By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

            The 2022 Levy County election is shaping up to be a big one with 14 residents already listed on the Supervisor of Elections website as being candidates for county office.

            Part of the reason for the large size of the field are the elective offices vacated when two popular local elected officials, Property Appraiser Osborn Barker and County Commissioner Mike Joyner passed away last year.

            The Governor’s office hasn’t appointed a replacement for either position and doesn’t appear to be in the mood to select a temporary replacement for two seats.

            James Allen, David Rogers, and Jason Whistler, all of whom list a Chiefland address are running for the property appraiser position. It’s early. More could jump in the race, or not.

            The two candidates running for the District-3 county commission seat left open by Joyner’s passing are Clifton Harrell and Desiree Mills, both of Morriston. Joyner also lived in Morriston.

            District 4 County Commissioner Lilly Rooks is retiring after 24 years on the job and three candidates, Charlene Watson Cavillo, Tim Hodge, and Laura Mott, all listing Chiefland addresses, are running for her seat.

            District 2 County Commissioner Rock Meeks, who represents the Chiefland area, hasn’t drawn an opponent to this point.

            School Board Chairman Cameron Asbell from District 1, the Bronson seat, hasn’t drawn an opponent yet. Asbell lists an Archer address although that doesn’t mean he lives in Archer. That’s just the Post Office being the Post Office.

            District 5 School Board member Brad Etheridge, who hasn’t tossed his hat into the ring, has drawn three opponents, Scott Hall, Larry Jones, and Devin Whitehurst, all from Williston, if he decides to seek re-election.

            District 3 School Board member Ashley Clemenzi hasn’t said whether she is running and no one has indicated they want to run against her.

            Qualifying for the county seats goes from noon June 13, 2022, to noon on June 17, 2022.

            The deadline to turn in petitions for candidates who don’t want to pay the qualifying fee is before noon on May 16.

            County voter registration books will close on July 25 for the Aug. 23 primary election, and Oct. 11 for the Nov. 8 general election.

            The turnout for these local races could be bigger than usual because Gov. Ron DeSantis is on the ballot.

            There’s considerable interest in these local races as well.

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Enterprise Reporting by Terry Witt February 22, 2022, Posted February 22, 2022