Hazellief, Goodbread & Owens are Republican candidates for county commission; Johnson & Fuchswanz in runoff for school board seat

OKEECHOBEE -- Okeechobee County had a light voter turnout Tuesday with only 27 percent of registered voters participating.

In the county sheriff’s race Republican primary, Noel Stephen received 69.45 percent of the vote, defeating Darryl Stokes. Major Stephen will face Michael Hazellief (NPA) and William Markham (DEM) in the general election.

In the Republican primary for property appraiser, Mickey Bandi won with 48.3 percent of the vote; Russ Duncan received 44.77 percent and D. Robert Wilson, 6.93 percent. Mr. Bandi will face Sharon Wallace (NPA) and Steve Cates (DEM) in the general election.

In the county commission district 1 race, David Hazellief won the primary with 41.12 percent. Mark Brandel had 22.85 percent; Phil Baughman, 21.92 percent; Keith White, 14.11 percent. Mr. Hazellief will face Michael Slayton (NPA) in the general election.

In county commission district 3, Brad Goodbread won with 36.49 percent. Debra Sales received 34.7 percent; Gail Powers, 28.81 percent. Mr. Goodbread will face Bobby Keefe (NPA)  in the general election.

In county commission district 5, Kelly Owens received 67.48 percent of the votes to beat Frank Cunningham. Ms. Owens will face Weston Harvey (DEM) in the general election.

In a tight school board race,  Levi Johnson received 27.82 percent; Amanda Fuchswanz, 27.36 percent; Linda Baker, 26.88 percent and Mindy Schoppmeyer, 17.95 percent. Mr. Johnson and Ms. Fuchswanz will be in a run off in the general election.

Okeechobee County registered voters included 7,609 Democrats; 8,088 Republicans; and 3,805 voters registered in minor parties or non-partisan.