Mike Crimi jumped out to an early lead in the Republican primary for the District 2 Marion County Commission seat over Matt Cretul and Brien Weidemiller.
At 7:45 p.m. Crimi had 7,768 votes or 45.10%, to Cretul's 29.57% or 5,093 votes. Weidemiller had 4,364 or 25.34%.
In the County Commission District 4 GOP primary Jeff Bairstow was in front with 6,691 votes (39.05%) to Sherri Meadows with 4,194 votes (24.47%.) In third was Randall Alvord with 3,397 votes (19.82%) and in fourth was Wanda Wimberly Lasher with 2,854 votes (16.65%.)
District 2 Commissioner Kathy Bryant and District 4 Commissioner Carl Zalak, both Republicans, are not seeking additional terms.
For the county commission races, whomever receives the most votes in each race will face a write-in
candidate come November. Each commission race has a write-in candidate, which means the Aug. 18 primary was open only to registered Republicans.
According to the Florida Legislature's Office of Economic and Demographic Research, for fiscal year 2025-26, a county commissioner's annual salary is $110,896.
Of the seven candidates from the two races, Crimi raised the most cash with $176,662.70, followed by Meadows with $114,816.90. In third was Cretul with $48,900 and in fourth was Lasher with $48,235.
Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Crimi, Bairstow leading county commission races
