Let the qualifying begin

St Augustine, St Augustine Beach, and St Johns County officials in contests for election in the 2016 Primary and General Election, are down to the wire as Historic City News readers learn who will qualify for five constitutional officer seats, mayor, and various commissioners, seats on the Airport Authority, Mosquito Control Board, and several other races in community development districts.

Several announced candidates have already withdrawn, even before qualifying week — one sitting commissioner withdrew after raising $30,000. Some changed the office which they had originally sought.

Beginning Monday June 20th at noon, and before Friday, June 24th at noon, a candidate must file their qualifying papers with the Supervisor of Elections in order to appear on the ballot.

Candidates have been out getting petitions signed, holding fundraisers, and raising awareness of their intentions. But it all comes down to this coming week.

One thing will be true at 12:01 p.m. Friday that isn’t true today, we will know for certain who our choices will be when we go to the polls in August, and for some races, November.