MOORE HAVEN -- The 2024 election season is heating up with multiple candidates for local office in Glades County.

In the County Court Judge, the candidates are Harley Brook, Will Dorman and Richard Sullivan. The judge race is nonpartisan.

Glades County Sheriff David Harden is challenged by Curtis J. Clay Sr., Jeffery Nunemaker and Tico Salgado. All of the candidates are Republicans.

In the race for the County Commission District 1, candidates are George Humpries and Jeffrey E. Patterson. Both candidates are Republicans. Tony Whidden, who currently holds that seat, has not filed for re-election. Some protestors outside the May 14 meeting of the Glades County Commission in Moore Haven alleged Whidden does not live in the district he currently represents. Whidden was living in District 1 when he was elected, but reportedly moved about six miles away two years later.

The County Commission District 2 seat has been vacant since the death of Donna Storter Long. Jeff Barnes and Porter Walker have filed as candidates for that seat. Both are Republicans.

In the County Commission District 3 seat race, incumbent Jerry “Gator” Sapp is challenged by D. J. McGlothern. Both are Republicans.

In the County Commission District 5 race, incumbent Tim Stanley is challenged by Kevin Flanagan and Stu Taylor. Stanley and Taylor are Republicans. Flanagan has no party affiliation.

Supervisor of Elections Aletris Farnam is currently unchallenged in her re-election campaign.

In the Superintendent of Schools Race, incumbent Alice “Beth” Barfield is challenged by FeLinda Langdale. Both are Republicans.

In the School Board District 2 race, the candidates are Kevin Bryant, Larry Luckey III and Kari West. School board races are nonpartisan.

In the School Board District 3 race, incumbent Tami Pearce Simmons is currently unchallenged in her re-election bid.

Property Appraiser Lori Ward and Tax Collector Gail Jones are also running unopposed.

Candidates for Buckhead Ridge Mosquito Control District are Becky Del Santo, Cole. P. Frazier and James T. Gillette Jr.

Candidates for Moore Haven Mosquito Control District are: Travis Hendry (seat 1), Winifred Blake (seat 2) and Teresa M. Moorehouse (seat 3).

The slate of candidates will not be official until 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. The deadline to turn in petitions was May 13. 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.