There are many Tampa Bay area races and issues that will be gracing the ballots on Election Day Nov. 8.
Below are just some of the highlights that voters will want to keep an eye on.
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- RACES BY COUNTY
- SEE BELOW: Hillsborough County
- SEE BELOW: Pinellas County
- SEE BELOW: Polk County
- SEE BELOW: Manatee County
- SEE BELOW: Pasco County
- SEE BELOW: Hernando County
- SEE BELOW: Citrus County
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Hillsborough County
Featured race: State Attorney - Circuit 13 | Click for results of this race
Incumbent Mark Ober faces his first challenge from a Democrat challenger in years from former federal prosecutor Andrew Warren.
Ober says there are currently 16,000 cases pending and the budget challenges are overwhelming. Both candidates agree the State Attorney's job is to keep the community safe.
But their idea of what makes the best protector differs.
Warren says his experience in state court, then as a Federal Prosecutor for nearly a decade exposed him to policies across the country he'd like to bring to Hillsborough.
Ober is proud of his 16 years in office and ready for four more.
Other race results:
- Clerk of Circuit Court - Pat Frank defeated Eric Seidel
- Property Appraiser - Bob Henriquez defeated Todd Jones
- Commission District 1 - Sandra Murman defeated Jeff Zampitella
- Commission District 6 - Pat Kemp defeated Tim Schock
- School Board District 5 - Tamara Shamburger defeated Joe Jordon-Robinson
- School Board District 7 -
- Tampa City Council District 7
- Tampa Referendum Question - 64% Yes, 36% No
- Temple Terrace City Council - Frank Chillura, Andrew Ross winners
Pinellas County
Featured race: Florida House District 69 | Kathleen Peters defeated Jennifer Webb
In the Florida House District 69 race, it's Republican Kathleen Peters vs. Democrat Jennifer Webb. House District 69 includes parts of Pinellas Park, St. Pete, Gulfport and the beaches.
Incumbent Kathleen Peters says she's focused on cutting taxes, protecting consumers and helping those who need it most. She says she's confident that her track record will win her re-election.
Newcomer Jennifer Webb is the director of community partnership at USF. She says that experience has taught her how to take care of the environment and local communities. She wants to ban fracking in Florida and invest in local economies.
Other race results:
- Sheriff - Bob Gualtieri defeated James McLynas
- Commission District 3 - Charlie Justice defeated Mike Mikurak
- School Board District 1 - Joanne Lentino defeated Matt Stewart
- School Board District 5 - Carol Cook defeated Eliseo Santana
- Pinellas Charter Amendment 1 -
- Pinellas Charter Amendment 2 - 80% Yes, 20% No
- Pinellas Charter Amendment 3 - 61% Yes, 39% No
- Pinellas Charter Amendment 4 - 77% Yes, 23% No
- Pinellas Charter Amendment 5 - 77% Yes, 23% No
- Pinellas Charter Amendment 6 - 87% Yes, 13% No
- Pinellas School Board Referendum - 76% Yes, 24% No
- Belleair Charter Amendment 1 - 71% Yes, 29% No
- Belleair Charter Amendment 2 - 58% Yes, 42% No
- Belleair Charter Amendment 3 - 89% Yes, 11% No
- Belleair Charter Amendment 4 - 52% Yes, 48% No
- Dunedin Mayor - Julie Bujalski defeated Bruce Livingston
- Dunedin Commission Seat 1 - Maureen Freaney defeated Mike Jones
- Dunedin Commission Seat 3 - Heather Gracy defeated Reuben Hepburn
- Largo Commission Seat 3 -
- Redington Beach Referendum Question - 79% Yes, 21% No
- Seminole Council Member -
- Treasure Island Charter Amendment 1 - 28% Yes, 72% No
- Treasure Island Charter Amendment 2 - 27% Yes, 73% No
- Treasure Island Charter Amendment 3 - 36% Yes, 64% No
- Treasure Island Referendum Question 1 - 36% Yes, 64% No
- Treasure Island Referendum Question 2 - 68% Yes, 32% No
- Treasure Island Referendum Question 3 - 26% Yes, 74% No
- Treasure Island Referendum Question 4 - 38% Yes, 62% No
- Treasure Island Referendum Question 5 - 39% Yes, 61% No
- Treasure Island Referendum Question 6 - 35% Yes, 65% No
Polk County
Featured issue: Indigent Health Care half-cent sales tax
An estimated 43,000 people in Polk County currently benefit from the county's Indigent Health Care Half-Cent Sales Tax. The tax is up for renewal on the Nov. 8 general election ballot.
The indigent health care sales tax generates between $35 to 40 million every year, depending on the economy, according to Joy Johnson, the director of the county's Indigent Health Care program. The has been in place since 2004 and it ends in 2019 unless it is renewed.
Other race results:
- Commission District 5 -
- School Board District 1
- School Board District 4
- Polk Referendum Question
Manatee County
Featured race: Bradenton Mayor | Wayne Poston defeated Warren Merriman and Eleuterio Salazar Jr.
At just 29 years old, Eleuterio Salazar Jr. was one of the youngest candidates to ever run for Bradenton mayor. Warren Merriman was the former deputy chief of the police department. He was fired last year for submitting hours not worked.
Salazar and Merriman both challenged incumbent Mayor Wayne Poston, who's held the position for 17 years and was seeking a fifth term. Poston ran on his reputation of creating jobs and his efforts to keep the Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton for spring training, which generates revenue and brings in tourists.
Other race results:
- Commission District 3 - Steve Jonsson defeated Matt Bower and David Zaccagnino
- Commission District 7 - Betsy Benac defeated Jack Richardson
- School Board District 1 - Gina Messenger defeated Edward Viltz
- School Board District 3 - Dave Miner defeated Misty Servia
- Manatee County Referendum - 57% For, 43% Against
- Manatee County School Board Referendum - 59% For, 41% Against
- Anna Maria Commission -
- Bradenton City Council Ward 1 - Gene Gallo defeated Tami Goudy and Devon Davis
- Bradenton City Council Ward 5 - Harold Byrd Jr. defeated Keenan Wooten
- Bradenton Mayor - Wayne Poston defeated Warren Merriman and Eleuterio Salazar Jr.
- Bradenton Beach Referendum - 75% Yes, 25% No
- Palmetto Charter Amendment - 62% Yes, 38% No
Pasco County
Featured race: Pasco County Property Appraiser | Gary Joiner defeated Jon Larkin
Pasco County has only had two county property appraisers in the past 48 years.
Incumbent Mike Wells Sr. is retiring from the position after 20 years. Two men who have each never served in public office, Republican and longtime Pasco tax collector employee Gary Joiner and Democrat and Dade City real estate broker Jon Sidney Larkin, ran to fill the vacancy.
Joiner pointed to his 33 years working in the Tax Collector's office as proof of his readiness for the job. Larkin, on the other hand, pointed to his private sector experience and understanding of real estate as his best qualifications for the job.
Other race results:
- Commission District 1 - Ron Oakley defeated Dimitri Delgado
- Commission District 3 - Kathryn Starkey defeated Barry Horvath
- Property Appraiser - Gary Joiner defeated Jon Larkin
- Clerk of Courts - Paula O'Neil defeated Roberta Cutting
Hernando County
Featured race: Hernando County Commission - District 3 | John Allocco defeated Diane Rowden
Three-term District 3 Commissioner Diane Rowden, the county commission's only serving Democrat, sought a fourth four-year term in office. Running against Rowden was Republican John Allocco, who had never sought office himself but has worked on several Republican campaigns. Allocco owns a physical therapy business in Spring Hill.
Rowden hoped to convince voters to keep her in office for another term based on her history of promoting environmental issues and economic development in the county. A retired flight attendant, her platform also emphasized a commitment to improving quality of life for county residents, and bringing in more high-paying jobs.
In contrast, Allocco pointed to his experience as a small business owner as proof of his understanding of economic challenges facing county residents and business owners. Government transparency and creating a business-friendly environment in the district are key elements in Allocco's platform.
- Property Appraiser - John Emerson defeated Jeff Huffman
- Supervisor of Elections - Shirley Anderson defeated Debra Myers
- Commission District 1 - Nick Nicholson defeated Jimmy Lodato
- Commission District 3 - John Allocco defeated Diane Rowden
- Commission District 5 - Steve Champion defeated Paul Douglas
- School Board District 4 - Gus Guadagnino defeated William Vonada
- Brooksville City Council Seat 2 - Joe Bernardini defeated Frankie Burnett
Citrus County
Featured race: Citrus County Sheriff | Michael Prendergast defeated Michael Klyap
Current Citrus County Sheriff Jeff Dawsy, a Democrat, who has served in the position for 20 years, chose not to run for re-election in 2016. Republican Mike Prendergast, a one-time chief of staff for Gov. Rick Scott, announced in March he was leaving his state cabinet post as Secretary for the Department of Veterans Affairs to run for Citrus County Sheriff.
Running against Prendergast was Mike Klyap, a disabled veteran who has also served as a Crystal River Police officer and a Citrus County deputy. Despite being a registered Republican, Klyap chose to run in this race as a Non-Party Affiliated (NPA) candidate, telling the Citrus Chronicle in March that he could not "in good conscience" run otherwise.
Both candidates had in their platforms a stronger effort to deal with drugs in the county. Klyap aimed to re-establish a more "community-friendly" sheriff's office, with better communication between deputies and citizens. Prendergast is pushing for higher salaries for deputies and firefighters, and wants to take a look at newer law enforcement techniques in order to help law and fire services be more efficient.
Other race results:
- Sheriff - Michael Prendergast defeated Michael Klyap
- Commission District 1 - Jeff Kinnard defeated Duane Godfrey
- Commission District 3 - Jimmie Smith defeated Tim Langer
- Commission District 5 - Brian Coleman defeated Hank Hemrick
- School Board District 4 - Sandy Counts defeated Bill Murray