There is a poll which is current on a few local political Facebook pages concerning the upcoming city election. This "poll" is very unscientific, but it has been up now for 10 hours and has 524 votes. The results for some races are just as expected and for one or two there is a surprise. If this “poll” as stands is any indication, the mayor's race will be a run-off between Ron Tyler and Bill Griffin thanks to Christian CJ McCoy. This has been predicted, and this little poll is showing it will happen. Tyler leads by 9 points, 46% to Griffins 37%. McCoy has a total of 8%. If McCoy’s votes had gone to either Tyler or Griffin, they would have the election sewed up. Ricky Pickett and Billy Ray Simpson both did not receive any votes in this poll.
District 1 is kind of surprising. Personally, I think for the good of the district Kaytrina P Simmons does not need to run unopposed. Especially since this will be her third term. And apparently so do the participants in this poll. On each district ballot there was the option to choose; ANOTHER CANDIDATE. That could have been worded as “none of the above” but that pick did put a positive spin on the choice. Anyway, at least these poll participants want ANOTHER CANDIDATE in District 1. Another Candidate currently stands at 75% of the vote to Simmons 25%. Will hats be thrown in the ring in West Florence? How about North Florence? With the redistricting there could be a viable candidate out there that does not know they are now in the district.
District 2 is another that is not as expected. Many of the participants in this poll are from the Facebook group “Florence City Council: Vote Em All Out” But not all. The poll was shared to 6 different FB groups, 3 of which are mainly informational and a vehicle for local advertising. So, the current results of this poll having River Zurinsky at 60%, Jackie Hendrix at 18% and Another Candidate at 22%. This is not as expected even factoring in the leanings of some of the participants in the poll. Could this turn into a protest vote to show the city of Florence they cannot “appoint” a representative to the council without a vote as they did Hendrix?
District 3 is just as expected. Of the 129 votes cast: 93% were for newcomer to Florence politics, Alisa Dickson. Another local political novice who seems to have declared to run then sort of disappeared, Cory Richardson only received 4% of the votes and “Another Candidate” got 3%. Andy Betterton received 0% of the vote. It seems his switch to District 3 is not going to work.
District 4 is a runaway. At least in this poll. Of 123 votes Josh Bowling received 91%, Another Candidate got 8% and Michele Eubanks got 2%. Something tells me her voters do not subscribe to FB groups who discuss Florence politics. More like the Zodiac Theater crowd. So, this poll may be a little lopsided. But it is a barometer. Josh Bowling was a strong contender in the last election, and it seems he has enough support this time to get over the top.
District 5 does not have current councilman Blake Edwards listed. As of now, he evidently is not running. No announcement in the paper or on social media can be found anyway. So, there were 4 names on this ballot. Brandon Balentine got 53% of the vote. Thomas Spence is at 26% and John Hicks at 21%. Another Candidate got 3% which with 115 votes that is 3 votes. Another newcomer to Florence politics shows political strength in Balentine.
District 6 in this poll looks like a runaway but many of the participants are also very active at the Florence Lauderdale Animal Shelter. So is Chapel King. She has based her campaign around improving the conditions at the shelter. So, it is not surprising that she received 83% of the 134 votes cast leaving only 12% for current councilman Jimmy Oliver and Another Candidate receiving 5%. “Another Candidate” might overcome Oliver with a little door knocking! LOL. No, this race will be much tighter. Oliver is a popular councilman in his district.
This is a VERY unscientific poll. But it is a look at how some people will vote. The main takeaway is it seems the voters in Florence want a CHANGE at city hall. The unknown and new candidates seem to be doing the best. August 26 will be here before you know it. Get involved and become an informed voter.
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