Trump takes Florida
Locally, one incumbent unseated;
four reinstated; new commissioner elected
Lazaro Aleman
ECB Publishing, Inc.
As elections go, the 2020 presidential election, by all accounts, was extraordinary and looking to be historic.
Turnout, it is reported, was the highest since 1908, with an estimated more than 157 million Americans casting ballots for the presidency, according to Edison Research. Which numbers translate into a 65.7-percent turnout, compared with the 60.1-percent turnout in 1908.
Early and mail-in voting also shattered records, with an estimated more than 100 million ballots cast before Election Day. And this all amidst a pandemic that had claimed 231,968 Americans as of Election Day, according to the Florida Department of Health.
As of Wednesday evening, the winner in the presidential race had yet to be declared, as the counting of ballots continued in several key battlegrounds states, including Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
In Florida, however, as of press time, Trump clearly won the state, getting 5,646,946 of the 11,031,440 votes cast, or 51.2 percent, compared with Biden’s 5,269,926 votes, or 47.8 percent.
Jefferson County reflected the statewide trend, with Trump outperforming Biden 52.89 percent to 46.02 percent, or by 4,474 votes to 3,893, respectively.
A total of 8,459 votes were cast locally in this race, with the balance of the 92 votes split among five lesser candidates and write-ins.
Meanwhile, in the six local races, one incumbent was unseated, a new commissioner was elected, and four other incumbents were returned to office, with varying majority margins.
The defeated incumbent was School Superintendent Marianne Arbulu, a former Republican turned No Party Affiliation (NPA) candidate. Arbulu lost to Republican newcomer Eydie Tricquet, who got 3,707 votes (44.67 percent), to Arbulu’s 1,356 votes (16.34 percent).
A third candidate in this race was Democrat LaClarence Mays, who received 3,236 votes (38.99 percent).
All told, 8,299 votes were cast in the School Superintendent race.
The newly elected County Commissioner for District 1 is Chris Tuten, an NPA candidate and newcomer who overwhelmingly defeated his Republican opponent, Michael Robinson.
Tuten, the grandson of former Commissioner J. N. Tuten Jr., received 1,040 votes (60.36 percent) to Robinson’s 683 votes (39.64 percent). A total of 1,723 votes were cast in this race.
In terms of the reelected incumbents, Clerk of Court Kirk Reams, a former Democrat turned Republican, enjoyed a comfortable lead over challenger Tiffany Washington, an NPA candidate.
Reams received 4,931 votes (59.85 percent) to Washington’s 3,308 votes (40.15 percent). A total of 8,239 votes were cast in this race.
In the Tax Collector race, Democratic incumbent Lois Howell-Hunter barely edged out Republican challenger Lynn Stafford.
Howell-Hunter received 4,280 votes, (50.35 percent) to Stafford’s 4,150 votes (49.65 percent). A total of 8,358 votes were cast in this race.
In the Supervisor of Elections race, incumbent Marty Bishop, a former Democrat turned NPA candidate, easily defeated his NPA opponent, Jacqueline Seabrooks.
Bishop received 5,649 votes (69.71 percent) to Seabrooks’ 2,454 votes (30.29 percent). A total of 8,103 ballots were cast in this race.
And in the County Commission, District 3 race, Republican incumbent J. T. Surles was able to fend off a challenge from Democrat Ben Ransom Jr.
Surles received 900 votes (53.83 percent) to Ransom’s 772 votes (46.17 percent). A total of 1,672 ballots were cast in this contest.
In the two congressional races, both incumbents were reelected.
In Congressional District 2, Republican incumbent Neal Dunn easily won a second term, getting an overwhelmingly majority of votes locally and district-wide, as he had no challenger.
Dunn got 586, or 90.85 percent, of the 645 total votes cast locally in this race. The other 59 votes (9.15 percent) went to write-in candidates.
In the Congressional District 5 race, Democratic incumbent Al Lawson handily beat Republican challenger Gary Adler district-wide, although he lost locally. Lawson received 65.1 percent of the district votes, compared to Adler’s 34.9 percent.
In Jefferson County, however, Lawson received 3,796 votes (49.74 percent), to Adler’s 3,836 votes (50.26 percent). A total of 7,632 votes were cast in this race.
In the race for the Florida Senate District 3 seat that Senator Bill Montford currently holds, Democrat Loranne Ausley won what was described as a bruising contest against Republican Marva Harris Preston.
Ausley, however, lost locally. She received 3,822 votes (45.82 percent) here to Preston’s 4,519 votes (54.18 percent). A total of 8,341 ballots were cast in this race.
And in the State Representative, District 7, race, Republican incumbent Jason Shoaf kept his seat, easily fending off Democratic challenger Taymour Khan.
In Jefferson County, Shoaf got 4,669 votes (56.69 percent) to Khan’s 3,567 votes (43.31 percent). A total of 8,236 votes were cast in this race.
Finally, in the nonpartisan Second Judicial Circuit Court race, Tiffany Baker beat Amanda Wall district-wide for the open judge seat.
In Jefferson County, Baker received 4,225 votes (55.82 percent) to Wall’s 3,344 votes (44.18 percent). A total of 7,569 votes were cast in this race.
In terms of the six constitutional amendments on the ballot, Florida voters approved four of the six. The four that were approved were Amendments 1, 2, 5 and 6.
Amendment 1 changes those who are permitted to vote from “Every citizen…” to “Only a citizen of the United States” who is at least 18 years of age and a permanent resident of the state.The amendment was overwhelmingly approved statewide and in Jefferson County.
Amendment 2 raises the minimum wage to $10 hourly effective Sept. 30, 2021, and increases it a dollar per hour thereafter until it reaches $15 hourly on Sept. 20, 2026. The amendment was significantly approved statewide, although in Jefferson County a slight majority voted against it.
Amendment 5 passed overwhelmingly statewide and in Jefferson County. Amendment 5 extends from two to three years the period that Florida residents may transfer their accrued benefits from the homestead exemption from one home to another.
Amendment 6 also passed overwhelmingly statewide and in Jefferson County. Amendment 6 allows a homestead property tax discount for certain veterans with permanent combat-related disabilities to carry over to their surviving spouses until the latter remarry, sell or otherwise dispose of the property.
The two measures that failed to pass were Amendments 3 and 4.
Amendment 3 aimed to allow all registered voters to vote in primaries for the state Legislature, governor and cabinet regardless of their political party affiliation, with the two highest vote getters then advancing to the general election.
Jefferson County voters were almost evenly divided on this issue, with 50.02 percent voting yes, and 49.61 percent voting no.
Amendment 4 required that amendments or revisions to the state constitution had to be approved by the voters in two elections instead of one in order to take effect. In Jefferson County, voters again divided almost evenly on this issue, with 50.39 percent voting yes and 49.61 percent voting against.
Voter turnout in Jefferson County was 85.69 percent, with 8,505 of 9,925 registered voters casting ballots.
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