By Ken Jackson and Fallan Patterson
Staff Writers

Local candidates hoping to win seats, or at least qualify for runoffs, in the Aug. 14 election got a boost to their campaigns July 19 with strong showings in straw polls at the Osceola Hob Nob at the Kissimmee Civic Center.

With many races and primaries including anywhere from three to six candidates, and many of them running for the first time, those looking for Osceola County, Kissimmee City Commission and School Board seats were able to see the fruit of their campaigns.

In the district 2 and 3 School Board seats, political rookies Kevin Soto (41 percent in a three-way race) and Tim Weisheyer (76) garnered the most support.

For City Commission seat 3, Mike DeLong (42) and Sara Shaw (24) led a six-way battle that could go to a November runoff following next month’s election.

In other local commission races, Jed Suhl (38 percent) led a three-way Republican race which will determine who takes on incumbent Mike Harford for County Commission seat 1. Jeffrey Goldmacher got 58 percent of some 400 votes for the Republican primary poll for seat 3.

Hob Nob attendees also supported incumbents Brandon Arrington and Fred Hawkins for their County Commission seats, Dave Scherer for City Commission seat 1, Mary Jane Arrington for supervisor of elections, Patsy Heffner for tax collector, Katrina Scarborough for property appraiser and Malcolm Thompson and Reyelynne Ketchum for clerk of court.

Jeff Ashton, prosecutor in last year’s Casey Anthony murder trial, garnered 51 percent of 464 votes to win the battle for Orange-Osceola state attorney over incumbent Lawson Lamar.

Current County Commission Chairman John Quiñones and sitting School Board member Julius Melendez, running for the district 9 race for the U.S. House of Representatives, took second and third respectively in the Republican poll behind Todd Long. Next month’s winner will take on Alan Grayson for that seat.

Mitt Romney (70 percent) got the overwhelming support of the poll’s 587 voters. Pollsters also supported Connie Mack and Bill Nelson in the U.S. Senate races.

Politics in the Barn

In the second of two major straw polls held in Osceola County of election candidates, the St. Cloud Greater Osceola Chamber of Commerce held its Politics in the Barn event July 24 at the St. Cloud Civic Center.

St. Cloud City Council seat 2 incumbent Thomas Griffin took 56 percent of the vote with newcomer Ron Caswell, who recently retired from the St. Cloud Police Department, took 44 percent.

St. Cloud Mayor Rebecca Borders and City Council seat 3 representative are currently running unopposed. Qualifying for the St. Cloud City Council races runs from Aug. 27 to Aug. 31 at 5 p.m.

Osceola County Commission district 5 incumbent Fred Hawkins Jr. garnered 81 percent of the support versus 19 percent for Chad Carnell. District 5 includes St. Cloud.

Rayelynne Ketchum took 65 percent of the vote in the Republican race for Osceola County Clerk of Court over Beau Osbourne (22), Kathy Foust (9) and Dan Durfey (4).

Clerk of Court incumbent Malcom Thompson earned 45 percent of the vote in the Democrat side of the race over Armando Ramirez (30) and Alpha Lacy (25).

Osceola County Sheriff Bob Hansell garnered 86 percent of the vote over Timothy Devine at 14 percent.

Osceola County Property Appraiser incumbent Katrina Scarborough took 82 percent of voter support versus 18 percent for opponent Dale Bronson.

Additionally, Osceola County Tax Collector incumbent Patsy Heffner earned 92 percent of the vote against opponent Romuald Leydon (8).

Osceola County Supervisor of elections incumbent Mary Jane Arrington took 58 percent of the votes versus opponent Peter Olivo at 42 percent.

Tim Weisheyer earned 75 percent of voter support running against incumbent Cindy Hartig (25 percent) for the Osceola County School Board District 3 position. District 3 covers Poinciana.

Osceola County Commissioner Brandon Arrington, who represents district 3 as a Democrat, will face either Jeffery Goldmacher (74) or Tony Ferentinos (26) in November.

Osceola County Judge Heather K. O’Brien earned 79 percent of the vote over opponent Philip T. Dunlop (21) for group 2. Osceola County Judge Hal Epperson took 76 percent of the vote against the 24 percent earned by Ernie Mullins for group 4.

Chief Judge Belvin Perry Jr. took 88 percent of voter support  for Ninth Judicial Circuit Judge group 3 against Daniel Perry with 12 percent.

Leticia “Letty” Marques garnered 53 percent of the vote for Ninth Judicial Circuit Judge Group 7 against opponents Eric DuBois (33) and Joel Wilson (14).

In the race for Ninth Judicial Circuit Judge Group 27, Keith White took 89 percent of the vote over Jose Torroella at 11 percent.

Tim Shea earned 88 percent of the vote for Ninth Judicial Circuit Judge Group 42 against opponent Pedro Malaret at 12 percent.

Incumbent Lawson Lamar was in a dead heat with Jeff Ashton at 46 percent in the race for the Ninth Judicial Court State Attorney position. Lamar had two votes at 165 over Ashton at 163.

Incumbent Mike Horner, Republican, earned 78 percent of the vote for State Representative District 42 against Democrat Eileen Game at 22 percent.

Denise Grimsley garnered 66 percent of the vote for State Senator District 21 against Democrat Stacy McCland at 34 percent.

Democrat Alan Grayson, who is vying for the newly redistricted Representative in Congress District 9, will face Todd Long (59), Julius Melendez (18), John “Q” Quiñones (18) or Mark Oxner (7) in November depending on who wins the primary Aug. 14.

Incumbent Bill Nelson took 59.5 percent of the vote in the Democrat race for U.S. Senator against opponent Glenn Burkett at 40.5 percent.

Nelson will face one of the following Republicans in November depending on who wins the primary Aug. 14: Connie Mack (69), Michael McCalister (13), Marielena Stuart (8), Ron McNeil (8) or Akinyemi Agbede (1).

Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, Republican) garnered 78 percent of the vote over 22 percent for President Barack Obama.

The election primary is Aug. 14 with early voting running from Aug. 4 to Aug. 11.