9:18 p.m.: Kathy Harris, chief of staff and general counsel for Hillsborough County Supervisor of Election Buddy Johnson, just made her first announcement of the night. ...more

November 4, 2008

5:51 a.m.: All Right! It's here. If there weren't enough Election Day excitement after two years of campaign buildup, NBC political analyst Chuck Todd ensured today would be plenty dramatic. ...more

November 4, 2008

AVON PARK — Sharon Schuler retained the mayor's seat and Al Hinson will take over Doug Eason's city council position after both won by comfortable margins in the official count. ...more

November 7, 2007

AVON PARK — With both major precincts counted, an unofficial count had Mayor Sharon Schuler almost 100 votes ahead of the next-highest candidate for mayor, while Avon Park Middle School teacher Al Hinson held a sizable lead in the council election Tuesday night. Schuler, with 329 votes, will likely remain mayor for another three years as she holds an insurmountable lead over former Gordon Marshall in the mayoral race. Marshall, with 223 votes, is a distant second, while Ed Dickerson had 159 votes and Gonzalo Lezama 47. Schuler said she wasn't expecting it. Truly. "Everyone has an opportunity to win," she said as she came to the supervisor of election's office to see the vote counting. "I'm very happy." Hinson, meanwhile, has 250 votes, holding a solid lead over Paul Miller's 202 backers, Michael Shirey's 177 and James Rahenkamp's 140. Hinson, reached by phone Tuesday evening, was cautiously optimistic that he would hold on to the lead. "I thought it would be close," he said. "I feel good... I guess the people went out and voted. Hopefully it's official but I am happy." ...more

November 6, 2007

AVON PARK — Early voting for Avon Park's mayor and for one council seat begins Monday, making it the first time in the city's history that it is holding early voting for local offices. Voters will pick between four mayoral candidates and four contestants for Councilman Doug Eason's seat, which he is vacating. Mayor Sharon Schuler is up against RCMA Technology Director Ed Dickerson, Local Advocacy Council Chairman Gonzalo Lezama and former Mayor Gordon Marshall. ...more

October 28, 2007