OCALA, FL. (352 Today) — Ocala voters will head to the polls Tuesday, Sept. 16, for a special municipal election to fill the offices of mayor and City Council Districts 1, 3 and 5—a rare event triggered by a procedural snafu that left the original ballot empty.
Why There’s a Special Election
In July, six of the seven candidates who attempted to qualify—including incumbents—were disqualified. The city clerk and attorney, in consultation with the Marion County Supervisor of Elections, determined that none had strictly complied with Florida statutes regarding qualifying fees. Requirements include paying with a check drawn from a campaign account, listing the account name, account number, and bank name, the exact amount, the treasurer’s signature, the purpose of the payment, and the payee’s name. All submissions failed to meet these criteria.
Who’s on the Ballot Now
A second qualifying window was held July 16–18. As of the deadline:
- Mayor: Incumbent Ben Marciano and challenger Zachary “Arbor” Feliciano have both qualified.
- District 3: Incumbent Jay Musleh re-entered the race, facing Mark W. Clark and TamBoura Jenkins (pending petition verification).
- District 1: Incumbent Barry Mansfield is running unopposed.
- District 5: Incumbent Jim Hilty is also unopposed.
Election Timeline
- Early voting: Sept. 11–13, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at designated Ocala polling locations.
- Election Day: Tuesday, Sept. 16, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at assigned precincts.
Where do you vote?
Click here to find your specific voting location.
These are the precincts whose boundaries sit within Ocala, meaning their voters are eligible for this election:
- Precinct 0016: Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church, 800 SE 41st Ave
- Precinct 0001: First Christian Church, 1908 E Fort King St
- Precinct 0002: Mary Sue Rich Community Center, 1821 NW 21st Ave
- Precinct 0003: Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St
- Precinct 0004: Central Christian Church, 3010 NE 14th St
- Precinct 0005: Fore Ranch Prairie Club, 4001 SW 53rd Ave
- Precinct 0006: South Point Church, 3401 SE Lake Weir Ave
- Precinct 0007: Cala Hills Country Club, 2400 SW 21st Cir
- Precinct 0008: Webber Center, Bldg. 71, 3001 SW College Rd
- Precinct 0009: Second Bethlehem Baptist Church, 1205 NW 4th St
- Precinct 0010: Mary Sue Rich Community Center, 1821 NW 21st Ave
- Precinct 0011: Southeastern Livestock Pavilion Auditorium, 2232 NE Jacksonville Rd
- Precinct 0012: Oakcrest Baptist Church, 1109 NE 28th St
- Precinct 0013: Ocala Golf Club, 3130 E Silver Springs Blvd
- Precinct 0014: First Baptist Church of Ocala, 2801 SE Maricamp Rd
- Precinct 0015: Ocala Christian Church, 717 NE 36th Ave
This election is rare, and every vote counts, so get out and vote!
Why It Matters
Municipal elections often suffer from low turnout. With the mayor’s office and the open District 3 seat in play—and two council seats uncontested—every vote matters. This election won’t just determine leadership—it could shape Ocala’s strategic path forward.
What Qualifications Were Missed in the First Round?
All candidates who were disqualified were disqualified because their qualifying fee payments failed to meet strict Florida legal requirements. According to statute:
- Payments must be made via check from the campaign’s bank account.
- Checks must include the campaign account name, bank name, and account number.
- They must detail the exact amount, include the treasurer’s signature, the payee’s name, and the purpose of the payment.
None of the initial seven candidates met all of these requirements. Even minor errors—like omitting the memo field—were enough to render submissions invalid.
Previous article on the September 16th Special Election. . .
Eight candidates enter Ocala’s special election after second qualifying window – 352today
Ocala city council votes unanimously to hold special election Sept. 16 – 352today