Here's who qualified for Hillsborough and Pinellas races
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Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios
The fields are set for county commission and school board races in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties after qualifying ended Friday.
Why it matters: Not everyone who's announced a run for office will appear on your ballot. Qualifying is the first real test of a campaign's viability.
- For St. Petersburg's and Clearwater's municipal elections, qualifying ended in May. You can read more about those races here.
In Hillsborough, incumbent Commissioner Harry Cohen (D) will face Republican Jackie Toledo, a former state representative, for his District 1 seat.
- Commissioner Gwen Myers (D) will face two Democratic challengers, Twanda Bradley and Quinton Robinson, and Republican Luiz Garcia as she seeks to retain her District 3 seat.
- In District 5, incumbent Donna Cameron Cepeda (R) faces challenges from Republican Stacy Hahn and Democrat Neil Manimala, who leads the field in fundraising with over $160,000 raised.
- Former Hillsborough County Clerk of Court Cindy Stuart (D) will compete against Aileen Rodriguez (D) in the Aug. 18 primary. The winner will then face incumbent Joshua Wostal (R) for the District 7 seat.
Three candidates have qualified for Seat 2 on the Hillsborough County School Board: Daniela Simic, a longtime educator; Chris Taylor, an executive at an equity firm; and Brittany Lyssy, an attorney.
- Incumbent Patricia Rendon won Seat 4 unopposed after no other candidates qualified.
- For Seat 6, incumbent Karen Perez will compete against Kenneth Gay, a retired educator and administrator, and Sally Harris Williamson, a former school board member.
In Pinellas, incumbent Brian Scott (R) will face off against Democrat Tim Hughes for the at-large District 2 seat on the county commission.
- For District 4, incumbent Dave Eggers (R) will compete against fellow Republican Anthony Ringelspaugh in the Aug. 18 primary. With no Democrat in the race, the winner will be elected.
- Incumbent Kathleen Peters (R) and Democrat David Glenn Jr. will compete in the general election for District 6.
For Seat 2 on the Pinellas County School Board, incumbent Lisa Cane will face Nancy Velardi, a retired educator and former teachers' union president.
- For Seat 3, incumbent Dawn Peters will compete against veteran teacher Dawn Douglas and political newcomer Curtis Campogni, an independent consultant who leads the field in fundraising with nearly $5,000 raised.
- For Seat 6, former county commissioner and school board member Nancy Bostock is competing against Amanda Lord, a PTA leader.
- Incumbent Caprice Edmond won Seat 7 unopposed after no other candidates qualified.
Zoom out: Qualifying also ended for congressional races, statewide offices — including governor, attorney general, agriculture commissioner and chief financial officer — and state Senate and House seats.