By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

                The Otter Creek Town election Tuesday night saw two incumbent council members re-elected to their positions and two other incumbents defeated, according to unofficial returns.

            Gail Lamb was returned to the board with the highest vote total of 44 along with longtime Mayor Russell Meeks, Sr. who received 34 votes.

            Former Councilman Zim Padgett won office with 34 votes and Therese Granger won with 34 votes.

The election won’t be official until the canvassing board meets on Thursday to certify the election.

Other candidates on the ballot were Laura Mott with 25 votes, Lynette M.L.A Preston with 28, Darren Severino with 11, and incumbents Daniel G. Shannon with 20 votes, and Stuart Stuart with 30 votes.

One of the oddities of Florida voting in the modern era is that RV park residents can also vote in Florida elections if they register before the books close and say they are residents.

It’s not known at this point if the RV park in Otter Creek was a factor in the election. Twenty-four RV park residents in Otter Creek are registered to vote in the town’s elections. The elections office in Bronson won’t know how many of those RV residents voted in the Otter Creek election until Monday.

            Legal residency for voting purposes is not defined under Florida law but is generally considered to be where the person intends to make their permanent residence. RV park residents can vote but must swear they are eligible to vote in Florida elections when they fill out the application. Homeless people can also vote.

Town officials said 71 people voted, a high voter turnout in Otter Creek. The average turnout in Otter Creek is around 50 to 55, locals say, though it is sometimes much lower.

The town clerk said there are 99 registered voters living in the tiny city in central Levy County.

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Enterprise Reporting April 5, 2023; Posted April 5, 2023