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Town Council Elections

Whether you’re a resident interested in running for office or simply looking to understand the election process, this page provides key information about how the elections work in Esto. The town council plays a vital role in local governance, and your participation in the electoral process is encouraged.

About the Esto Town Council

The Town of Esto is governed by a Town Council consisting of five seats. These seats are not district-specific, meaning all council members are elected by a town-wide vote. The seats are filled on a rotating basis, with council members serving staggered three-year terms. This ensures that some seats are up for election each year, providing a balance of experienced leadership and fresh perspectives.

Council Structure

  • Council President: Each year, the council members select one member to serve as the Council President. The Council President chairs council meetings, calls special meetings when necessary, and signs official documents on behalf of the town. The current Council President is elected by the council members each January.
  • Council Members: The five council members are elected to represent the town at large. Each member serves a three-year term, with elections occurring on a rotating basis.

Current Council Members

Here is a general overview of how council member terms are structured:

  • Town Council Seat 1 – Krystal Bien: Council member Krystal Bien was appointed to the town council in 2024. After serving in this role, she ran for the seat in the 2024 election and was elected to complete the remainder of the current term. Council Member Bien’s term will end in 2025.
  • Town Council Seat 2 – Greg Wells: Council member Greg Wells was elected in 2023 and is serving a three-year term that will end in 2026.
  • Town Council Seat 3 – Open and Vacant: The position of Seat 3 was up for election in 2024. However, no candidates qualified to run for this seat, meaning that it will remain vacant and open following the election.
  • Town Council Seat 4 – Maxie Yates: Council member Maxie Yates was elected in 2023 and is serving a three-year term that will end in 2026.
  • Town Council Seat 5 – Teresa Harrison: Council member Teresa Harrison was elected in 2022 and is serving a three-year term that will end in 2025. She also serves as the Council President for 2024.

Election Process Overview

Running for a position on the Esto Town Council involves a few key steps. The election process follows both Florida state election laws and the Esto Town Charter. Whether you’re interested in running in an upcoming election or simply want to understand how the process works, here’s an outline of what you need to know:

Step 1: Declare Your Candidacy

To run for office, you must file the appropriate paperwork with the Esto Town Clerk. You can announce your intention to run before filing your paperwork, but you cannot collect campaign contributions, create a campaign bank account, or begin petition drives until you have officially filed.

Required Forms:

  • Form DS-DE 9 – Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository
  • Form DS-DE 84 – Statement of Candidate (Must be filed within 10 days of filing Form DS-DE 9)

These forms can be filed before the official qualifying period for the election. Once you file these forms, you are officially a candidate and can begin campaigning.

Step 2: Submit Campaign Finance Reports

As a candidate, you must keep track of all campaign contributions and expenditures. These reports are required by law to be submitted at regular intervals, and they are considered public records.

Required Forms:

Campaign finance reports must be filed periodically during your campaign and at the end of your candidacy, a final termination report must be submitted to show how remaining campaign funds were handled.

Step 3: Qualify for the Election

To officially appear on the ballot, candidates must qualify during the official qualifying period. The qualifying period is a designated time frame when candidates submit the final paperwork and pay the required fees to be listed on the ballot.

Qualifying Period: Typically, the qualifying period occurs in the months leading up to the election. The exact dates will be announced before each election.

Required Forms & Items:

Failure to submit your qualifying paperwork and fees before the end of the qualifying period will result in disqualification, meaning your name will not appear on the ballot.

Election Certification

Once the election concludes, the results will be certified by the Esto Town Council. The official certification typically takes place during a regular council meeting.

Important Notes

  • This webpage provides an overview of the election process. As a candidate, it is your responsibility to be fully aware of all applicable Florida election laws and Esto Town Charter requirements.
  • Campaign finance reports are public records and available upon request to the Esto Town Clerk.

For more details or if you have questions about the election process, please contact the Esto Town Clerk, Ben Tew, at [email protected] or call 850-263-6521.

The Town of Esto encourages all residents to participate in the electoral process, either by running for office or by voting. We look forward to your participation in our democratic process, and thank you for your interest in serving the residents of Esto!