Former State Representative Ron Saunders announced on Friday that he will be seeking election as Monroe County Supervisor of Elections in the 2024 election. He said he will file his official paperwork on Monday, Oct. 2. The current Supervisor of Elections, Joyce Griffin, has said she will not seek re-election next year.
Saunders, a fifth-generation native of the Keys and a Democrat, served in the Florida House of Representatives for 14 years, representing all of Monroe County and parts of Miami-Dade County, states a press release from Saunders, who will conduct his final Evening Edition radio show on US 1 Radio today at 5 p.m.
Margaret Romero, a multi-generation Conch from Key West and a Republican has also been mentioned as a potential supervisor of elections candidate.
“I think it’s way too early to focus on next year’s August elections. I’ve been asked by a number of people up and down the Keys to run, and I will make a formal announcement in January,” Romero told the Keys Weekly on Friday, Sept. 29.
In his press release, Saunders writes that he was “selected twice by an independent panel as the most effective member of the 120-member House. He sponsored and passed the Save Our Homes cap on homestead property value assessments as well as the first Everglades Protection Act and the Save the Manatee license plate.
“He chaired the House Appropriations Committee in charge of the state budget and was recognized for his fiscal conservatism by Florida TaxWatch for passing the first state budget free of wasteful member projects, known as ‘turkeys,’” the release states.
“While serving in the Legislature, Saunders. an attorney, was regarded by other legislators as an election law expert due to his legal knowledge and political campaign experience. He served as a volunteer poll worker in last year’s primary and general elections.
Saunders for the past six years has been a news anchor at 104.1 US1 Radio in the Keys.
“I will use my election law knowledge, leadership and communication skills, and legislative experience, as well as the trust I hope I have earned from my years of community service, to make sure Monroe County voters have the fair and impartial elections they expect and deserve,’ Saunders said.
