Key West voters on Aug. 23 reelected Mayor Teri Johnston to her third two-year term. City term limits allow the mayor four terms, for a total of eight years.
The four-person race for Key West’s city commissioner in District 4 was narrowed down to two finalists — Kim Highsmith and Lissette Cuervo Carey — who will face off in November.
Johnston received 56% of votes to Margaret Romero’s 44%, with 761 votes separating the two women.
“It’s a relief for the entire city of Key West” to have the race over, Johnston said at Key West’s Harvey Government Center Tuesday night once the results were in. “Being a candidate in politics in 2022 is a challenge and I take my hat off to every single candidate.”
Johnston also pointed out the challenge presented by Key West’s mayoral term being only two years compared to the city commissioners, who are in office for four years.
“You just get settled and get some things started on the agenda, and we all know government doesn’t move at the speed of sound, so by the time you get something started, it’s time to do it all over again.”
When asked whether she will continue to be involved in city government and activities, an upbeat Romero replied, “Is the pope Catholic?”
All four candidates in the District 4 city commission race were political newcomers.
In November, Highsmith, who earned 46% of the votes cast in District 4, will face Carey, who captured 30% of the votes.
Had one of the candidates achieved more than 50%, they would have won outright on Aug. 23. Highsmith had more than 51% of the votes at the start of the vote-counting, when only the early voting and vote-by-mail ballots were counted. But once the totals included votes cast on Election Day, her lead had shrunk to 46%.
“I feel great with the showing for my first campaign. It was about five times more hard work, blood, sweat and tears than I anticipated,” Highsmith said on Aug. 23. “I want to give a shout out to all my opponents for being such good sports.”
Carey told interviewers via Zoom that her hard work for the November runoff will begin immediately.
KEY WEST MAYOR
Teri Johnston – 3,427 votes (56.24%)
Margaret Romero – 2,666 votes (43.76%)
KEY WEST CITY COMMISSION
Kim Highsmith – 617 votes (45.67%)
Lissette Cuervo Carey – 405 votes (29.98%)
Steven Nekhaila – 241 votes (17.84%)
Ryan Barwick – 88 votes (6.51%)
