Political Contests Taking Shape

BROOKSVILLE - A ballot chock full of candidates for local races is starting to take a clearer shape.

Monday marked the deadline for would-be candidates to submit signatures to qualify for their respective races - and most contenders will save a chunk of change.

All but a few of the 34 candidates running for 11 offices collected enough signatures, said Sherri Williams, a staffer at the Hernando County Supervisor of Elections Office. A few cut it close, she said.

Collecting signatures, known as qualifying by petition, is the alternative to paying the qualifying fee. Local candidates who want to go that route must collect 1,196 signatures from registered voters, which is 1 percent of the county's total registered voters as of the last general election. The only exception is the race for the Spring Hill Fire Rescue Commission for which 25 signatures must be collected by contenders.

Candidates still have the next month to jump into a race, as long as they show up with a check by the end of the qualifying period that runs from noon on June 16 to noon on June 20.

The qualifying fee is based on a percentage of the current salary for the office. County commission candidates running in a major party, for example, pay $3,573.12, or 6 percent of $59,552.

Candidates who collected enough petitions still have to show up at the elections office during the qualifying period to fill out paperwork.

Here is a roundup of the candidates in each race so far. All qualified by petition unless otherwise noted:

County Commission, District 1

The incumbent: Jeff Stabins, a Spring Hill Republican.

The Republican challengers: Michael Burmann of Spring Hill; and Jon "Jaz" Zydenbos of Weeki Wachee.

The Democratic challenger: Ramon Gutierrez of Brooksville.

County Commission, District 3

The incumbent: Diane Rowden, a Brooksville Democrat.

The Republican challengers: John Druzbick of Weeki Wachee; Hubert "Wayne" Dukes of Hernando Beach; and Charles Gaskin of Brooksville.

The Democratic challenger: Mishael Jenks of Brooksville. Jenks will have to pay the qualifying fee.

The NPA challenger: Kris Cox of Brooksville. Cox, who filed Tuesday to run without party affiliation, will have to pay the qualifying fee.

County Commission, District 5

The incumbent: Christopher Kingsley, a Brooksville Democrat.

The Republican challengers: James Adkins of Brooksville; Penelope Golding of Ridge Manor; William "Billy" Healis of Brooksville; and Michael Robinson of Spring Hill.

No Democrat has filed for this race.

Clerk of Court

The incumbent: Karen Nicolai of Spring Hill.

The challenger: Harlan Saltsman of Ridge Manor. Saltsman will have to pay the fee to stay in the race.

Property appraiser

The incumbent: Alvin Mazourek of Brooksville. Mazourek's lone challenger withdrew earlier this month.

Sherriff

The incumbent: Richard Nugent of Spring Hill.

The challenger: Luke Frazier of Brooksville.

Supervisor of Elections

The incumbent: Annie Williams of Brooksville.

The challenger: Shirley Anderson of Spring Hill.

Tax collector

Incumbent Juanita Sikes of Brooksville so far is running unopposed.

School board, District 2

Incumbent Pat Fagan of Spring Hill so far has no challengers.

School board, District 4

The incumbent: None. Jim Malcolm, who served five terms over 16 years, decided not to run again.

The candidates: James Yant qualified by petition; Gene Magrini of Spring Hill, Robert Neuhausen of Spring Hill, and Courtney Rinier of Masaryktown will have to pay the fee, which is 1,304.28, or 4 percent of the annual salary of $32,607.

County judge, Group 2 seat

The incumbent: Judge Kurt E. Hitzemann of Spring Hill is so far running unopposed. Hitzemann paid the $5,480 qualifying fee.

Spring Hill Fire Rescue Commission

The incumbents: Robert J. Giammarco and George Biro.

The challengers: Amy Brosnan and Benjamin Edwards. Edwards will have to pay the $25 qualifying fee. Candidates must live in Spring Hill to run for the seat.