Mexico Beach elections highlight political division

MEXICO BEACH — The election results should erase any lingering questions about how stark the political dividing line is in Mexico Beach.

Voters split almost evenly Tuesday, and the result was a photo finish in each of the races for City Council.

In Group 4, incumbent Tanya Castro narrowly fended off a challenge from Tom Bailey to win re-election by a mere four votes, according to complete but unofficial results from the Supervisor of Elections Office.

“It’s a nail biter,” Castro said.

Meanwhile, a comparative landslide of 21 votes made the difference between Bill McGlothlin and victor Jeff Tendler for the Group 5 seat on the council. McGlothlin said he respects the will of the voters.

“I’m not going to go out and immediately call for a recount,” McGlothlin said. “I thank the voters that voted for me and supported me.”

And in Group 2, Mary Blackburn won over the incumbent by 29 votes.

Group 4

If only one Castro voter had cast their ballot for Bailey instead, it would have triggered an automatic recount. Florida law requires a recount if an election is decided by one-half of 1 percent or less of the total number of votes cast. Candidates cannot call for a recount, Supervisor of Elections Mark Andersen said.

“Remember, we’re just dealing with preliminary numbers,” Andersen said. “The election’s not over until the audit is complete.”

Bailey said prior to the election that he targeted Castro’s seat on the council because he found her to be the most disruptive member of the board. After her slim victory, Castro thanked the voters for seeing through what she called a “smear campaign.”

“I think what the vote says to me is … sometimes smear campaigns work,” Castro said.

Bailey noted that one additional vote for him would have triggered a recount and said he plans to speak with Andersen Wednesday about the possibility of conducting one.

“I’m disappointed,” Bailey said. “There’s only a four-vote margin at this point, and we haven’t even looked at provisional ballots.”

Castro was the only incumbent on the City Council to seek re-election this year.

“I look forward to continuing doing what I’m doing,” Castro said.

Tendler couldn’t be reached for comment late Tuesday.

Group 2

The race for Group 2 also was close.

Preliminary results indicated Mary Blackburn got 281 votes for the Group 2 seat, while incumbent Gary Woodham received 252 votes, according to the Supervisor of Elections Office.

Blackburn could not be reached for comment Tuesday, despite multiple attempts by The News Herald.

Woodham attributed the results to a “successfully orchestrated” campaign to mobilize female voters.

“They did a great job, but they did the city a great disservice,” Woodham said.

Comparing to results from last year’s Super Tuesday municipal elections shows that an average of about 50 fewer voters turned out this Election Day in Mexico Beach. The winners of Tuesday’s races secured victory by an average of about 30 votes. Blackburn had a lead of 29 votes, according the latest preliminary reports.

Blackburn will be the third person this year to occupy the seat. Woodham was appointed in January by a 3-1 decision to replace the vacated seat of former Councilman Lanny Howell. The dissenting vote was held by Councilwoman Tanya Castro, who campaigned in tandem with Blackburn and Jeff Tendler, who also won their respective races.

Woodham said a “silent majority” that agreed with the city’s current direction did not show up to the polls, allowing “a disgruntled group to take control of Mexico Beach,” he said.

Woodham had a $664 edge on Blackburn by raising $3,220 in combined contributions, while she reported about $2,556 by the time polls closed Tuesday.

Blackburn ran against Councilman Jack Mullen in last year’s municipal elections and won on the campaign contributions front, but ultimately lost at the polls. This year, the money favored her opponent, but Blackburn pulled out the victory.

Blackburn’s seat will be up for its regular election this time next year. Woodham would not say whether he might make a bid for the seat again.

“The direction they will be moving is backward, not forward,” Woodham said. “I think it is going to hurt this community.”