News Cast for August 21st:
Elections mostly done
Okeechobee County had a 28 percent voter turnout Tuesday.
The winners included sheriff Noel Stephen who rolled to a third term.
Stephen said his goals for his final term in office will be completion of the county jail expansion, preparing the younger generation of deputies to become the next command staff, and gain accreditation for the jail and dispatch.
He said he was happy with 67 percent of the vote. He praised his challenger Stephen Weikert for running a professional race.
In the county commission races Brad Goodbread won re-election with nearly 61 percent of the vote.
Austin Harvey won the democratic primary in district 5 by 13 votes over Glenn Attaway.
Harvey will oppose Mike Sumner in the November election.
Sumner defeated Billy McCullers with 65 percent of the vote in the republican primary.
Sumner said he has an advantage in the race.
“Experience and knowledge. I’ve been to nearly every meeting in the past six months and I’ve never seen either of those guys show up for anything. I don’t think they would have any clue about what they were doing if they won. I believe I’ve put
myself in a position to earn the seat and I know I would do a good job.”
In Glades County…
Superintendent Dr. Beth Barfield won re-election by 90 votes over retired teacher Felinda Langdale.
Sheriff David Hardin won re-election with 45 percent of the vote, Tico Salgado finished second with 27 percent.
Also re-elected were County commissioners Tim Stanley and Jerry Sapp. Stanley captured 64 percent of the vote and Sapp over 55 percent.
Also elected to the county commission were Jeff Barnes and Jeffrey Patterson.
Rashondra Croskey and Bradley Smith won seats on the Moore Haven City Council.
Will Dorman won the county judge race with the former prosecutor earning 52 percent of the vote.
Larry Luckey won the district 2 school board race with 44 percent of the vote, Kari West had 39 percent and Kevin Bryant 18 percent.
In regional races of interest Eric Flowers won a narrow victory in the Indian River County sheriff republican primary. Marcos Lopez carried 37 percent of the vote, enough to defeat two veteran lawmen and the former Sheriff Russ Gibson in the democratic primary.
In St. Lucie County commissioner Linda Bartz was routed in her re-election bid. Commission Chairman Cathy Townsend won her republican primary.
Interim Sheriff Keith Pearson lost the republican primary to Port St. Lucie Police Chief Richard Del Toro.
US Senator Rick Scott won the republican primary, carrying 80 percent in Glades and 77 percent in Okeechobee County.
Indiantown voters ousted Janet Hernandez from her council seat. Mayor Susan Gibbs Thomas lost her bid for county commission. Longtime commissioner Doug Smith was defeated.