Glades County Commissioner Hattie Taylor won another term Tuesday, defeating two challengers in one of the county’s most competitive local races.
Taylor received about 52% of the vote in the Republican primary for the District 4 seat, according to unofficial results from the Glades County Supervisor of Elections.
Linda Cisneros finished second with about 40%, while Tarik Kose received about 8%.
Because no Democrat or other candidate is running for the seat in November, Taylor’s primary victory means she will serve another term on the County Commission.
In District 2, Commissioner Jeff Barnes was unopposed.
About 35% of Glades County’s 6,765 eligible voters cast ballots in Tuesday’s primary, according to county officials.
New member elected to School Board
Glades County voters also decided two contested School Board races.
In District 1, Angie Woodward Hough easily defeated Anita Thielen Sauls for the seat being vacated by Crystal Drake. Woodward Hough received about 70% of the vote.
There will also be a change on the School Board in District 5.
Former teacher Lauren V. Thompson defeated incumbent Patricia Pearce. Thompson received about 56% of the vote, compared with 44% for Pearce.
The new board members will take office as the Glades County School District continues working through financial problems.
The district’s reserves fell below the level required by the state, leading to increased state oversight. School officials have made budget cuts and taken other steps to improve the district’s finances.
The financial problems have come even as Glades County schools have improved academically. The district received an “A” rating for the second year in a row, and its statewide ranking has improved significantly.
Donalds wins GOP race for governor
Glades County voters also participated in the crowded race to replace Gov. Ron DeSantis, who cannot seek another term.
U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds won the Republican nomination for governor statewide with about 48% of the vote. Donalds had the endorsement of President Donald Trump.
The results were different in Glades County, where Donalds received about 30% of the Republican vote. Lt. Gov. Jay Collins received about 21%, while James Fishback received about 11%.
Fishback, a 31-year-old investment manager, made opposition to Israel and the pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC a major part of his campaign. He also drew criticism during the campaign for rhetoric about Jews and Israel. Statewide, Fishback finished well behind Donalds.
Donalds was born in Brooklyn and spent part of his childhood in Crown Heights, a neighborhood with a large Jewish community. He has also developed relationships with Jewish and Chabad leaders in Florida.
On the Democratic side, former Republican Congressman David Jolly easily won his party’s nomination for governor. Jolly received about 61% statewide.
In Glades County, Jolly received about 42% of the votes cast in the Democratic primary for governor.
Donalds and Jolly will now face each other in the Nov. 3 general election to decide who succeeds DeSantis.