By Rick Madewell

Assistant Editor

Six more county residents have filed to run in the 2012 elections, according to the Osceola County Supervisor of Elections office.

Carmelo E. Garcia, Jay Wheeler, Paul Owen and Jerry Gemskie, all of Kissimmee, have filed to run for Osceola County commissioner, district 1. Garcia filed as a Democrat, while Wheeler, currently the district 1 Osceola County School Board member, filed as a Republican. Gemskie, currently Kissimmee city commissioner, seat 3, also filed as a Republican. Owen, a former county commissioner,also  is a Republican as is Celebration resident Drew Locher, who had filed for the seat earlier. Michael Harford, a Democrat in his first term, now holds this seat.

Wheeler, in accordance with Florida’s Resign to Run law, said he would resign from the School Board with plenty of time prior to the candidates’ qualifying period, which begins June 18, 2012.

The Resign to Run law mandates that specific office-holders cannot run for another office without resigning from their current office by a certain time.

“I will make sure what I do is in compliance with the Florida election laws,” Wheeler said.

During the 2008 election, Thomas Chalifoux Jr. was disqualified in his attempt to run for state representative when he did not resign from the Osceola County School Board in time.

“What happened to Mr. Chalifoux was unfortunate,” Wheeler said. “But that will not happen with me.”

Gemskie said he also was aware of the Resign to Run law and explained that his term as commissioner with Kissimmee would expire before the county commissioner term would begin.

Jeffery A. Goldmacher and Jed W. Suhl, both of Kissimmee, recently filed as Republican candidates for county commissioner, district 3. Goldmacher is the founding member of COPI – Committee Opposed to Poinciana Incorporation. Tony Ferentinos, also a Republican who lives in Kissimmee, filed for the seat earlier. Brandon Arrington, a Democrat, is the current district 3 commissioner; he also is in his first term.

Others who filed earlier to run in the 2012 election are:

Republican Tim Devine, of Kissimmee, for Osceola County sheriff; Nereida Rios, of Kissimmee, for (non-partisan) Kissimmee city commissioner seat 5 (mayor); incumbent Julius Melendez, of Kissimmee, for (non-partisan) School Board district 2; Philip Timothy Dunlop, of Harmony, for (non-partisan) county judge – group 2; and Ernest Joseph Mullins, of Kissimmee, for (non-partisan) county judge – group 4.

All of those who have filed to be candidates in the election must complete qualifying criteria to continue making bids for their respective offices.