2022 Election Preview |County Commission District 4: Keith Poole, Rachel Sams, Carl Zalak

Editor's note: This story has been revised. This race is for the County Commission District 4 seat. The original version included a different district number.

County Commission Chairman Carl Zalak is seeking a fourth four-year term, and fellow Republicans Keith A. Poole and Rachel Sams are challenging him at the ballot box.

There are three traditional candidates in this race, all Republicans, and that typically would mean that all voters, regardless of party affiliation, would be eligible to vote in the GOP primary.

However, two write-in candidates, Seth Posner and Brian Christian Donnelly, also are running. As a result, the Aug. 23 primary is closed to just registered Republicans. The winner on Aug. 23 will face the write-in candidates in the November general election.

Voter guide: Here's what you need to know for the Aug. 23 primary

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Controversial issue: Divided Marion County commission approves revised WEC plan for former Ocala Jockey Club

A long time in office: the pros and the cons

Poole notes that he is a fifth-generation Marion County resident who is raising his family and running his general contracting business here. He believes in public service and representative government, but says Zalak – who already has served 12 years on the commission and would be in office for 16 years if he is re-elected – has been in there long enough.

Staying in office that long can have downsides, Poole said, and the commission's long-running effort to work out competitive pay and compensation packages for county employees, especially in Marion County Fire Rescue, is an example.

"I believe it's about relationships. I think that relationship has been soured, and I think it needs to be renewed," Poole said.

His campaign website also touches on that point: "We do not need career politicians. We need a vision of accountability and less government interference in our lives."

Sams, who has lived in Marion County most of her life, is a term limit proponent, just like Poole. As a former Ocala police officer, she feels she is qualified to observe that Marion County Fire Rescue employees are overworked, overwhelmed and feel unappreciated.

"I actually understand what they want and what they need," Sams said.

Zalak notes that the commission has worked hard to improve pay and staffing for Marion County Fire Rescue. What's more, in the budget for 2022-23, the commission has supported hiring 16 more firefighters, plus 20 deputies and 30 corrections officers.

As for the bigger picture, Zalak says his long tenure in office actually is a positive, not a negative.

He was serving on the commission in the immediate aftermath of the 2008 economic downturn and knows how bad things got: double-digit unemployment, bank failures, the construction slowdown.

And he was part of the team that has worked to diversify the local economy (with commerce parks), build and support institutions to broaden the county's business development and recruitment and retention efforts (the Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership) and bolster public safety and infrastructure without unduly burdening property tax payers (through the voter-approved countywide sales tax, much of which is paid by out-of-towners who visit or come through Marion.)

"That experience is worth a lot," Zalak said.

The future Interstate 75 interchange at Northwest 49th Street

Poole said Zalak and fellow veteran Commissioner Kathy Bryant need to take ownership of what he describes as a bad deal county government made to provide local access to the planned I-75 interchange at Northwest 49th Street, just north of the commerce park that houses FedEx, Chewy and AutoZone.

Poole takes no position on the interchange itself, but says previous commissions made bad and expensive moves. "They haven't admitted that they messed up," Poole said.

Zalak said the commission's choices of route and construction method for the connector road were the best and most equitable options, and all were recommended by both in-house and outside experts.

As for cost overruns: The first bid for that connector road came back high, and the commission rejected it and made adjustments. A second bid will be offered soon. Zalak considers that an example of good governance and planning: When you encounter challenges, you regroup and re-engage.

"That's why these things take 10 years to plan," Zalak said.

Sams did not take a position on this issue specifically, but noted that infrastructure plays an outsized role in Poole's campaign discussions.

She said her unique background – with education and experience in both law enforcement and financial advising and securities – makes her well qualified to serve on the commission. She said she can understand and work with people while also breaking down complicated financial matters.

Marion County's response during the early days of the pandemic

In his campaign literature, Zalak emphasizes that the commission worked hard to keep Marion County as open as possible during the early days of the pandemic.

Poole notes that the county temporarily closed boat ramps early on in the pandemic. But Zalak says that was a response to a statewide effort, and he thinks county government got it right, overall. The emphasis was on safety at first, with an added move toward personal freedom and responsibility as the pandemic wore on and people learned more about how to protect themselves.

"You need to let people make their own decisions," Zalak said.

Other successes Zalak cites include prioritizing law enforcement and first responders without raising taxes, helping spur economic development and thus reduce unemployment, securing a nursing home for veterans, and working out a solid waste solution that saved money and was environmentally sensitive.

Zalak also has a big picture of himself and Gov. Ron DeSantis, a fellow Republican, on his campaign homepage.

Possible northern extension of Florida's Turnpike

Late last year, Zalak joined Bryant in taking a relatively hard line on the proposed northern extension of the Florida Turnpike. The two commissioners wanted to insist that the state adhere to MCORES task force guidance, which would "prohibit any turnpike extension crossing the Cross Florida Greenway in Marion County," as the Star-Banner has reported.

In essence, that serves as a rejection of the state's four proposed routes.

The three other commissioners took a different stand, essentially seeking a seat at the table to make sure there was a local voice in the state-level decision making process.

Poole will not say "no build." He said a possible turnpike extension is one solution that needs to be discussed and considered. But Poole also said the state must consider other options, such as widening Interstate 75 and building a limited access road toll road.

Sams has adopted the "no build" stance, keeping in step with many other governmental bodies, including the Dunnellon City Council.

The final decision on whether, and where, to build the extension rests with the state, but local government input is an important factor in the decision making process.

The WEC Ocala Jockey Club off County Road 318 in NW Marion

Environmentalists were not pleased in June when Zalak joined a 3-2 commission majority in giving the World Equestrian Center Jockey Club project in northwest Marion approval to move forward.

Poole said that, legally, the county probably could not stop some kind of development on the land, which is off County Road 318 west of I-75. However, "I think the county left some things on the table, concession wise."

Sams said the idea of the WEC Ocala Jockey Club is good, but notes that CR 318 can't handle all that traffic. County staff recommended denial, and she said the commission majority should have heeded that.

Instead, she said, the majority disregarded the needs of all citizens and chose to support the powerful people behind the WEC.

Zalak vigorously defended his vote. The Roberts family and WEC team have done first-class work in Marion County and deserve a chance to pursue developing this project, he said. The developer agreed to drop its request for a hotel on site, and the RV park on property will help mitigate traffic counts by limiting arrivals and departures.

Campaign contributions

Zalak is leading the pack by far. As of the latest campaign finance report, covering activity through mid-July, the incumbent had taken in $141,000. That compares with Poole's $60,870 and Sams' $39,154.

Zalak's list of contributors is laden with big money interests including builders like Ken Ausley (Ausley Construction), businessmen/philanthropists like Bernie Little (Bernie Little Companies), and land owners like Jacks Over Nines LLC, which owns the Oxford Downs poker room and horse track in south Marion.

Poole advises voters to "follow the money" when it comes to Zalak. And Zalak throws that suggestion right back at Poole, whose contributors are architects, fellow contractors, Realtors, tradesmen and friends – people who know Poole and have done business with him.

Sams said Zalak should have declined, or at least delayed, a campaign contribution from the Roberts family, which founded the WEC. Zalak was advised by the county's legal team that he was not required to recuse himself from the vote on the Jockey Club project, and Zalak notes that he isn't beholden to any contributors.

As for Poole, Sams said he might face conflicts of interest with businesses and individuals who seek county contracts.

Sams' departure from the Ocala Police Department

Poole has publicly referred to Sams as a "fired cop." But Sams, then going by her maiden name, Rachel Mangum, resigned in good standing from the Ocala Police Department in 2017.

She and two fellow officers, including her future husband, Matthew Sams, received settlements from the city ($75,000 for her, $270,000 for him) to resolve employment-based legal claims they lodged in 2016.

Rachel Mangum had alleged sexual harassment, sexual discrimination, retaliation and hostile work environment against the city and specifically then-Chief Greg Graham, in part based on crude comments Graham was accused of making while he, Mangum and other officers were in Washington D.C.

A city-commissioned legal review found no wrongdoing on Graham's part, but the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission found "reasonable cause" to believe Mangum was a victim of sexual discrimination.

CANDIDATES

Keith A. Poole

Age: 45

Residence: Silver Springs

Political affiliation: Republican

Education: Vanguard High School, Class of 1995; attended College of Central Florida and ITT Technical Institute in Maitland

Professional experience: Licensed general contractor, owner of KAP Design Group, LLC

Community: Past master, Morningstar Lodge #94; Ocala Shrine Rodeo director; past president, Ocala Shrine Club; volunteer firefighter; youth football coach; Southeastern Youth Fair barn committee member; past president, Marion County Building Industry Association

Family: Married, three children.

Learn more: keithapoole.com

Rachel Sams

Age: 31

Political affiliation: Republican

Residence: Ocala

Education: Lake Weir High School, Class of 2009; MTI Career Academy; College of Central Florida; phlebotomy license, Career Technical and Adult Education; bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, Bethel University; law enforcement certification, 2013, College of Central Florida; securities training, Kaplan University

Professional experience: Ocala police officer, 2013-17; currently works as financial adviser

Community: Our Hearts Align, Inc.; Ocala Youth Opportunity, advisory board; Marion County Board of Adjustment Variances; Ocala Royal Dames; Ocala Walk to End Alzheimer's; Business Networking International; Ocala/Marion County Chamber and Economic Partnership

Family: Married, one child

Learn more: rachelsams.com

Carl Zalak

Age: 42

Political affiliation: Republican

Residence: Ocala

Education: Bachelor's degree, management information systems, University of South Florida

Professional experience: Serving third term on County Commission; former owner, Busy Bee Waste Services; currently on sales and marketing team for WastePro.

Family: Married, four children

Learn more: carlzalak.com

COUNTY COMMISSIONER

County commissioners run in partisan elections. Commissioners are elected countywide but must live in the district they represent. District 4 covers northeast Marion. Commissioners serve four-year terms and are paid $89,764 per year.

ELECTION DETAILS

There are three traditional candidates in this race, all Republicans. Under that scenario, all voters, regardless of party affiliation, typically would be eligible to vote. However, two write-in candidates, Seth Posner and Brian Christian Donnelly, also are running. As a result, the Aug. 23 primary is closed to just registered Republicans. The winner on Aug. 23 will face the write-in candidates in the November general election.

Primary Election Day is Aug. 23. Polls will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on that day. Check your voter information card for information on where to vote. If you have questions, visit votemarion.gov.

Early voting will be Aug. 13-20, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the following locations:

• Election Center: 981 NE 16th St., Ocala

• Belleview Public Library: 13145 SE County Road 484, Belleview

• Deputy Brian Litz Building: 9048 SW HWY 200, Ocala

• Dunnellon Public Library: 20351 Robinson Road, Dunnellon

• Forest Public Library: 905 S County Road 314A

• Freedom Public Library: 5870 SW 95th St., Ocala

• Reddick Community Center: 4345 NW 152nd St, Reddick

• Silver Springs Shores Community Center: 590 Silver Road, Ocala

• The Villages Mulberry Center: 8445 SE 156th Mulberry Lane

If you are returning a mail ballot, it must be received by the elections office by 7 p.m. on Aug. 23. For information on how to obtain a mail ballot, visit https://www.votemarion.gov/Ways-to-Vote/Vote-By-Mail/Vote-By-Mail-FAQ

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Three GOP candidates in District 4 commission race in Marion County