decided in the primary. If you still have questions, you can review your Sample Ballot or Vote By Mail ballot sent to you in the mail. Sample Ballots are also available at http://www.votecitrus.gov, where you can click “Election Information” then “Sample Ballots” to look at what races and candidates you can vote for.

What is My Registration Status?

If you are registered to vote in Citrus County, you can find out information like what party you are affiliated with, what address you are registered under, where your polling place is, and more by going to votecitrus.gov and clicking “My Registration Status”. If you are not registered in Citrus County or need to make changes to your voter registration, you can call the Citrus County Supervisor of Elections Office at (352) 564-7120. Remember that on election day you can only vote at the polling place affiliated with your address, so it is important that your address is up to date and you know where your polling place is. It may be somewhere different that you think!

When, Where, and How to Vote

When

Early Voting is going from August 9th to August 17th from 9am to 6pm. If you prefer to vote on Election Day, it will be held August 20th, and polls will be open from 7am to 7pm. If you need accommodations due to disability, please call the Supervisor of Elections ahead of time to arrange them at (352) 564-9623.

Where

During Early Voting you can cast your ballot or submit a Vote-By-Mail ballot at any of these five locations:

• Citrus County Supervisor of Elections, 1500 N. Meadowcrest Blvd., Crystal River, FL, 34429
• Central Ridge Community Center, 77 Civic Circle, Beverly Hills, FL, 34465
• Homosassa Public Library, 4100 S Grandmarch Ave., Homosassa, FL, 34446
• Inverness City Hall, 212 W Main St., Inverness, FL, 34450
• Central Ridge Library, 425 W. Roosevelt Blvd. Beverly Hills, FL, 34465

Please remember that you can only vote or submit a Vote-By-Mail ballot at these locations during Early Voting, however, on Election Day, you must vote at your designated polling location. As well, on Election Day, Vote-By-Mail ballots must be submitted directly to the Supervisor of Elections Office in order to be received in time to be counted.

How

Of course who you vote for is up to you, but here are a few reminders before heading to the polls to avoid any complications.

You must present an acceptable form of ID that includes your photo and signature. For example, you may use your Florida Driver’s License, Passport, or other Valid ID. For a full list of ID’s, you can review the “Citrus County Voter Guide” available at the bottom of the home page at votecitrus.gov. If you are without your ID on Election Day, you will be allowed to vote a Provisional Ballot.

You can vote at any of the Early Voting locations during Early Voting (8/9/24 – 8/17/24 from 9am to 6pm ), but by law, you must vote at your polling place on Election Day (8/20/2024 from 7am to 7pm).

If you are casting a Vote-By-Mail Ballot, it must be signed and submitted by 7pm on August 20th to the Citrus County Supervisor of Elections Office. Postage is pre-paid by the Supervisor, but remember to allow ample time for delivery. You can also submit these ballots to any of the five Early Voting Locations during Early Voting. However, on Election Day, you CANNOT submit these ballots to your polling place. You MUST submit them to the Supervisor of Elections Office.

Who are the Candidates?

For each race, I will include the names of all the candidates of all parties in the race. I will provide a very brief description of the candidate’s background and/or platform depending on the information available. I will also include links to their website or other places where you can find more information. Please keep in mind that this review is by no means extensive, but I have written it for those who want a quick run down or a way to find resources on each candidate. I will be listing the races in the order that they appear on the ballot and listing Democrat candidates, Republican Candidates, then Third Party Candidates.

United States Senator

• Stanley Campbell, Democrat: A Florida native, Stanley Campbell is a U.S. Navy veteran, who also served as CEO and on the advisory board for NASA. He has been affiliated with NAACP, and according to an interview with Ballotpedia, the three cornerstones of his campaign are on providing access to better healthcare, shoring up Medicare and Social Security, and improving national security. You can read the rest of this interview here.
• Rod Joseph, Democrat: Rod Joseph was born in Haiti and immigrated to the United States where he served in the U.S. Army, earning a Purple Heart for his service. He plans on tackling immigration reform, focusing on climate and agricultural issues unique to Florida, implementing reforms to the criminal justice system, and education reform that would promote involvement from families and communities. You can find more information about his campaign at his website here.
• Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, Democrat: Mucarsel-Powell served in the United States House of Representatives from 2019 to 2021, where she was assigned to the Committee for Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Judiciary. She makes similar promises to the other candidate with the addition of proposals to reduce high costs of living and inflation and protections for women’s reproductive rights. You can find a list of how she voted while in congress here.
• Brian Rush, Democrat: Rush worked as an attorney and also served in the US House of Representatives where he tackled “important social and fiscal issues” according to his website. He is has similar stances to his fellow democrats on the ticket with the addition of proposals for tax reform to combat budget deficits. You can find more information on Rush’s website here.
• John S. Columbus, Republican: Columbus describes himself as “the modern, millennial Florida-Man” with an emphasis on providing a fresh, young perspective to the Senate. He also is a proponent of bipartisan change, “I would help foster an environment where both sides win, instead of working to completely defeat each other.” He takes a more nuanced perspective on abortion, describing himself as pro-life but not anti-choice, and he is also a proponent of conservation efforts, iterating a desire to preserve natural treasures in Florida for future generations. You can find more information on his website here.
• Keith Gross, Republican: In contrast to his Columbus, Gross favors a more MAGA centered approach to Republican politics. While he does not go into detail on policy on his website or in his interview with Ballotpedia, he does say, “Our nation was founded on the idea of individual liberty. With those liberties must come accountability. When we give endless handouts to people, or allow the woke socialist ideas continue, the incentive to make good decisions is eliminated.” He also mentions an emphasis on securing the US southern border and says that the government should provide fewer social services to citizens of the United States in favor of fiscal conservatism. See more here and here.
• Rick Scott, Republican: Former Florida Governor, Rick Scott is a US Navy veteran and the incumbent for the US Senate seat. Rick Scott lays out his 12-point, “Rescue America” plan on his website. This plan includes banning diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in favor of what he calls “Color Blind Equality”. While he does oppose access to abortion, he does say, “We will help low-income single women who are considering abortion choose life instead, by paying all costs associated with carrying the child to term and placing the child for adoption.” He wants to limit costs associated with adoption and also proposes initiatives to force fathers to pay child-support or face jail time. He also proposes tax cuts and cutting federal government agencies in favor of transforming them into local agencies. Although he does not go into great detail about how he will implement these initiatives, you can read more about his many proposed policies on his website.

United States Congressional District 12

Please note that as there is only one democrat competing in this race therefore they will not be on the Democratic ballot in the Primary. The two Republican candidates will be on the Republican Primary ballot to decide who will go up against Rock Aboujaoude Jr. in General Election. I have included all three candidates here.

• Rock Aboujaoude Jr, Democrat: Rock Aboujaoude Jr. has served as the director of Campus Climate Corps at the University of Florida, and the National Legislative Director of the National Association of Graduate-Professional Students. While there is not any detailed information available on his campaign promises, he seems to be running on a platform focused on an increased emphasis on climate change initiatives. The Tampa Bay Times calls him, “A self-described ‘regular guy’” who “doesn’t believe [Republican Rep. Gus] Bilirakis’ constituents are having their interests represented in Washington.” A link to his Ballotpedia page is available here.
• Gus Bilirakis, Republican: As the seat’s incumbent, Bilirakis has served in House of Representatives since 2006. In an interview with Ballotpedia, he states, “In a time when severe partisanship has plagued our nation, I’ve been rated as Florida’s Most Bipartisan Member of Congress, with 11 bills I have authored being signed into law since 2019.” He also touts his involvement in improving Veterans benefits, and he has served on the Committee for Energy and Commerce and the House Committee of Veterans’ Affairs. For a closer look as his key votes, you can find them here.
• Henry Dunlap, Republican: In contrast to Bilirakis’ interest in reaching across the isle to form bipartisan bills, Dunlap’s statements and policy’s are more in line with the stark divide of partisan politics. Dunlap is opposed to DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) in any capacity, and overall, he is a proponent of smaller government and decreased federal spending. In an interview with Ballotpedia, he stated that one of the three key messages of his campaign is, “An all-out effort on the Federal level to banish any relationship, with both private and public entities that foster the dogma of DEI or ESG or any form of Anti-American communistic philosophy.” For more information on the differences between Bilirakis and Dunlap, I recommend this article from the Citrus County Chronicle.

Sheriff

• Mike Pendergast, Republican: Pendergast is the incumbent Sheriff in Citrus County, and he has served as Sheriff since he was elected in 2016. His main goals when elected in 2016 were to tackle drug crime and provide competitive salaries for deputies, dispatchers, and support staff. The Sheriff boasts having made headway in both of these goals, but says that he is running because there is still more work to be done. Pendergast has faced some backlash from the Citrus Trump 47 Club for assisting in the arrest of January 6th rioter, Jesse Rumson, however, the club supported him for the first six years of his time in office. If you’re interested in these issues, you can read an article by local writer, Jim Wright, here.
• David Vincent, Republican: Similarly to Pendergast, Vincent’s campaign focuses on tackling drug crime and increasing the county’s traffic division to provide more traffic safety. He goes further to say that he plans on investing in necessary technology, such as body cameras, to provide the public with transparency on policing. Vincent’s website is a wealth of information on the candidate, and the chronicle has an interview with him that you can watch here.

Superintendent of Schools

• Scott Hebert, Republican: Dr. Scott Hebert’s website provides a quote on his vision, “Dr. Hebert’s leadership philosophy centers on open collaboration with teachers, students, parents, and the community. He champions a conducive learning environment—free from distractions—where every student thrives and where every student will learn the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate an ever-changing world.” His website also details a few issues and his stances on them, and is definitely worth taking a look.
• Jason Koon, Republican: I actually had the chance to speak with a supporter of Koon’s when taking the picture for this post, and he described Koon as, “A really salt of the earth kind of guy.” Jason Koon is the current principal at Lecanto High School and has been for eight years, “Vowing to break barriers and elevate Lecanto further, previous leaders served as mentors. The goal? Striking a balance between academics, sports, clubs, industry certifications, and innovative practices.” Like Hebert, Koon seems to focus on collaboration for educators and families. You can find more about his background and stances on his website.

Supervisor of Elections

• Maureen “Mo” Baird, Republican: The incumbent in the race, the Honorable Mo Baird has worked at the Citrus County Supervisor of Elections since 1985 and has served as Supervisor since 2020. According to Supervisor’s website, “The security of Citrus County elections, along with integrity, trust and transparency are top priorities for her office. Voter Education and Community Outreach are are also important and have become weekly events since taking office.” As a former employee in the office, I can echo these sentiments. Mo Baird is focused on accuracy and security in our elections, and she and her staff work tirelessly to help voters make their voice heard.
• Tifani Long, Republican: Long is running on a platform of streamlining processes used by the Elections Office, improving culture in the workplace, and educating voters, and especially young voters, on the voting process and technology used in our elections. Her website provides detailed information on her stances and how she plans on improving the Elections Office if she were to be elected Supervisor.

County Commissioner District 1:

• Curtiss “CJ” Bryant, Republican: CJ Bryant is running on a platform of promoting proactive planning as Citrus County continues to grow. On his website, he states, “I’m running to fight against pet projects with unlimited budgets, unrestricted growth, and a non-transparent budget where it is difficult to see how your tax dollars are being used.” If you are interested in learning more about his plans, I recommend listening to his interview with the Citrus County Chronicle.
• Jeff Kinnard, Republican: Jeff Kinnard has served on the BOCC since 2016. The BOCC’s website provides this quote about Kinnard: “Jeff’s philosophy is that of managed growth while protecting and promoting the natural resources such a special place.  His goal is to restore common sense, conservative values, and managed growth practices to Citrus County.” If you are interested in learning more, you can listen to his interview with the Citrus County Chronicle.

County Commissioner District 3:

• Janet A. Barek, Republican: Janet describes herself as “The Government Watchdog”, and is very involved in many local civic organizations, including the Beverly Hills and Citrus Springs Civics Associations. Her main focuses according to her website are residential roads, lowering taxes for homeowners, and managed growth. Janet has her background as an educator, and she regularly attends and participates in BOCC meetings. There is a link to her website here.
• Ruthie Davis Schlabach, Republican: As the incumbent, Schlabach as served on the BOCC since 2020. She has championed the completion of 491’s expansion, a new Animal Shelter, and residential road resurfacing in the county. Her vision involves bringing industries to Citrus to provide new job opportunities and expanding housing development. For more information, you can visit her website.

Circuit Judge: 5th Judicial Circuit, Group 7

• Erin Daly: Daly has been involved in some aspect of the legal system for 35 years. She has been recognized for her work in bringing justice to victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse. She also works with local organizations and charities such as the Children Advocacy Center. I recommend reading this article over her or checking out her website for more information.
• Derek Saltsman: Saltsman has practiced law for over twenty years, and is currently the Assistant Regional Criminal Counsel and Supervising Attorney at the Office of Regional Criminal Conflict Counsel, 5th District. Before serving this position, he ran his own firm. For more information, I recommend checking out his website.

Circuit Judge, 5th Judicial Circuit, Group 13

• Heidi Davis: Davis is the incumbent and has served in the position for nearly 14 years and in the judiciary for nearly 25 years. She touts many glowing reviews from those who have worked with her on her website.
• Zach McCormick: McCormick is a constitutional originalist who has been practiced law since 2010, first as a public defender then in private practice. He has served the past two years as the Chairman of the Judicial Nominating Committee. You can find more information on his website.

Circuit Judge, 5th Judicial Circuit, Group 20

• Ben Boylston: Ben Boylston has been practicing law since 2005 and has owned his own practice since 2013. Boylston has served in many institutions such as the Lake County Bar Association, and he is active with the Boys and Girls Club of Lake and Sumter Counties. A few cornerstones of his campaign include promises to keep the courtroom fair and impartial, provide equal access to all, and to uphold the US and Florida State Constitutions. You can find his website here.
• Barbara Kissner Kwatkosky: Barbara Kissner Kwatkosky has practiced law for thirty years, including civil, criminal, and family law. She has served has a General Magistrate in the fifth circuit since 2016, and supervised and created multiple special courts including the Early Childhood Court in Sumter County and the Drug Dependency Court in Marion County. You can find more information on her website here.

County Judge, Group 3

• Amber May Thomas: Thomas has been practicing law in Florida since 2013 and for the past eleven years she has served as a Trial Court Staff Attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit in Hernando and Citrus Counties. She states, “If elected as your next Citrus County Judge, I pledge to uphold the highest standards of judicial integrity and fairness. Every case that comes before me will be met with unbiased attention and a commitment to due process, ensuring that each individual receives the fair and equitable treatment they deserve under the law.” If you are interested in learning more about Thomas, you can find a bio here or listen to her interview with the Citrus County Chronicle.
• Lisa Yeager: Yeager has been practicing law since 2001. She has held various positions in her long career including serving the State Attorney’s Office, running her own firm, and running the Juvenile and Intake Divisions in Citrus County. She describes her Judicial philosophy as follows: “I believe that cases should be decided based on the law. Whether that law is from the Constitution, the legislature or legal precedent. A judge should not allow their personal or political preferences to influence the decision.” You can find her bio here or listen to her interview with the Citrus County Chronicle.

School Board Member, District 2

• Ken Frink: Ken Frink has been active on several boards in the area, including the BOCC, and he has served as the Assistant County Administrator. He promises to push for transparency with parents and innovations in curriculum to better prepare students for skills needed in an evolving job market. Number one of Frink’s “Contract With Parents” is “Safety First”, promising proactive safety measures in Citrus County schools. You can find the rest of his Contract With Parents on his website.
• Laura Gatling-Wright: Gatling-Wright has been at teacher for 14 years, accumulating not only the experience as a parent but also as a educator. As such, her campaign emphasizes transparency and parental involvement, while also striving to give educators the resources and training they need to create academic excellence in classrooms. In addition, her campaign promises to bring initiatives like increased teacher pay in order to retain and attract skilled educators to our district. More information is available on her website.
• Dale Marie Merrill: Merrill has her MBA and JD and practiced law for twenty years. She also served a substitute teacher in Citrus County. She is advocating for behavioral interventions and business skills that will produce productive members of society. Dale Marie Merrill is also promoting a focus on student mental health. For more information, you can check out her website.
• Victoria L. Smith: Smith has been a teacher for over 25 years, serving as President of the Citrus County Education Association for 10 years. She has advocated for legislation in Tallahassee to improve education and conditions for students, teacher, and support staff. Smith’s vision involves a collaboration between teachers, students, parents, and administrators to create a better district for all. She wants to increase teacher and support staff compensation to retain and attract skilled professionals, while also remaining transparent and collaborative with the public on balancing the budget for the district. For more information on her policies, you can check out her website.