Incumbent county commissioner Zalak wins again

File photo: Carl Zalak III [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2022.

Carl Zalak won the district 4 county commission primary election, defeating Keith A. Poole and Rachel Sams, according to unofficial totals posted to the Marion County Supervisor of Elections website Tuesday evening, August 23.

 Zalak received 15, 919 votes, or 38.29% of the total.

Sams received 14,548 votes, or 34.99% of the total.

Poole, meanwhile, received 11,108 votes, or 26.72% of the total.

County commissioners serve four-year terms and have no term limits.

Zalak was first elected in 2010 and currently serves as the chair for the Marion County Board of County Commissioners.

This will be Zalak’s fourth term as county commissioner.  He also works as a sales representative with Waste Pro USA.

The job pays $89,764 plus benefits.

Zalak raised and spent the most during this local election cycle, at $156, 430 in cash contributions, and expended $137, 420.29, according to the last campaign records filed.

Poole raised $82,040 and expended $81,319.

Sams raised $60,034.29 and expended $47,424.44.

Zalak moves to the general election, where he is challenged by two write-in candidates, Brian Christian Donnelly and Seth Posner.

Only Zalak’s name will be on the general election ballot. Space, however, will be provided on the ballot for voters to write in Donnelly or Posner’s names should they wish to vote for one of the write-in candidates.