Although over $450,000 has been donated to 18 different candidates running for seats on Marion County governing bodies, the top two fundraising candidates have collected over $236,000 of the total amount.
According to the latest campaign financial disclosures, 18 different candidates are actively vying for positions across the Marion County Board of County Commissioners and the Marion County School Board.
The second quarter, which took place from March 1 to May 31, saw a surge of tens of thousands more dollars flood into the races. Total collections across all candidates stood at just over $330,000 in mid-April, and $372,000 in early June.
While the overall fundraising pool has grown significantly, a vast majority of the financial backing remains heavily concentrated at the top of the field, with the leading two candidates single-handedly securing more than $236,000 of the total funds raised.
The top-earning candidate thus far is Mike Crimi, who is running for the Marion County Board of County Commissioners’ seat for District 2, which is being vacated by Kathy Bryant. Through June 16, Crimi has raised approximately $142,334.50 in contributions. The total figure includes over $25,000 additional funds that were raised in the second quarter of this year, which ended in May.
The second-highest earning candidate is Sherri Meadows, who has generated approximately $94,981.90 in her effort to take over the District 4 seat on the MCBCC. That seat is being vacated by longtime incumbent Carl Zalak III.
| Candidate | Funds as of 6/16/26 | Funds as of 6/9/26 | Funds as of 5/6/26 | City | Office & District |
| Mike Crimi | $142,334.50 | $116,383.40 | $116,383.00 | Ocala | BCC 2 |
| Sherri Meadows | $94,981.90 | $75,625.00 | $75,625.00 | Salt Springs | BCC 4 |
| Sarah James | $39,850 | $38,700.00 | $31,200.00 | Anthony | SB 5 |
| Jeff Bairstow | $33,180 | $31,016.71 | $21,053.00 | Silver Springs | BCC 4 |
| Matt Cretul | $30,850 | $24,750.00 | $24,750.00 | Ocala | BCC 2 |
| Brien Weidemiller | $25,750 | $22,000.00 | $22,000.00 | _ | BCC 2 |
| Wanda W. Lasher | $27,185 | $19,835.00 | $19,835.00 | Citra | BCC 4 |
| Randall Alvord | $20,638 | $14,588.51 | $14,588.51 | Anthony | BCC 4 |
| Jeff Brewer | $8,579 | $8,579.00 | $1,803.00 | Ocala | SB 4 |
| Donny Barber | $4,433.39 | $4,433.39 | $2,529.00 | _ | SB 5 |
| Buddy Wyckoff | $4,090 | $4,090.00 | $650.00 | Ocala | SB 4 |
| Eric R. Cummings | $4,486 | $190.00 | $190.00 | Dunnellon | SB 3 |
| Brigitte Smith | $2,620 | $0.00 | $0.00 | Ocala | SB 4 |
| Mike Mills | $13,250 | $0.00 | $0.00 | Ocala | SB 4 |
| Mark Okus | $0 | $0.00 | $0.00 | Ocala | BCC 2 |
| Leonard M. Racioppi | $0 | $0.00 | $0.00 | Ocala | BCC 4 |
| Steve Swett | $0 | $0.00 | $0.00 | Dunnellon | SB 3 |
| Ualthan Bigby | $0 | $0.00 | $0.00 | Ocala | SB 5 |
In the races for the MCBCC, Crimi and Meadows face stiff competition.
In District 2, Matthew Cretul ($30,850), Brien Weidemiller ($25,270), and recent write-in qualifier Mark Okus ($0) are all hoping to take over the seat being vacated by Bryant, who was at the helm for 16 years.
In addition to Meadows, District 4 includes a crowded field consisting of Randall Alvord ($20,638.51), Jeff Bairstow ($33,180.71), Wanda Wimberly Lasher ($27,185), and write-in candidate Leonard Michael Racioppi ($0).
The Marion County School Board races have similarly drawn deep interest and substantial financial backing. The District 3 seat sees challenger Steve Swett attempting once again to unseat incumbent Eric Cummings. While Cummings has recorded $4,486 in donations, Swett has not yet recorded any. A third candidate (Daniel Lane Makara) has withdrawn from the race.
The District 4 school board seat features a completely nonpartisan race for an open seat being vacated by Nancy Thrower, with Jeff Brewer, Buddy Wyckoff, Mike Mills, and Brigitte Smith all on the ballot. Of all the districts and seats up for grabs, the District 4 seat features candidates who have all generated relatively similar donation amounts.
In that district, the top-generating candidate is newcomer Mike Mills, a local business owner entered the race just last month. Mills has amassed $13,250 in that period, while Brewer has collected $8,579, Wyckoff has collected $4,090, and Smith has collected $2,620.
In District 5, newcomer Ualthan Bigby, the head of student services at the recently opened Ross Prairie Elementary School, has joined Donny Barber in a campaign to challenge incumbent Sarah James.
James has secured significantly more in campaign funds than any of the other candidates vying for the school board. In total, the incumbent has collected $39,850.
In comparison, the two candidates running against her have raised $0 (Bigby) and $4,433 (Barber).
As in previous election cycles, real estate investors, developers, and local construction companies continue to represent the largest individual group of political contributors driving the surge in local campaign finances. Ocala-News.com will provide additional in-depth reporting on that topic in the coming weeks.
With the candidate rosters finalized and the fundraising tallies climbing, Marion County voters will narrow the field during the primaries on August 18, which will pave the way for the general election on November 3.
What are your thoughts on the substantial amount of money being raised for local Marion County races? Share your opinions in a comment below, or write a letter to the editor.