Marion County Commission District 2 race update
By Jennifer Hunt Murty
Brien Weidemiller has filed to run for the Marion County Commission District 2 seat, becoming the third Republican to enter the race to fill the seat held by Commissioner Kathy Bryant for 16 years.
Bryant announced last September that she would not seek a fifth term.
Weidemiller joins Republicans Mike Crimi and Matthew Cretul in the contest for the seat.
District 2 encompasses a large stretch of southwestern Marion County and includes Dunnellon. Voting in this race is not limited to residents of the district and is open to all registered Marion County voters.
The salary for the position, established by the state of Florida, is $110,896.
Republican candidates who qualify will face off in the primary election scheduled for Aug. 18, 2026.
To qualify, candidates must either submit 2,659 candidate petitions signed by registered Marion County voters or pay a qualifying fee of $6,653.76 during the qualifying period of June 8–12, 2026.
As of the most recent filings, Mike Crimi is the only candidate who has qualified.
About Weidemiller
Weidemiller said his decision to run is tied to his connection to Marion County and its rural history.
“My motivation to run for County Commissioner is rooted in Marion County culture,” Weidemiller said. “I grew up on a farm in Ocala and am a product of Marion County Public Schools. I want to keep our farmland, maintain our status as the horse capital of the world, and plan for the future.”
He said infrastructure planning should keep pace with development.
“My goal is to match infrastructure to development. We need solid infrastructure in place before development,” he said. “This is essential to responsible growth and to meet the needs of our residents.”
Weidemiller is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served six years and holds a bachelor’s degree in human resource management. He said he owns and manages rental properties and operates an automotive repair business in Ocala that he started himself.
He said he is running in part to encourage transparency in government.
“The secondary goal is to show that honesty and transparency in politics is possible,” he said. “Truth and integrity can prevail over special interests.”
Campaign fundraising
Campaign finance reports filed with the Marion County Supervisor of Elections show varying levels of fundraising among the candidates.
Cretul has reported $5,750 in monetary contributions and $75 in in-kind contributions, along with $302 in expenditures.
Crimi has reported $28,195.70 in monetary contributions and $6,883.63 in expenditures.
Weidemiller has reported $1,000 in monetary contributions and $58.80 in expenditures.
Election dates
Primary election day: Aug. 18, 2026 (polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
Voter registration/party change deadline: July 20, 2026
Early voting: Aug. 8–15, 2026, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Mail ballot request deadline: Aug. 6, 2026, by 5 p.m.
General election day: Nov. 3, 2026 (polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
Voter registration/party change deadline: Oct. 5, 2026
Early voting: TBA
Mail ballot request deadline: Oct. 22, 2026, by 5 p.m.
Note: Mail ballots must be received by the Supervisor of Elections office by 7 p.m. on election days to be counted.
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