Qualifying is now open for candidates wishing to serve in elected office in Milton or Gulf Breeze.
The city of Milton on Aug. 3 released information notifying residents interested in serving their community and helping shape the future of the city that qualifying for the municipal election got underway July 27 and will remain open through noon on Monday, Aug. 10.
The office of mayor and city council members representing Seat One in Wards 1, 2, 3 and 4 will be decided during the Nov. 3 general election.
Mike Cusack presently represents Ward 1, Seat 1; Marilynn Farrow serves Ward 2, Seat 1; Gavin Hawthorne is the incumbent in Ward 3, Seat 1; and Ashley Fretwell, occupies Ward 4, Seat 1. Mayor Heather Lindsay has served two terms in that role.
If she chooses to run, Fretwell will be competing in her second city election campaign in two years. She defeated Shari Sebastiao in 2024. Sebastiao had been appointed to the council seat she occupied in 2023 following the resignation of Jason Vance. Vance had defeated Sebastiao in the City Council election in 2022.
Prospective candidates may obtain qualifying information and complete the qualifying process through the City Clerk’s Office at Milton City Hall, the news release said. Candidates must meet the requirements outlined in the City Charter and Florida Election Code.
For qualifying requirements, election information or additional information about the available offices, contact the City Clerk’s Office at (850) 983-5408 or visit the city’s election webpage.
In Gulf Breeze two seats are up for grabs. Seat C, which is presently held by Brittany Simpson, and Seat D, currently held by Randy Hebert.
Qualifying to become a candidate for City Council opened on Monday, Aug. 3 at 8 a.m. and closes at noon Friday, Aug. 14, according to Gulf Breeze City Clerk Leslie Guyer.
During the 10-business-day period when qualifying is open, candidates are required to submit oaths, financial disclosure forms and either a qualifying fee or letter providing a required number of petition signatures.
Most of the Santa Rosa County election fields were set following the qualifying week that ended June 12. Primary elections in those races, most of which will decide who wins the office, will be held Aug. 18.
Incumbent Santa Rosa District 2 Commissioner Kerry Smith faces a field of five fellow Republicans. Those candidates Jeff Ates, Reni “Renee” Johnmeyer, Erin Nisewonger, R.C. Pittman and Jeff Snow, .
District 4 Commissioner Ray Eddington must fend off Dean Light to retain his seat on the commission.
School Board races on the ballot have incumbent Linda Sanborn being challenged by David Farrow in District 1, Carol Boston facing a re-election fight from Kyle Connolly in District 3 and Scott Peden looking to fend off Marie Locklin and Jill Broxson Teston to retain his District 5 seat.
Tom McLaughlin covers Santa Rosa County, environmental stories, development and investigative reporting.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Qualifying for city elections now open in Milton and Gulf Breeze
Reporting by Tom McLaughlin, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Tom McLaughlin, Pensacola News Journal | USA TODAY Network
