OKEECHOBEE — The City of Okeechobee announced the candidates who qualified to run for city council today. Qualifying week ended at noon Friday, Aug. 19.

There are three seats on the ballot this year. The seats are rotated so that during one election year, three seats are voted on, and the next election year, the other two are on the ballot. This year, the seats of Bob Jarriel, Bobby Keefe and Mayor Dowling Watford will need to be filled.

Councilman Bobby Keefe declined to run again, but Mayor Watford and Councilman Jarriel both threw their hats in the ring. In addition, Beth Lehman,  David McAuley,  Jon Folbrecht and Christopher Martin will be running. Lehman and McAuley  both ran for a seat during the special election last year but were defeated by Noel Chandler.

City voters may vote for up to three of the six  candidates. 

Council terms are four years, and the council elects a mayor from among themselves.

The race is non-partisan and only city voters can vote.

Vote by mail ballots can be obtained by contacting the County Supervisor of Elections, Melissa Arnold at 863-763-4014 or through the website voteokeechobee.gov.

Early voting begins on Oct. 29 and ends on November 5. It takes place at the Supervisor of Elections office in the Historic Court House from 8:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. each day.

Election day is November 8. The city precinct is the First Baptist ROC facility located at 310 Southwest 5^th Avenue.

For the sixth time, Lane Gamiotea will run unopposed for her city clerk position as no one else qualified. She will be celebrating 20 years as the elected city clerk on January 26, 2023.

The investiture ceremony will be held in late December due to the holiday falling on the first Monday in January.

More information about the candidates will be coming soon.