An incumbent Ocala City Council member who is running unopposed in the upcoming election has raised $30,750 in campaign contributions, including multiple maximum (i.e., $1,000) donations from capital investment firm managers, Villages restaurateurs, a local waste management magnate, and a prominent engineering firm at the helm of multiple projects across the city and county, among others.

Barry Mansfield is one of two incumbent councilmen running unopposed in the city’s next general election, which takes place on September 16. During the election, seats for Districts 1, 3, and 5 will be decided, as well as the office of mayor.

Mansfield won his District 1 seat on the Ocala City Council in September 2021, defeating the former incumbent, Brent Malever. District 1 encompasses the entire city, which means its council member represents all of Ocala, not just a segment.

According to the Marion County Supervisor of Elections, Mansfield has raised approximately $30,750 from 33 campaign contributions. Those contributions came from multiple individuals and companies, with just over half of those contributions ($16,000) coming from the following individuals/companies:

  • $3,000 from Debra, Michael, and Ricahrd Bianculli of Richmond Hill Capital Partners, a capital investment firm;
  • $3,000 from Harvey Vandeven and Matthew Fabian, the owners of HTM Developers, LLC, a faith-based development group;
  • $3,000 from Old Camp Road, LLC, Fresh on the Square, LLC, and Fresh on the Square II, LLC, companies owned by three popular restaurateurs in The Villages (Joe Nisbett, Bill Kearns, and Fred Karimipour).
  • $2,000 from Thomas Dunn and his company, Dunnrite Roofing, Inc.
  • $2,000 from the companies of Brian, Jerry, and Brad Hammett: Mid State Fire & Systems, LLC, and Midstate Electric of Ocala, LLC
  • $2,000 from Debra and Jaime Zito, as well as their company, Village Air & Electric, Inc.
  • $1,000 from Tillman & Associates Engineering, an engineering group that regularly presents projects to the Ocala City Council and is owned by David Tillman.

Mansfield is the son-in-law of Jerry Cullison, who founded Cullison-Wright Construction. He joined the company in 1989 and is currently the chief executive officer.

In addition to Mansfield, the other incumbent running unopposed in the upcoming election is James P. Hilty, Sr., who has raised approximately $600.

A third incumbent, Mayor Ben Marciano, will is being challenged by Zackary Feliciano. Marciano has raised $1,000, while Feliciano has not registered any monetary contributions as of June 24, according to the Marion County Supervisor of Elections.

For more information on the election, or to look up polling locations, visit the Marion County Supervisor of Elections.