The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Lutz since 1964 and Pasco since 1981.
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Brandi Geoit

Some 2020 races decided; others up for grabs

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Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano, Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles and Sheriff Chris Nocco each will serve another four years — since no opponents came forward to challenge them by the qualifying deadline in the 2020 election.

Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley also will serve another four years, as his opponent withdrew. And, Mike Wells has been elected to Pasco County Property Appraiser, since his opponent Gary Joiner did not qualify.

Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley will serve another term in District 1, because opponent Christopher King withdrew. And, Pasco School Board District 2 incumbent Colleen Beaudoin has won another term because her opponent Adrienne G. Wilson withdrew.

Seats in other political races remain up for grabs.

Pasco School Board District 4 incumbent Alison Crumbley faces Joshua M. Stringfellow.

Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning is being challenged by David P. LaRoche and Cynthia Thompson.

Republican Kathryn Starkey incumbent in the race for Pasco County Commission District 3 faces Democrat challenger Jessica McCoy Stempien.

In District 4, an election is being held to fill the seat that’s being vacated two years early by Wells, who decided to run for county appraiser. Four Republican candidates are vying for the seat: Gary Bradford, Christina M. Fitzpatrick, Russell “Jeff’ Miller and Gabriel (Gabe) Papadopoulus.

Pasco County Commission District 5 incumbent Republican Jack Mariano faces challengers Brandi Geoit, a Democrat, and Victor Rodriguez, with no party affiliation.

Meanwhile, at the state level, another familiar face has stepped forward.

Republican Danny Burgess, of Zephyrhills, is competing with Democrat Kathy Lewis in a special election in Senate District 20. They are vying to fill the seat of Tom Lee, who stepped away from the seat early.

Published June 24, 2020

Political Agenda 12/11/2019

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Candidates are making plans known
A number of local candidates have filed paperwork to make it known they plan to seek office.

Here is an early look at candidates and the offices they’re seeking listed on the Pasco County Supervision of Elections website.

• Property appraiser
Gary Joiner, Republican (Active Pre-filed)
Mike Wells, Republican (Active Pre-filed)

• Superintendent of Schools
Kurt S. Browning, Republican (Active Pre-filed)
David P. Laroche, Republican (Active Pre-filed)
Cynthia Thompson, Republican (Active Pre-filed)

• Supervisor of Elections
Brian E. Corley (Active Pre-filed)

• Pasco County Commission, District 1
Ronald E. Oakley, Republican (Active, Pre-filed)

• Pasco County Commission, District 3
Samantha A. Lindsey, No Party Affiliation (Active Pre-filed)
Kathryn Starkey, Republican (Active Pre-filed)

• Pasco County Commission, District 5
Brandi Geoit, Democrat (Active Pre-filed)
Jack Mariano, Republican (Active Pre-filed)

• Pasco County School Board
Colleen Beaudoin, No Party Affiliation (Active Pre-filed)

Wesley Chapel Republican Club
The Wesley Chapel Republican Club will meet on Dec. 12 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Wesley Chapel Toyota, 5300 Eagleston Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

The guest speaker for this meeting will be Dr. William Urban, author of “Trojan Horses of Islamic Supremacy.”

The meeting includes networking, coffee and dessert. New members and guests are welcome.

For more information, contact Peter Cracchiolo at (813) 360-9813.

Published December 11, 2019

Political Agenda 02/20/2019

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House District 38
Two Republicans and a Democrat are vying in a special election to fill the vacant seat in Florida State House District 38. Danny Burgess had been re-elected to the post, but vacated it after Gov. Ron DeSantis offered him the position of executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs. 

The Republican candidates that have qualified for the race are Randy Maggard and David “Mac” McCallister. Candidate Kelly Smith, a Democrat, also has qualified.

The primary election between the Republicans will be on April 9, the same day as municipal elections in Zephyrhills, St. Leo and San Antonio. The general election for District 38 has been set for June 18.

Municipal elections

  • Two seats are open on the San Antonio City Commission. As of The Laker/Lutz News’ press deadline, these candidates had pre-filed: Mark B. Anderson, James Markley and Jody Lazzara.
  • Two seats are open on the St. Leo Town Commission. As of The Laker/Lutz News’ press deadline, no candidate had filed for Seat No. 2, and Curtis M. Dwyer has qualified for Seat No. 4.
  • Two seats are open on the Zephyrhills City Council. As of The Laker/Lutz News’ press deadline, Lance Smith had qualified for Seat No. 1 and Manny Funes had pre-filed for the seat; and, Kenneth M. Burgess Jr., had qualified for Seat No. 4.

The election is scheduled for April 9.

Other election news

  • James R. Cutting has pre-filed as a candidate for Pasco County Supervisor of Elections, challenging incumbent Brian E. Corley, who also has pre-filed as a candidate.
  • Brandi Geoit has pre-filed as a candidate for Pasco County Commissioner District 5.

Endorsements
Florida State Sen. Joe Gruters has endorsed Randy Maggard in the special election contest to fill the vacancy in State House District 38, according to the Maggard campaign. Gruters is the chairman of the Florida Republican Party and served as co-chairman of the 2016 Trump campaign in Florida.

Political Agenda 07/18/2018

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Sample ballots available
Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley has announced that sample ballots for the Aug. 26 Primary Election are available online at PascoVotes.com, and will be mailed to Pasco County voters on Aug. 6.

To view sample ballots online, voters need to know their voting precinct and party of registration.

Club meetings

Republican Club of Central Pasco
Mike Wells will be the guest speaker at the Republican Club of Central Pasco’s meeting on July 23. The club meets at Copperstone Executive Suites, 3632 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. The social will begin at 6:30 p.m., with the meeting starting at 7 p.m. For more information, call (813) 996-3011.

Trinity Democratic Club meeting
The Trinity Democratic Club’s July 25 meeting will feature Chris Hunter, candidate for the district 12 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, and Amanda Murphy, candidate in district 16 seat in of the Florida Senate. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m., at Fox Hollow Golf Club, at 10050 Robert Trent Jones Parkway in Trinity. Doors open at 5 p.m., for dinner and happy hour (self-pay) with food and beverages available for purchase throughout the meeting. For more information, call (415) 609-3633.

Candidate forums

  • Idlewild Baptist Church, at 18333 Exciting Idlewild Blvd., in Lutz, will host a candidate’s forum on July 29 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • The East Pasco Democratic Club will host a political forum for all Democrats, Republicans and no party affiliation for local and state offices on Aug. 4 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Alice Hall Community Center, 38116 Fifth Ave., in Zephyrhills. The League of Women Voters will be there to register voters or update voters’ current registration. Light refreshments will be served.

Ice cream social
The Central Pasco Democratic Party will host an ice cream social on Aug. 12 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., at the Meadow Pointe Community Center, 28245 County Line Road. Those attending can meet other Democrats and talk with local candidates.

Endorsements

  • The West Central Florida Police Benevolent Association has endorsed Mike Moore, in his re-election bid for the District 2 seat on the Pasco County Commission, according to Moore’s campaign.
  • The Veterans Caucus; Alex Sink, former chief financial officer of Florida; and the Democratic Women’s Club of Florida, have endorsed Brandi Geoit in the race for District 4 seat on the Pasco County Commission, according to Geoit’s campaign.

Published July 18, 2018

Pasco County Commission selects new chairman

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Mike Wells Jr., took the helm as chairman of the Pasco County Commission in a vote taken Nov. 28 in New Port Richey.

The District 4 county commissioner replaces Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore who served as chairman during the past year.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Wells Jr.

The position typically rotates year-to-year among the commissioners.

Duties include leading county commission meetings and being the public face of the board as a whole.

Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley, who is in his first term on the board, got the nod from fellow commissioners to be vice chairman.

Wells was elected to the board in 2014 after defeating incumbent Pasco County Commissioner Henry Wilson.

Wells, who is Republican, has filed for re-election in November 2018.

Democrat Brandi Geoit also has filed to run in that race.

Wells’ father is Mike Wells Sr., who served on the county board in the 1980s and later as the county’s property appraiser.

Wells worked for Enterprise Rent-A-Car for many years before becoming a Realtor.

Oakley won the District 1 election in 2016 and replaced former Commissioner Ted Schrader who decided not to seek re-election and, instead, made an unsuccessful run for county property appraiser.

Previously, Oakley served on the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s board as treasurer, vice chairman and chairman.

Published December 6, 2017