BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
Bradford County supported Will Hartley with another landslide vote in his campaign to remain superintendent of schools.
Hartley received 84% of the vote against challenger Alan Bhajan, making him the first superintendent to be reelected in quite some time.
The result was closer in the District 1 county commission race, but still firmly in favor of incumbent Commissioner Carolyn Spooner.
Clay County’s race for sheriff went to incumbent Michelle Cook, who beat the former sheriff with 80% of the vote. Robert Alvero won the runoff for school board District 2 with 54% of the vote.
All three counties expressed strong support for former President Donald Trump in his campaign to return to the White House. Votes were still being tallied as of press time to see who would win the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency, but he won Florida’s electors with 56% of the vote.
Florida’s U.S. Senate seat was returned to Sen. Rick Scott, who also won with 56% of the vote. Bradford, Union and Clay showed him overwhelming support for him as well.
Both representatives Kat Cammack and Aaron Bean held onto their seats in the U.S. House. Cammack won District 3 with 62% and Bean won District 4 with 57%.
Rep. Chuck Brannan had no problem retaining his seat in the Florida House with 75% of the vote, assuring his fourth and final term.
With a slew of proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot, the two most debated have finally been decided. Amendment 3 allowing adult use marijuana recreationally failed to receive 60% of the statewide vote. Most Bradford, Union and Clay voters were opposed to passage.
Similarly, Florida refused to overturn restrictions on abortion. Again, Bradford, Union and Clay voters were mostly opposed to the amendment.
Ballots in Starke and Hampton also had local charter initiatives. Asked about removing references to the police chief and police department from the Starke charter, 70% of voters chose yes. Hampton voters also approved changes modernizing their charter, with 71% voting yes.
Voter turnout going into Election Day was nearly 50% in Bradford and 56% in Union. Nearly 7,000 went to the Bradford Courthouse during the early voting period. Mail ballots pushed early votes over 9,100. In Union, there were more than 3,400 early votes and 670 mail ballots before Election Day.
At the end of Election Day, voter turnout was 76% in Bradford and in 84% Union. Clay reported overall voter turnout was at 81%.
The results are all unofficial until certified. For more on the election and results in other races, visit www.votebradfordfl.gov, www.unionflvotes.com and www.clayelections.gov.
Community yard sale
There will be a Community Yard Sale on Saturday, Nov. 9, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 15043 U.S. Hwy 301 South (the former Jay’s Mini Mart). Sponsored by We Care Democrats. If you would like to set up your own table that day, call 904-612-3942 to reserve your space.
