County elections: Who is running in the primaries and who has already been re-elected
Palm Beach County Commissioner Maria Marino, Property Appraiser Dorothy Jacks and Tax Collector Anne Gannon, unopposed in the August primary as well as in the general November election, will each serve another four years.
The deadline for candidates to file petitions with the county Supervisor of Elections was June 14. Under Florida law, because no candidates filed, neither a primary or general election will be held for those offices. Marino is a Republican; Gannon, a Democrat.
Four years ago, it was a much different story for Marino as Karen Marcus, a county commissioner for more than 20 years, tried to retake the District 1 seat. She and Marino were involved in a contentious Republican primary that Marino ultimately won.
The two spent nearly a combined $500,000 on that election. A former professional golfer on the LPGA Tour, Marino was first elected to the Palm Beach Gardens City Council in 2016. The District 1 seat includes much of northern Palm Beach County.
Districts 3 and 5: No opponents in primary, but opposition in November
District 3 Commissioner Michael Barnett and District 5 Commissioner Maria Sachs will have no opponents in the August primary but will have opposition in November.
Barnett, a Republican, has raised $111,345, according to campaign finance reports filed as of June 20. Barnett will face off against Joel Flores, a Democrat and former mayor of Greenacres. Flores has raised $99,885. District 3 includes much of central Palm Beach County west of Interstate 95.
Sachs, a Democrat and currently the mayor of the county commission, will be running against Republican John Fischer. Sachs has raised $104,930; Fischer, $27,234. The District 5 seat includes must of south county west of Military Trail.
District 7: Mack Bernard is term-limited; Bobby Powell faces Richard Ryles in an August primary
District 7 will have both a primary and a November election contest. The seat is currently held by Mack Bernard, who is term-limited and cannot seek another term.
Former State Sen. Bobby Powell Jr. is running against Richard Ryles for the right to become the Democratic nominee in November. Powell has raised $173,686, Ryles, $165,333. Leonard Serratore will be the Republican nominee. There are two write-in candidates, Boaz Fleurena of Boynton Beach, and Javonta Jerome Taylor of Riviera Beach.
District 7 includes Riviera Beach, Palm Beach, Lantana, Hypoluxo and parts of Delray Beach.
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Sheriff: Ric Bradshaw will face competition in primary
Ric Bradshaw, the county's longest serving sheriff, is facing off against Alex Freeman in the August Democratic primary, Bradshaw has a huge fundraising advantage, $683,537 to $33,885. On the Republican side, Bradshaw's one-time top deputy, Michael Gauger, will be competing against Lauro Diaz, to represent the GOP in the November general election. Gauger has raised $152,400; Diaz, $37,503.
Bradshaw, 76, is already the longest-serving sheriff in Palm Beach County history. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office employs 4,300 people and oversees about 1,500 volunteers.
Clerk and Supervisor of Elections: No August primary, but a November election
Clerk Joseph Abruzzo and Supervisor of Elections Wendy Link will not have to run in the August primary but will have opposition in the general election. Abruzzo and Link are both Democrats. Abruzzo’s opponent in November will be Samuel Thompson and Link’s Republican opponent will be Jeff Buongiorno. Both are Republicans.
Mike Diamond is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He covers Palm Beach County government and transportation. You can reach him at mdiamond@pbpost.com. Help support local journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: County Commissioner Maria Marino, Property Appraiser Dorothy Jacks and Tax Collector Anne Gannon all re-elected