Laura Young
ECB Publishing, Inc.
Early voting for the 2022 Florida Primary began in Jefferson County on Monday, Aug. 8, and citizens have already had a number of opportunities to meet candidates to learn about their views and goals in person.
The Monticello-Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce hosted two political forums on July 26 and 28. The July 26 forum, held in the Jefferson County Courthouse, began with a welcome by Chamber Board Member Ron Cichon, followed by questions for School Board District 3 candidates Shirley Alexander Washington and Brenda Bentley Wirick.
Washington, the incumbent, introduced herself by saying “I am who I am. I am an advocate for children. I am not going to change.”
Wirick presented herself as someone who would be a new voice of change that would “Bring back Tiger pride” to a district where “Greatness is at our fingertips.”
Panel members Bob Davison and David Ward asked the candidates questions that allowed them to identify challenges in making the transition back to local control of schools, show their understanding of school budgets and comment on laws that will limit terms for school board members.
Questions from the audience offered candidates the opportunity to comment on gender issues in education, explore the need for a state department of education, discuss policies to ensure safety in schools and share ideas for improving parent involvement.
Next, it was time for candidates for the School Board District 5 seat.
Mags Flynt was present, but neither incumbent Charles Boland nor candidate Ruby Grantham attended. Flynt introduced herself by saying “God has called me” to serve on the school board. She explained that she is proof that a good public education can be successful, and she wants to make sure families in Jefferson County have a good local public school to choose. She answered similar questions as were posed to the District 3 candidates. A live-recorded video of the forum is available in its entirely on the Monticello Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.
The Chamber's July 28 forum, held in the Jefferson County Courthouse Annex, included Michelle Milligan and Mike Fillyaw, two Republican candidates for the office of Supervisor of Elections who are vying for their party's nomination to be on the ballot in the November General Election. Miligan and Fillyaw fielded questions, again from Davison and Ward, on a number of topics. How have they been preparing for the job? Have they been keeping up with legislative changes to election law? How will they be the face of their office for communicating with the public, young people and poll workers? How would they recruit solid poll workers and make sure they feel secure? How comfortable are they with election-specific technology? How would they effectively interact with county government regarding funding and technology updates? How might auditing be used to ensure election integrity? How will they learn about and benefit from associations of supervisors of elections?
From the public came questions about term limits for the office and plans for maintaining voter rolls.
Cichon closed out both evenings of candidate forums reminding voters that "we are friends and neighbors before the election and friends and neighbors after the election."
A live-recorded video of the forum is available in its entirely on the Monticello Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.
The next opportunity for voters to learn about candidates was a “Meet and Hear Local Conservative Candidates” event organized by the Keystone Federated Republican Women, held on July 30 at the Monticello Opera House. Attendees had the opportunity to meet County Commission candidates Austin Hosford and Paul Henry; School Board candidates Brenda Wirick and Mags Flynt; Florida Senate candidate Corey Simon; U.S. House of Representatives incumbent Neal Dunn; Agriculture Commissioner candidate Wilton Simpson; and Jefferson County Supervisor of Elections candidates Michelle Milligan and Mike Fillyaw.
On Tuesday evening, American Legion Otto M. Walker Post 49 adjusted their usual monthly meeting format and made the gathering a Meet the Candidates event. Invited to attend were Supervisor of Elections candidates Mike Fillyaw, Michelle Milligan and Althera Johnson; County Commission Dist. 2 candidates Gene Hall and Paul Henry; County Commission Dist. 4 candidates Betsy Barfield and Austin Hosford; School Board Dist. 3 candidates Shirley Washington and Brenda Wirick; and School Board District 5 candidates Charles Boland, Mags Flynt and Ruby Grantham.
In addition, the Aug. 5 edition of the Jefferson County Journal included a special section, “2022 Election: Choose Well Jefferson County.” Candidates for local School Board, County Commission and Supervisor of Elections races presented their detailed, written answers to questions posed by the Journal. For statewide races, names and photos of candidates were given for U.S. Senate, U.S. House District 2, Governor of Florida, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, Florida Attorney General and Florida State Senate. This special edition will be in newsstands through Thursday, Aug. 11, and after that in the news office, located at 180 W. Washington St. (at Courthouse Circle).
Early voting for the Primary Election continues through Aug. 20 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Election Office, located at 1175 W. Washington St.
The last day to request a Vote By Mail ballot for the 2022 Primary Election is Saturday, Aug. 13, by 5 p.m. (per Florida Statute 101.62: no later than 5 p.m. on the 10th day before the election).
Voting at polling stations will take place on 2022 Primary Election Day, Tuesday Aug. 23.
For more information about local elections, visit www.jeffersonvotes.com or call (850) 997-3348.