- December 16, 2025
As of Monday, Feb. 27, five candidates have filed to run for Flagler County sheriff.
Election Day 2012 is a little more than nine months away, but many candidates for Flagler County positions have already filed and are out on the campaign trail.
Sheriff Donald Fleming has held office for the past eight years, and he is hoping for another four. Republicans John F. Pollinger and Ray Stevens are challenging Fleming, as are Democrats Karl Tozzi and Jim Manfre.
Manfre was Flagler’s sheriff from 2001 to 2004. He has unsuccessfully run twice since 2004.
County Commission District 1 incumbent Alan Peterson earned his spot in 2008, three years after earning a spot on the Palm Coast City Council.
He is being challenged this year by Charlie Ericksen Jr., who in 2011 challenged Jon Netts for Palm Coast mayor. Netts won, 54% to 41%.
Ericksen has no official political experience. With Peterson’s encouragement, he applied (but was not selected) to become Peterson’s replacement on the City Council in 2008, when Peterson decided to run for the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners mid-term.
In addition to the sheriff and county spots, nine other positions will be on the ballot.
As of 3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27, Property Appraiser James E. Gardner Jr. is unopposed in his bid to be re-elected. He is running as a Republican.
Republican Ken Mazzie has filed to challenge incumbent Clerk of Courts Gail Wadsworth, also a Republican.
Tax Collector Suzanne Johnston (Republican) has no challengers, as yet.
Supervisor of Elections Kimberlee Weeks has not yet officially filed to run for re-election. Three Republicans have filed to challenge her: Trey Corbett, Kimble Medley and Pam Richardson.
Flagler County Judge Sharon Atack is retiring. Don Appignani, Craig Atack, Josh Davis, Marc Dwyer, Sharon Feliciano, Melissa Moore Stens and Scott Westbrook are vying to replace her.
County Commissioner Barbara Revels, a Democrat, and School Board member Susan Dickinson are running unopposed.
So far, the County Commission District 5 race has one participant: Ross Herbert Whitaker Jr., a Republican. Incumbent George Hanns has not filed.
Stephen J. Davidson is the incumbent and has no challengers for Grand Haven CDD Seat 4.
Early voting for the primary election will take place Aug. 4 through Aug. 11. Primary election day will be Aug. 14. Early voting for the general election will be Oct. 27 through Nov. 4. General election day will be Nov. 6.
DEMOCRATIC PARTY EVICTED IN FLAGLER
The Flagler County Democratic Party will be evicted from its current location and will lose its Flagler County presence, according to Dan Parham, the party’s chairman.
In a Monday morning email to party members, Parham wrote: “I send this email with a heavy heart. We are losing our party’s headquarters due to eviction. The eviction will take place Monday, Feb. 27, unless we are able to raise $1,303.14 by that time.”
The Democratic Party has been in the current office, located at 1 Hargrove Grade, for the past four years.
“Anytime a situation such as this occurs, it would not be a pleasant experience,” Parham wrote. “But during a presidential election cycle, it is devastating. The Flagler County Democratic Party will not have a physical presence in the county.”
