Voter Guide: Florida’s Aug. 20, 2024 City Council Elections

On Tuesday, August 20, 2024, voters across the state of Florida will cast their ballots in primary elections. A variety of offices will appear on the ballot, from school board seats to county commissioners. 

In this guide, we’ll highlight some of the most noteworthy races for city council and city commission throughout the state. 

Below, you’ll find information about who’s on the ballot in key cities. We’ll also spotlight which candidates are GoodParty.org Certified, meaning they have pledged to run truly independent, people-powered, and anti-corruption campaigns for local office. These candidates are dedicated to serving their communities, not big-money donors or special interests.

A Guide to Florida’s Non-Partisan City Council Elections

St. Petersburg City Council

Located in Pinellas County and across Old Tampa Bay from Florida’s third-largest city, St. Petersburg will be voting on city council members in four districts this August.

Only one candidate, incumbent Copley Gerdes, is running for city council in District 1.

In District 3, six candidates are on the ballot, including two GoodParty.org Certified candidates:

• Peter Boland (GoodParty.org Certified candidate)

• Nicholas Carey

• Michael Harting

• Juan Lopez Estevez (GoodParty.org Certified candidate)

• Joshua Nwajei

• Barry Rubin

In District 5, two candidates are competing:

• Deborah Figgs-Sanders

• Torrie Jasuwan (GoodParty.org Certified candidate)

In District 7, six candidates are on the ballot:

• Donald Bowens

• Eritha Cainion

• Treva Davis

• Corey Givens 

• Wengay Newton 

• Daniel Soronen (GoodParty.org Certified candidate)

Not sure which city council district you’re in? View the map here to find your district.

Cape Coral City Council

Cape Coral voters will choose their next city council members in five districts on August 20, 2024.

In District 2, three candidates are on the ballot:

• Laurie Lehmann

• Daniel Sheppard

• Craig Patrick Unroe

In District 3, four candidates are running for city council:

• Chad Bruening

• Derrick Donnell

• Daniel Ludlow (GoodParty.org Certified candidate)

• Deborah Lee McCormick

District 4 is home to four city council candidates:

• Richard Carr

• William Matthews

• Jennifer Nelson

• Robert Sutter

In District 5, four candidates are on the ballot, including two GoodParty.org Certified candidates:

• Jason Conzelman

• Joseph Kilraine (GoodParty.org Certified candidate)

• Charles Pease

• Robert Welsh (GoodParty.org Certified candidate)

In District 7, two candidates will face off:

• Michael Harper

• Rachel Kaduk

View a map of Cape Coral’s city council districts here.

Tallahassee City Commission

On August 20, Tallahassee will hold a non-partisan primary election for two seats on its city commission.

Three candidates are on the ballot for Seat 1:

• Louis Dilbert

• Rudolph Ferguson

• Jacqueline Porter

Four candidates are running for Seat 2:

• Dorothy Inman-Johnson

• Donna Nyack

• Curtis Richardson

• Bernard Stevens

Jacqueline Porter and Curtis Richardson are the incumbent city council members in these two races.

Gainesville City Commission

Home to the University of Florida, the city of Gainesville will elect two at-large city commission seats and one district seat on August 20. One of the two at-large seats on the ballot is currently uncontested, meaning only one candidate will appear on the ballot.

Two candidates are running for Seat A to represent Gainesville in an at-large capacity:

• Fareed Johnson (GoodParty.org Certified candidate)

• James Ingle

Only one candidate is currently running for at-large Seat B:

• Cynthia Chestnut

Two candidates are running to represent District 1, which includes eastern Gainesville:

• Michael Perkins (GoodParty.org Certified candidate)

• Desmon Walker

Not sure which city commission district you’re in? View a map of Gainesville’s four districts here.

Palm Bay City Council

Located in Brevard County, Palm Bay will hold elections for two city council seats next month. The Palm Bay City Council has seats for five council members, one of which has recently been vacant.

Three candidates are running for Seat 2:

• Donny J. Felix

• Richard “Mike” Hammer

• Patric McNally

Seven candidates are competing for Seat 3:

• Alfy Ramsay Agarie

• Michael J. Bruyette (GoodParty.org Certified candidate)

• Peter J. Filiberto

• Randy Foster

• David Anthony Kearns (GoodParty.org Certified candidate)

• Chandler Austin Langevin

• Eileen Mary Sepp

Donny J. Felix and Randy Foster are the two incumbent candidates in these council races.

Miami Gardens City Council

In Miami-Dade County, Miami Gardens will hold elections for two residential or district city council seats, plus one at-large seat.

Three candidates are running for Residential Seat 1:

• Katrina Baskin

• Shannon Campbell 

• Michael Horne

Two candidates are on the ballot for Residential Seat 3:

• Shannan Ighodaro

• Michelle Powell

Six candidates are competing for At-large Seat 5:

• Pitchie "Peachy" Escarment

• Kevin Corey Harris

• Karen Elizabeth Hunter-Jackson

• Linda Julien (GoodParty.org Certified candidate)

• David Williams, Jr. 

• Angela Wynter

The three incumbent candidates in these council races are Shannon Campbell, Shannan Ighodaro, and Linda Julien.

Deltona City Commission

Deltona, a city located on the northern shore of Lake Munroe, will elect city commissioners in four districts in August.

In District 1, three candidates are on the ballot, including two GoodParty.org Certified candidates:

• Morris Froscher

• James Heriot (GoodParty.org Certified candidate)

• Brandy White (GoodParty.org Certified candidate)

District 2 has three candidates running for office:

• Elizabeth Chavez

• Emma Santiago (GoodParty.org Certified candidate)

• Troy Shimkus

In District 4, two candidates are running for commissioner:

• Dori Howington

• Dana McCool 

District 6 has two candidates on the ballot:

• Dominic Lulli 

• Jody Storozuk

Find maps of the six Deltona City Commission districts here.

Fort Myers City Council

In Fort Myers, three city council candidates in Ward 2 will face off on August 20:

• Chanetta Campbell-Brunson

• Diana Giraldo

• Jacquelyn McMiller (GoodParty.org Certified candidate)

Ward 4 is also electing a new city council member this year, though that ward will hold its election on November 5, 2024. This is because there are only two candidates running for office in Ward 4, so a primary election is not needed.

View a map of Fort Myers’ six city council wards here.

North Port City Commission

North Port, a city on the Myakka River in Sarasota County, plans to elect city commissioners in three districts. These elections are held on a non-partisan basis.

In District 1, two candidates are on the ballot:

• Demetrius Petrow (GoodParty.org Certified candidate)

• Alice White

In District 2, three candidates are running for commissioner:

• Cheryl Cook

• Barbara Langdon 

• Joshua Smith

District 3 has two candidates on the ballot:

• David Duval

• Andrew Sias

Visit North Port’s city website to find your commission district.

Daytona Beach City Commission

Daytona Beach plans to elect a city commissioner in Zone 2. Two candidates are currently on the ballot:

• Nick Edgar (GoodParty.org Certified candidate)

• Ken Strickland

Kissimmee City Commission

In Osceola County, Kissimmee voters will cast their ballots for three city commissioners.

Three candidates are running for Seat 1:

• Noel Ortiz

• Jaime Reyes (GoodParty.org Certified candidate)

• Lisandra Roman

Four candidates are on the ballot for Seat 3:

• Carlos Alvarez

• Rubin Anderson

• Wade Choate (GoodParty.org Certified candidate)

• Nichole de Arguello

Four candidates are running for Seat 5:

• Olga Cariño

• Olga Castano

• John Cortes

• Jackie Espinosa

Sanford City Commission

Sanford, the county seat of Seminole County, plans to hold elections for two city commission districts. One of these races is currently uncontested.

Only one candidate is currently running for commissioner in District 3:

• Patrick Austin

In District 4, three candidates are competing:

• Rich Santos (GoodParty.org Certified candidate)

• Claudia Thomas

• Tara Waisanen

View a map of Sanford’s four commission districts here.

Pensacola City Council

In Escambia County, voters in Pensacola will vote for three city council members.

In District 1, two candidates will face off:

• Jennifer Brahier (GoodParty.org Certified candidate)

• Edward Nickinson

In District 3, only one candidate is running for city council:

• Casey Jones

District 5 will be a race between two candidates:

• Toni Broughton

• Jenori Burroughs (GoodParty.org Certified candidate)

View a map of Pensacola’s seven city council districts here.

Fort Pierce City Commission

Two seats on the Fort Pierce City Commission are up for election next month.

Two candidates are on the ballot for District 1, Seat #3:

• Curtis Johnson

• Reggie Sessions

Two candidates are running for District 2, Seat #2:

• John Heaning

• James Taylor

View a map of Fort Pierce’s two commission districts here.

Ormond Beach City Commission

In Ormond Beach, four city commission zones are electing council members. However, the races in Zones 1, 2, and 4 have all gone unopposed, meaning there was no competition for these commission seats.

Meanwhile, three candidates are on the ballot for commissioner in Zone 3:

• Barbara Bonarrigo

• Kristin Deaton (GoodParty.org Certified candidate)

• Daniel Dragone

Find maps of Ormond Beach’s city commission districts here.

Casselberry City Commission

In Casselberry, a smaller city northeast of Orlando, three candidates are vying for Seat #4 on the city commission:

• Joel Hawksley

• Thomas Kirk

• Tim Veigle

Key West City Commission

Located in the Florida Keys, Key West will elect city commissioners in two districts in August. These elections are held on a non-partisan basis.

In District 1, two candidates are running for city commissioner:

• Monica Haskell

• Ben Hennington

In District 4, three candidates are on the ballot:

• Aaron Castillo

• Thaddeus Cohen

• Marci Rose

Punta Gorda City Council

In Charlotte County, Punta Gorda is planning to elect city council members in three districts.

District 1 has two candidates on the ballot:

• Donna Peterman 

• Jeannine Polk

Two candidates are running in District 2:

• William Dryburgh

• Gregory Julian

In District 4, two candidates are running for city council:

• Janis Denton

• Lynne Matthews

Find your city council district in Punta Gorda here.

Stuart City Commission

A city on Florida’s Atlantic Coast, Stuart is holding a non-partisan election for two groups on its city commission.

There are two candidates for Group 2:

• Becky Bruner

• Laura Giobbi

Two candidates are running for Group 4:

• Troy McDonald

• Sean Reed

Destin City Council

In Okaloosa County, the city of Destin is led by a mayor and seven at-large city council members. This year, eight candidates are running for this local office:

• Rodney Braden

• Dewey Destin

• Teresa Hebert

• Lance A. Johnson (GoodParty.org Certified candidate)

• John King

• Kevin Schmidt

• John Stephens (GoodParty.org Certified candidate)

• Sandy Trammell

Palatka City Commission

In Putnam County along the St. Johns River, Palatka is electing commissioners in two groups this year.

Two candidates are competing for the Group 1 seat:

• Annie Davis

• Allegra Kitchens

Two candidates are also running for the Group 3 seat:

• Will Jones 

• Elizabeth van Rensburg

Get Involved in Florida Elections

Want to learn more and get involved in your local elections in Florida? 

The best way to learn more about upcoming elections is to visit your local government’s website. Once there, you can find the latest and most accurate information about who’s on the ballot, where to go on election day, and what to know before you get ready to cast your vote.

You can learn more about GoodParty.org Certified candidates by exploring our collection of campaign spotlights here. We’ve highlighted candidates running for office across the country and across the political spectrum. What unites them all is their dedication to serving their local communities with integrity and transparency.

Want to get more involved? Learn more about the independent movement and sign up for updates about how you can make a difference here.

Photo by Amber Kipp on Unsplash