This is Marcia Lane, your roving reporter.
Election 2020 in Putnam, Flagler and St. Johns counties saw record numbers thanks to early voting, mail-in ballots and in-person voting Tuesday. In Putnam County, election officials reported a 70.55 percent turnout. In St. Johns 84.21 percent turned out. In Flagler County 78.66 percent of eligible voters cast ballots. Republicans retained leads in races throughout the Putnam, Flagler and St. Johns counties. President Donald Trump won in all three counties. At this point, election results are unofficial.
In Flagler County, changes are coming in Palm Coast although Mayor Milissa Holland has kept her post to serve a second term. On the council Nick Klufas won re-election. New to the council are Ed Danko and Victor Barbosa who won seats. Sheriff Rick Staly, a Republican, won reelection defeating Democrat Larry Jones. Flagler County Commissioner Donald O’Brien kept his District 5 seat despite two challengers. Andy Dance who has been on the school board will now step in to the District 1 County Commission seat that incumbent Charlie Ericksen decided not to seek again.
In St. Johns County candidate Rob Hardwick took about 95 percent of the vote to easily defeat write-in candidate Scott Boutwell. In the St. Johns County Commission District 1 race Christian Whitehurst, who defeated incumbent Jimmy Johns in the primary, continued his winning trend beating Joe McAnarney. District 5 County Commissioner Henry Dean won re-election beating Merrill Paul Roland. Ernesto Torres defeated Maggie Kostka for the City of St. Augustine Beach Commission 1 Seat.
In Putnam County, incumbents ruled with Sheriff Gator DeLoach at nearly 80 percent winning re-election and School Superintendent Rick Currency at 72 percent. Terry Turner retained his District 3 County Commission seat. The Group 3 Palatka City Commission seat long held by Mary Lawson Brown was up for grabs after she decided not to seek re-election. With 56 percent of the vote Willie “Slurb” Jones, a bail bondsman, beat David Parsons for that seat. Michele Myers beat current Crescent City Mayor Brett Peterson and Craig Oates. Cynthia Jo Burn won the Group 3 Crescent City Commission seat. Pomona Park Mayor Joseph Svingala Sr. kept his seat. Also voted back in James Griffin, Pomona Park Town Council Seat 5, who was challenged by Joseph Svingala Jr. Darlena Cuevas won the Pomona Park Town Council Seat 6.
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