St. Johns County growth debate dominates Commission races as ballot finalizes

Candidate qualifying closed at noon Friday, finalizing the ballot for key St. Johns County races. These contests will again gauge voter sentiment on growth and development in one of Florida’s fastest-growing counties.

Two years ago, candidates running on “slow the growth” platforms unseated incumbent County Commissioners they viewed as too favorable to developers. A third candidate with a similar message narrowly lost to incumbent Christian Whitehurst.

Growth and development remain central issues in the 2026 Election.

District 2 Commissioner Sarah Arnold is not seeking re-election, resulting in an open seat with four Republican candidates.

Former FBI agent Martin Pysczymuka is campaigning under the slogan “Slow the growth, stop the waste.” William McMullan emphasizes balancing economic development with preservation, advocating for “smarter planning” and supporting manufacturing and aerospace job growth.

Retired St. Johns County Sheriff’s Capt. Tim Burres is also on the ballot. Endorsed by the St. Johns County Fraternal Order of Police, Burres cites overdevelopment as a primary campaign issue.

Citibank executive Heather Brofford entered the race shortly before the qualifying deadline. Her priorities include transportation improvements, public safety, emergency services, and infrastructure investments to support ongoing population growth.

As of the end of May, fundraising reports show Pysczymuka leading with nearly $28,000, closely followed by McMullan with approximately $27,000.

In District 4, first-term Commissioner Krista Joseph faces two Republican challengers.

Joseph was elected in 2022 after defeating incumbent Commissioner Jeremiah Blocker in the Republican Primary, despite being significantly outspent. Since taking office, she has consistently opposed rapid growth but has also generated controversy. In December 2023, fellow Commissioners formally censured her after she urged voters from the dais to remove her colleagues from office.

Joseph later filed a lawsuit against the other four Commissioners but ultimately dropped the case. She lost her position as Board Chair in late 2025 and publicly clashed with Commissioner Clay Murphy, a slow-growth candidate elected in 2024.

Retired law enforcement officer Samuel Williams has made growth management and infrastructure improvements central to his campaign. Williams leads fundraising in the race, reporting more than $56,000 raised, more than double Joseph’s total.

Attorney James Galloway also qualified for the ballot, citing congestion and rapid growth as the county’s most pressing concerns.

With no Democrats or write-in candidates in either race, both contests will be decided in the Aug. 18 Primary Election. Under Florida law, all registered voters may participate, and candidates need only a plurality of votes to win.