Sheriff Grady Judd, 7 Others Re-Elected Without Opposition

Qualifying ended Friday, June 12 and four of the five Polk County constitutional officers – Sheriff Grady Judd, Clerk of the Court Stacy Butterfield, Property Appraiser Marsha Faux and Tax Collector Joe Tedder were re-elected without opposition.

Twenty-year incumbent Supervisor of Elections Lori Edwards will face challenger Debbie Hannifan, a Lakeland Realtor, in the nonpartisan race.

Listing no party affiliation, Martin Grenfell qualified to challenge two-term incumbent District 1 County Commissioner George Lindsey, a Republican. Retired Circuit Judge Bob Doyel, a Democrat, qualified to run against first-term incumbent District 3 Commissioner Bill Braswell, a Republican. Former 16-year County Commissioner Neil Combee, who also served eight years in the Florida Legislature, is challenging incumbent District 5 Commissioner John Hall. Both are Republicans and no Democrat qualified to run. Hall was one of the county commissioners who voted in 2018 to strip Combee's name from the county administration building, which had been named to honor his longtime service.

Three incumbent county judges - Lori Winstead, David Stamey Jr. and Hope Pattey - also were elected without opposition. Winstead was appointed in July 2019 by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Then-Gov. Rick Scott appointed Pattey in August 2019 and Stamey in December 2018.

First term incumbent District 1 School Board member Billy Townsend is being challenged by college professor William Allen. Teacher Anita Carson is challenging 16-year incumbent Lori Cunningham for the District 2 School Board seat. The races are nonpartisan. First term incumbent District 4 School Board member Sara Beth Reynolds was elected without opposition.

Vying for Seat 1 on the Lake Ashton Community Development District are Lloyd Howison, Debbe Landgrebe and Jack Van Sickle. Facing off for the Lake Ashton CDC Seat 5 are Charles Mutz Jr. and Steve Realmuto.