FORT PIERCE, Fla. — The race to become the next city commissioner in Fort Pierce isn’t over yet. With no candidate winning a majority in Tuesday’s special election, voters will head back to the polls in January for a runoff between Chris Dzadovsky and Jaimebeth Galinis.
The District 2 seat has been vacant since James Taylor resigned earlier this year following 24 counts of child exploitation charges. His resignation forced the city to call a special election to fill his position.
For residents like Iola Mosley, who has called Fort Pierce home for nearly a decade, the process has been frustrating.
Runoff set for Fort Pierce District 2 City Commission seat after special election
“I love Fort Pierce,” Mosley said. “Everyone is polite, you know. And it’s a good feeling when you know your neighbors are really neighbors and look out for you. And that’s what I get from Fort Pierce.”
But she says that the sense of trust has been shaken.
“To have this expense and to have to be forced to have a special election, it just breaks my heart,” Mosley said.
The city says the runoff election will cost roughly $60,000 — money that some voters say could be spent elsewhere.
“It is a lot. Yeah, that is not ideal,” said Marie-Ann Kessler.
“There are other things that you could put the money towards — beautifying the city, beautifying certain parts of Fort Pierce — but you can’t put that money towards that now, because now you have to do a runoff election,” said Pamela Turner.
Voters tell WPTV that what they want most in their next commissioner is simple: accountability.
“We need more accountability,” Turner said.
The runoff election is scheduled for Jan. 13, and only District 2 residents will be eligible to vote.