FORT PIERCE – The clock is ticking down to Friday’s noon deadline if you want to appear as a 2026 candidate for a seat on the Fort Pierce City Commission.
Incumbents in two of the expiring terms have already qualified to run for re-election. They are Arnold S. Gaines, of 1505 Avenue Q, now representing District 1, and Michael Broderick, of 1127 Granada, an incumbent District 2 commissioner.
A third person, Jean Eddy Leroy, whose address is redacted from public filings based on a law enforcement exemption, has filed some paperwork for a spot on the District 2 ballot for the single open seat. But the candidacy had not been completed as of late Thursday.
If you want to run, you must go to the city clerk’s office at Fort Pierce City Hall and complete paperwork before noon that includes proof of identity, residency, creation of a campaign finance account, naming a campaign treasurer and financial disclosures.
Candidates are required to pay a $25 filing fee and a $381.60 election assessment fee. The assessment fee may be waived if the candidate files an affidavit of financial hardship.
City elections are nonpartisan and the terms are for four years.
If enough candidates file from either district, a primary election will be Aug. 18 to narrow the field to two. The general election is slated for Nov. 3, while a primary, if necessary, will be Aug. 18.
Fort Pierce has two voting districts, each represented by two commissioners.
The terms of Mayor Linda Hudson and Commissioners Curtis Johnson Jr., District 1, and Chris Dzadovsky, District 2, are not up this year.
For more information on filing for a ballot spot, contact City Clerk Linda Cox at lcox@cityoffortpierce.com or call 772-467-3065.