ORLANDO, Fla. — The current Osceola County elections office director is up for re-election in November and is being challenged by a first-time candidate who has concerns about election integrity.

The Osceola County elections director is responsible for overseeing the office that registers voters to vote, maintains voter rolls, qualifies local candidates for elections, mails absentee ballots, staffs and manages polling places, and ensures that votes are tabulated and election results are reported Accuracy and transparency determined.

The supervisor must navigate a complex set of election laws and rules to ensure all of this is carried out and to deal with the public, including those who question the veracity of the election.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 5th. Early voting runs from Monday, October 21st to Sunday, November 3rd. Let's get to know the candidates.

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MARY JANE ARRINGTON – Campaign website

Arrington has been elections director since 2008 and previously served on the county commission. She is a Certified Election Specialist from Auburn University. Among her successes, Arrington counts increasing early voting days and locations, paying postage for mail-in ballots, increasing election security and expanding voter initiatives, including in schools. She says she did this while keeping the office's budget under control.

The office also recently received a new operations center.

One of their biggest concerns is that Osceola County is building new communities so quickly and there are no suitable locations for voting precincts. She said in a recent interview with News 6's Louis Bolden that these communities are becoming “voting place deserts.”

Arrington says she has also tried to work with people who believe there are widespread irregularities in the election system and encourages anyone who has doubts to become a poll worker.

Arrington's family is well known in local politics. Her son is Osceola County Commissioner Brandon Arrington and her daughter-in-law is Rep. Kristen Arrington.

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JIM TRAUTZ – Campaign website

Jim Trautz is a Marine veteran who has worked in defense contracting and as an ordained minister. He came to Florida in 2021 and says he is running to restore confidence in the electoral system. His website says he wants to implement reforms to ensure ballot counting is accurate, although he doesn't provide many details. He also has concerns about non-citizens voting. Trautz worked as an election observer and took part in political campaigns on a voluntary basis. He is supported by several conservative groups.

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