OKEECHOBEE – Election signs are popping up in Okeechobee as candidates for local office start their 2024 campaigns.

The official qualifying period for county office is noon on June 10 to noon on June 14, explained Okeechobee County Supervisor of Elections Melissa Arnold. The slate of candidates will not be official until noon on June 14.

There are two ways to qualify for local office. Most candidates choose the petition method, which requires them to obtain signatures from 1% of the voter role from the last election. For Okeechobee County, the magic number is 288. Any registered voter may sign any petition. Party affiliation does not matter. The deadline to turn in petitions is May 13. Arnold said most local candidates have already completed their petitions.

Those who do not get enough signatures, or who enter the race after the petition deadline, can qualify by paying a fee based on a percentage of the annual salary of the elected position they seek.

As of May 8, seven incumbents are running unopposed: Clerk of the Circuit Court Jerry Bryant, Property Appraiser Mickey Bandi, Supervisor of Elections Melissa Arnold, Tax Collector Celeste Watford,  County Judge William Wallace, School Board Member Malissa Morgan and School Board Member Amanda Riedel.

Okeechobee County Sheriff Noel Stephen is challenged by Jon Folbrecht, Jesse Hert and Stephen Weikert. All are Republicans. Arnold said if all candidates for an office are in the same political party, that race will be decided in the primary. Such an election will be an open primary, allowing all voters to participate. Arnold said the primary election will be “winner take all.” Even if no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the candidate with the most votes will be declared the winner.

In County Commission District 1 race, incumbent David Hazellief, Republican, is challenged by Gregory Thomas, No Party Affiliation (NPA). Such a race with two candidates in different parties would go straight to the general election ballot in November, Arnold explained.

In the County Commission District 3 race, Bradley Goodbread is challenged by Keith White. Both are Republicans. If no other candidates enter this race, it will be decided in an open primary in August.

In the County Commission District 5 race, there is no incumbent. Commissioner Kelly Owens is not seeking re-election. Current candidates include Democrats Glenn Attaway and Austin Harvey, and Republicans Deanna Forier, Billy McCullers and Michael Sumner. If all current candidates complete qualification, this race will have closed primaries and the winners of the Democrat and Republican primaries will face off in the general election.

Voter registration for the primary election closes July 22. Early voting will be Aug. 10-17, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Supervisor of Elections Office in the Historic Okeechobee County Courthouse, 304 N.W. Second Street. Election Day is Aug. 20 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Voter registration for the general election closes Oct. 7. Early voting will be Oct. 21-Nov. 2, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Supervisor of Elections Office. Election Day is Nov. 5 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Election Day voting is in the precinct in which you live.

Any registered voter may apply to vote by mail. Request an absentee ballot by mail, phone, email or in person at the Supervisor of Elections Office. Absentee ballots must be received by the Elections Office no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day.  

For more information, see the Supervisor of Elections website at www.voteokeechobee.gov; call the office at 863-763-4014; email: Elections@voteokeechobee.gov; or visit the Supervisor of Elections Office in Room 144 of the Historic Okeechobee County Courthouse.