Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026
Avon Park Mayor & City Council Election 2026
2 of 5 council seats are on the ballot, with 8 candidates running. Updated Oct 5, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check
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How to vote · 11 days left
Election Day (Nov 3): the election office's noticeThese links go to official state and county election sites. Hours and rules differ by state; your election office has the final word.
The candidates
Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.
Mayor
1 seat- Garrett AndersonIncumbentOwner of Anderson Arms, first elected Avon Park mayor in 2016.5sourced
- Brenda Gray-SnellFormer Avon Park councilwoman (2001-2021) and executive director of the Heartland Coalition for the Homeless. She served 22 years in the U.S. Army and 12 years with the State of Florida as a probation and parole officer.1sourced
City Council At-Large Seat
1 seatJim BarnardIncumbentRetired AT&T field engineer, Army veteran and Avon Park deputy mayor seeking a second term. He has served on the Planning and Zoning Board and as liaison to the Fire Department and Police Pension boards.3sourced
- Louis Edward Bates Sr.Retired executive Economic Development director for the City of Avon Park. He had also served as development director, overseeing Code Enforcement, Planning and Zoning, the Zoning Board of Adjustment and Main Street.4sourced
- Vern BoltonNearly 30 years working with children, most recently as owner of the FLASH STARS Achievement Center in Sebring.1sourced
- Chris DowniePresident of the Avon Park shuffleboard club and member of the city's Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board. He is also a board member of the Avon Park Rotary Club.1sourced
- Gerald SnellHas served as chair of the city's CRA Board and vice chair of the Southside CRA. He has also been a member of previous city manager search committees.2sourced
- Maria T. SutherlandFormer Avon Park councilwoman with around 25 years of municipal management experience, most of it in Avon Park. She has been the city's administrative director and interim city manager and most recently executive director of the Avon Park Housing Authority.2sourced
Residents vote citywide for one mayor and one at-large council seat; the candidate with the most votes wins each.
Also on your Nov 3 ballot
We research city races only. For these races, go to the state's official guide or a nonpartisan one.
- GovernorOfficial candidate list, in its order
8 candidates on the ballot
- Byron Donalds · Republican
- David Jolly · Democratic
- Scott Eckhard Jewett · Libertarian
- Charles Burkett · No Party Affiliation
- Frank J. Russo · No Party Affiliation
- Moliere "Moe" Dimanche · No Party Affiliation
- Dean Ocean Abrams · No Party Affiliation
- Jeffrey Peter "Dr. Jeff" Datto · No Party Affiliation
- U.S. Senate (special election)
- Ashley Moody · Republican
- Angie Nixon · Democratic
- Neil J. Gillespie · No Party Affiliation
- Also statewideAttorney General · Chief Financial Officer · Commissioner of Agriculture
- U.S. HouseDistrict 9
- State House of RepresentativesDistrict 83
- Statewide measures3 on the ballot: the state's official explanations
Districts come from 2020 Census blocks and the district maps for this election. Your address decides your districts.
Already on the council, not on the ballot
Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.
What the next council decides
01City manager2 sourced facts
Where it standsThe council hired Jason Atkinson, then interim city manager, as permanent city manager by a 3-2 vote in January 2026.
What's on the tableThe next council oversees the city manager and will fill or review leadership decisions as vacancies arise.
- On January 12, 2026 the council voted 3-2 to hire Jason Atkinson as city manager; McGuire, Barnard and Anderson voted yes and Mercure and Taylor voted no. Avon Park City Council minutes, January 12, 2026 · Jan 12, 2026
- Councilmember Michelle Mercure's resignation left a council seat that will be filled by a majority vote of the remaining council members rather than at the municipal election. Highlands News-Sun · Aug 9, 2026
02Budget, taxes and council pay3 sourced facts
Where it standsIn 2025 the council approved a 6.000 millage rate, a $28 monthly sanitation rate and a $70.2 million budget, plus an ordinance raising council pay.
What's on the tableThe next council sets future millage, sanitation rates and its own pay each budget cycle.
- The council approved a 6.000 millage rate and a final budget of $70,246,760 for fiscal year 2025/2026. Highlands News-Sun
- Residential solid waste pickup and disposal rose from $22 to $28 a month per single-family household. Highlands News-Sun
- The council-pay ordinance passed 4-1 with Mayor Garrett Anderson voting against; councilmembers would receive $1,050.70 a month plus $25 per meeting. Highlands News-Sun
03Downtown and Main Street3 sourced facts
Where it standsThe city is working through the state transfer of Main Street and the CRA facade program for downtown businesses.
What's on the tableThe council, which also serves as the CRA Board, decides how CRA money and Main Street projects are used.
- The City Council also serves as the CRA Board. City of Avon Park
- In January 2026 the council took up an FDOT Jurisdictional Transfer and FDOT Lane Repurposing Project item, and staff said it would bring the item back at the next meeting. Avon Park City Council minutes, January 12, 2026 · Jan 12, 2026
- A decision was made in May 2023 to go with a two-lane roadway with traditional, straight-in angled parking on Main Street. Highlands News-Sun
04Stormwater permit2 sourced facts
Where it standsThe council approved a state consent order after the city's stormwater permit reporting lapsed.
What's on the tableThe next council oversees compliance with the consent order and stormwater permit renewal.
- On March 23, 2026 the council approved Resolution 2026-11 authorizing the mayor to execute a consent order with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 5-0. Avon Park City Council minutes, March 23, 2026 · Mar 23, 2026
- The Public Works Director said that due to turnover in management staff the stormwater permit reporting was overlooked and expired. Avon Park City Council minutes, March 23, 2026 · Mar 23, 2026
05Parks and housing projects2 sourced facts
Where it standsThe council approved county funding for Donaldson Park pickleball courts and a CDBG grant application for Ridgedale Apartments in March 2026.
What's on the tableThe next council will carry these projects through and decide on further park and housing investments.
- On March 23, 2026 the council approved a $145,000 interlocal agreement with Highlands County for pickleball courts at Donaldson Park, 5-0. Avon Park City Council minutes, March 23, 2026 · Mar 23, 2026
- On March 23, 2026 the council voted 5-0 to apply for a CDBG grant to assist the Avon Park Housing Authority, specifically the Ridgedale Apartments. Avon Park City Council minutes, March 23, 2026 · Mar 23, 2026
2 notes on these statements
Two candidates are running for mayor (Garrett Anderson and Brenda Gray-Snell) and six for one council seat (Jim Barnard, Louis Edward Bates Sr., Vern Bolton, Chris Downie, Gerald Snell and Maria T. Sutherland). Highlands County Supervisor of Elections · Nov 3, 2026
Councilmember Michelle Mercure's resignation took effect in 2026 and her seat is not on the municipal ballot; the remaining council members fill it by majority vote. Highlands News-Sun · Aug 9, 2026
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Who matches you?
Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.
1. How should the council fill the city manager job?
2. What should happen to council members' pay?
3. Should CRA facade grants be allowed for vacant storefronts?
4. How much should the city invest in Donaldson Park?
5. Should the city seek a CDBG grant to rehabilitate Housing Authority apartments?
Key dates
- Candidate qualifying closedCity of Avon Park · Jun 23, 2026Aug 7, 2026
- Election Day (polls 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.)City of Avon Park · Jun 23, 2026Nov 3, 2026
The seat math
2 stay (not up this year): Brittany McGuire, Berniece Taylor2 on this ballot
5 council seats. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.
- The City Council consists of five members, including a mayor-councilperson, all elected at large. City of Avon Park · Jun 23, 2026
- Council and mayor terms are four years, with regular elections coinciding with national elections. City of Avon Park · Jun 23, 2026
- The mayor and one council seat are elected together every fourth year; the other three seats are elected in the other cycle (November 2024). City of Avon Park · Jun 23, 2026
- The City Council consists of a Mayor, a Deputy Mayor and three City Council Members and meets at 6:00 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month. City of Avon Park
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