Mansfield wins District 1 seat defeating Malever

Barry Mansfield

Barry Mansfield won Tuesday’s election for Ocala City Council’s District 1 seat over incumbent Brent Malever.

Mansfield took 52.09% of the vote in the citywide election defeating Malever by a vote of 4,779 to 4,395 (47.91%), according to unofficial results from the Marion County Supervisor of Elections Office.

“It was a lot closer than I had anticipated,” said Mansfield on Tuesday night. “I’m happy and I’m excited! This was a fun chapter in my life and I’m looking forward to what comes next. I want to do the city proud.”

Mansfield received 2,586 election-day votes and 2,193 votes by mail. Malever received 2,125 election-day votes and 2,270 votes by mail.

From 38,257 registered voters, 9,932 total ballots were cast on Tuesday for a voter turnout of 25.96%.

Mansfield, 60, has never run for public office before this race. He is president of Cullison-Wright Construction. He’s been a general contractor for more than 30 years.

According to campaign contribution reports on the day before the election, Mansfield had raised $52,500 for his campaign with $600 raised in the last report.

Malever, 82, who is currently the president pro-tem of the Ocala City Council, was first elected to the council in 2013. He was seeking a third four-year term.

Malever did not immediately respond to a message on Tuesday.

According to campaign contribution reports on the day before the election, Malever had raised a total of $28,425 in monetary contributions. He reported no monetary contributions in his last report but did report $1,400 in in-kind donations.

Results are unofficial until the final canvassing board meets and certifies the election. Council members are elected to four-year terms with a monthly salary of $250. The District 1 seat represents Ocala at large. Newly elected council members take seats on Dec. 7.