County's voters return Charlie Stone to office

OCALA - Marion County Commissioner Charlie Stone narrowly won re-election in Tuesday night's Republican primary for District 5.

In the County Commission District 1 race, former Ocala City Councilman Mike Amsden gained more than 60 percent of the vote and moved on to the November general election to face Democrat Diana Butler.

In the last two weeks the race between Stone and Republican challenger Ray Strickland was characterized by a back-and-forth volley of attack ads. Both men wanted to put that behind them Tuesday. Stone commended Strickland for running a strong race.

"He did what he thought he had to do, I did what I thought I had to do," Stone said.

Strickland said he called Stone to congratulate him and to offer his help if Stone ever needed him for a county project. Strickland did not rule out another run for elected office.

"This was my first attempt and I did well," he said. "Commissioner Stone was the strongest incumbent in my mind. So for me to run against him, I feel very comfortable with the numbers I got."

With no Democrat in the District 5 race, the only competition Stone faces in November is write-in candidate Anthony Tortora, a member of the Republican Executive Committee. By filing as a write-in, Tortora closed Democrats and independents out of Tuesday's primary. Otherwise, they could have voted in the GOP primary because the primary would have decided the race.

Stone said in the next four years, he wants to achieve a definitive plan for solid waste disposal, a fully funded road construction program and some type of aquifer and springs protection ordinance. Those are all unresolved issues commissioners have struggled with during the last couple of years.

In contrast to Stone versus Strickland, Amsden said he and local Realtor Randy Alvord waged a friendly campaign to be the Republican District 1 candidate. Amsden said the two of them now plan to go fishing together in the future and Alvord "has a lot to offer the community."

Amsden said his campaign leading up to November will be about what county government can do to help the sluggish economy.

Alvord said he thought he did well for a first time candidate and might run for office again.

"It was a great race, a friendly race at that," Alvord said. "I will continue to support the Republicans who are running. I think it's important to keep Republicans on the commission."

Of the nearly 87,000 registered Republicans in Marion, only about 17,000 voted in the County Commission primaries. Overall, countywide turnout for Tuesday's election was a little more than 15 percent.

Christopher Curry may be reached at chris.curry@starbanner.com or 867-4115.