Primary Election Recap: Here’s Who Won The Primary Election, Local Results
August 24, 2022
Florida Governor
Democrat Charlie Crist defeated challenger Nikki Fried to face Republican incumbent Ron DeSantis in November.
U.S. House 1st Congressional District
Republic incumbent Matt Gaetz defeated challengers Mark Lombardo and Greg Merk. He will face Democrat Rebekah Jones in November. Jones defeated Peggy Schiller in the primary Tuesday.
State Senate District 1
Republican incumbent Doug Broxson received 76% of the vote Tuesday to win the primary over John Mills. He will face Democrat Charlie Nichols in November.
Florida House District 1
Incumbent Michelle Salzman won the Republican primary with 65% of the vote over Mike Hill with 35% of the ballots cast. Salzman will face Democratic Franscine Mathis in the general election in November.
Florida House District 2
Republican incumbent Alex Andrade beat Greg Litton Jordan Karr. Andrade will be up against Democrat Carollyn Rabeca Taylor on November 8.
Escambia County Judge Group 1
Scott Richie was elected as Escambia County judge Tuesday with 64.5% of the vote to 35.5% for Paul Hamlin.
Escambia County Commission District 2
Mike Kohler, a retired Navy captain, defeated Kevin Brown and Chance Walsh for the Escambia County Commission District 2 seat. Incumbent Doug Underhill did not seek reelection.
Escambia County Commission District 4
Incumbent Escambia County District 4 Commissioner Robert Bender garnered 78.6% of the vote, beating Stan McDaniels. He will face Democrat Myra Van Hoose in the general election.
Escambia County School Board District 1
With nearly 72% of the vote, Escambia County School Board Chairman Kevin Adams retained his seat with a landslide victory over his challenger, Connor Mann.
Escambia County School Board District 2
Paul Fetsko, with 45.6% of the vote, and Ray Guillory, with 35.4%, will be in a November runoff. A third candidate, Kells Hetherington, received 18% of Tuesday’s vote.
Escambia County School Board District 3
Incumbent Laura Edler was defeated by former Pensacola High School principal David Williams.
Pensacola Mayor
D.C. Reeves was elected as Pensacola’s next mayor with 51.44% of the vote, defeating Jewel Cannada-Wynn (19.67%), Steve Sharp (16.06%) and Sherri Myers (12.83%).
Pensacola City Council District 2
Charles Bare (41.19%) and Char Powell (26.05%) will be in a runoff in November.
Pensacola City Council District 6
Allison Patton (42.70%) and Ann Hill (35.27% will be in a runoff in November.
13 Suspects Accused Of Traveling To Santa Rosa County For Sex With Underage Girls
August 24, 2022
There were 12 arrests with 45 felony charges after a child sex sting in Santa Rosa County, and one suspect is still on the run.
The suspects all believed they were communicating online with girls age 13-14 and traveled to Santa Rosa County to have sex with the minors, according to Sheriff Bob Johnson.
Treveon Mitchell of Pensacola, pictured above on the bottom row, fled when deputies tried to arrest him. He was later arrested.
Pictured above are suspects:
(Top row, L-R)
- Erick Menchaca, 33, DeFuniak Springs.
- Bryan Mejia, 22, Pensacola.
- Anthony Martinez, 32, Pace.
- Jose Leonardo-Ramirez, 30, Pensacola.
(Second row, L-R)
- Patrick Bradt, 50, Crestview.
- Tristan Thrower, 24, Pensacola.
- Andrew Walters, 29, Gulf Shores.
- Joshua Prows, 35, Milton.
(Third row, L-R)
- Zachary Frantz, 26, Pace.
- James Ray II, 45, Pensacola.
- Terry Deer, 57, Fairhope.
- Michael Preston, 40, Pensacola.
(Bottom row)
- Trevon Mitchell, 27, Pensacola.
Learn How To Protect Yourself During A Home Improvement Project
August 24, 2022
Escambia County residents can learn how to protect themselves during a home improvement project.
The Escambia County Building Services “Protect Your Project” workshop on Thursday is open to the public and will cover several topics to help citizens make informed decisions when deciding to hire a contractor or handle a project themselves.
During the workshop, attendees will learn about contractor requirements, verification of licensure, how to file a complaint against a contractor and more. Escambia County Director of Building Services Tim Tolber will give a presentation followed by a question-and-answer session. Stephan Moorhead, Board Certified Real Estate Lawyer with Moorhead Law Group, will discuss construction contracts from a consumer’s perspective, liens and how citizens can protect themselves if they receive a Notice to Owner. Personnel from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation and City of Pensacola Building Inspections will also be in attendance.
The program will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, August 25 at the Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place, room 104.
Baker Sweeps Northview (With Photo Gallery)
August 24, 2022
The Baker Gators defeated the Northview Chiefs in three straight sets Tuesday night in Bratt, 25-13, 25-12, 25-18.
The Lady Chiefs also dropped their season opener Monday night 3-2 on the road at W.S. Neal.
The Northview Chiefs (0-2) will be on the road Thursday to play the Hoboes of Laurel Hill (0-1).
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
By The Numbers: Complete Escambia County Primary Election Results
August 24, 2022
For a summary of who won locally and November races, click here.
Opal J. Smith
August 24, 2022
Opal J. Smith, 85, of Cantonment, FL passed away on Friday, August 19, 2022 at her residence. Mrs. Smith was born January 31, 1937 on a cotton farm in Lottie, AL. One of ten children born to John Emory Jones and Mazzie Artence Chunn Jones. She graduated from Baldwin County High School. Mrs. Smith worked at Monsanto for six years and over 30 years as a Guidance Office Secretary at Ransom Middle School. She was an active member of First Baptist Church of Cantonment for over 50 years. Mrs. Smith loved her family, her church family and friends. In her leisure time she enjoyed Suduko puzzles and watching Jeopardy as well as traveling.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 50 plus years, Grady K. Smith, Sr.
To cherish her memory is her son, Grady K. Smith, Jr. (Kandys); her daughter, Allison K. Eisinga (Henk); her grandchildren, Jonathon Kennedy, Daniel C. Eisinga, Jacqueline J. Eisinga-Roles(Daniel) and a great granddaughters, Sophia Kennedy and Claire Eisinga.
The family will receive friends on Thursday, August 25, 2022, from 10:00 AM until Noon at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North.
Graveside funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Thursday, August 25, 2022 in Oak Hill Cemetery in Atmore, AL with Dr. Will Stone officiating.
Blue Wahoos Fall To Montgomery Biscuits
August 24, 2022
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos played on-time and uninterrupted through a persistent rain on Tuesday night, but fell to the Montgomery Biscuits 9-5 in their series opener.
Paul McIntosh was 2-for-4 with a long two-run homer in the third inning to put Pensacola ahead 5-2, but that would be the last highlight for the Blue Wahoos. Montgomery scored seven unanswered runs, capped by a pair of late home runs from Diego Infante and Niko Hulsizer, as they cruised to victory.
The Biscuits jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning against Pensacola starter Zach King on a two-run single from Hulsizer. Davis Bradshaw evened the score for the Blue Wahoos with a two-run double in the bottom of the inning against Michael Mercado, and a Norel González RBI double in the third was followed by McIntosh’s homer.
Infante completed a fourth-inning comeback for Montgomery with an RBI single, and Greg Jones led off the fifth by drawing a walk against Zack Leban (L, 0-2). He promptly stole second, took third on a throwing error, and scored on a wild pitch to score the go-ahead run.
Pensacola collected just two hits over 5.2 scoreless innings against the Biscuits bullpen, and former Pensacola farmhand Cody Reed (W, 1-0) earned the win with 1.2 perfect innings of relief.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Biscuits on Wednesday.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Grand Opening Date Set For New Bellview Library
August 23, 2022
A grand opening date has been set for the new Bellview Library.
A ribbon cutting will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, September 16, according to Escambia County Library Services Director Todd Humble.
“It’s a great day in Bellview; it’s a great day in Escambia County, We are opening the first library in District 1, and it’s going to be an incredible facility and community amenity,” Escambia County District 1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh told NorthEscambia.com Monday afternoon.
The $3.8 million plus library was due to open back in spring, but materials delays repeatedly pushed that date later.
The main portion of the library will consist of a large open space that is divided into areas such as a lobby, a story time area, a youth area and an adult reading area. This large open space will provide entrances to other support spaces such as multiple study rooms, staff rooms, a computer area and a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) room. The development of the building’s façade was inspired by origami, the art of folding paper, which is why there are angles throughout the building.
At 12,000 square feet, the library is located on about four acres at 6425 Mobile Highway, near Bellview Elementary and Bellview Middle schools. About 2,000 square feet of the structure is a former bank; the remainder is a new addition.
On Saturday, September 17, the Bellview Library will host a 25th anniversary celebration of Harry Potter from 1:30 until 3:30 p.m.
“It’s going to be a big program,” Humble said. “There will be games and crafts.”
Pictured: The Bellview Library still under construction in June 2022. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Woman Indicted For Murder After Her Escambia Jail Cellmate Overdosed On Fentanyl
August 23, 2022
A woman has now been indicted for the fentanyl overdose death of her cellmate at the Escambia County Jail.
An Escambia County grand jury indicted 40-year old Pamela Faye Schwarz, 40, on charged of first degree murder by unlawful distribution of drugs, introduction of contraband into a county detention facility, tampering with evidence and possession of a controlled substance.
According to Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons, Schwarz was remanded into custody from drug court and taken to the Escambia County Jail last May and placed into a cell with a 52-year old female later identified as Shirley Barney. There was no one else in the cell.
Prosecutors contend that the Defendant smuggled fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl (synthetic fentanyl) into the jail and gave it to her cellmate who later died from an overdose of the drugs.
Instead of calling for help, Sheriff Chip Simmons said Schwarz helped her cellmate into bed before flushing the rest of the drugs down the toilet.
Several hours later, the victim was found unresponsive. Her death was caused by a fentanyl overdose, according to the Medical Examiner’s Office.
Schwarz remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
It’s Election Day. Here Are Quick Tips To Know Before Heading To The Polls.
August 23, 2022
Today is 2022 Primary Election Day. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.
Here are some voting tips, from Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford:
- Photo and signature ID is required for all voters – if you do not present one of the 12 approved forms of photo ID, you may vote a provisional ballot.
- Be sure to review your sample ballot in order to familiarize yourself with all of the contests and bring it with you to the polls. A sample ballot was mailed to voters, and you can view your sample ballot online at EscambiaVotes.gov/sample-ballots.
- Florida holds closed primary elections. In partisan primaries, you are only eligible to vote in contests for the party in which you are registered, unless it is a universal primary or nonpartisan contest. Your ballot will include all contests in which you are eligible to vote.
- Remember to make only one selection per contest on your ballot.
- Registration books closed on July 25. New registrations and party changes for this election may not be made at the polls.
- You may not return your completed vote-by-mail ballot to your precinct on Election Day – it must be returned to the Elections Office by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
- If you requested a vote-by-mail ballot but chose not to return it, you can vote at your polling place on Election Day. Though not required, it is requested that you bring your unvoted ballot package so it can be cancelled.
- Busiest times at the polls tend to be 7 a.m. until 9 a.m., midday, and 4 p.m. until polls close.
- Early voting ended Saturday, August 20. If you have not yet voted or did not request a vote-by-mail ballot before the deadline, you must go to your designated precinct on Election Day.
- If you voted-by-mail, you can visit EscambiaVotes.gov/track-my-ballot for the status of your ballot.
- If you are unsure of your registration status, check EscambiaVotes.gov/am-i-registered, e-mailsoe@escambiavotes.gov, or call (850) 595-3900.
- Several polling locations have changed since the last election. For a list of the changes, click here.