Several Lake County candidates are thanking voters and looking ahead following Tuesday’s primary election, while one of the area’s most closely watched races remains unresolved.

According to unofficial Lake County election results, Sean Parks and Leslie Campione won their Republican primaries for Lake County Commission, while Pat Kelley came out on top in the nonpartisan School Board District 1 race. Former Lake County Property Appraiser Carey Baker, meanwhile, remains in an extremely close race with Joe Strada for the Republican nomination for Florida’s 11th Congressional District. Lake County’s election results remain unofficial.

Parks wins District 2 by wide margin

Parks defeated Humberto Liriano in the Republican primary for Lake County Commission District 2, receiving 86.21% of the vote to Liriano’s 13.79%, according to the latest Lake County results provided Tuesday night.

“I’m deeply grateful to the voters of Lake County for their confidence and support,” Parks says. “What I heard throughout this campaign is that people want experience, wisdom, integrity, and someone who will listen as we navigate the challenges ahead. Growth management is only going to get tougher, and voters want steady leadership that can protect our quality of life, support small businesses, strengthen our infrastructure, and make thoughtful decisions about the future of this county.”

Parks said voters also sent a message about the type of leadership they expect from elected officials.

“I also heard clearly that people want leaders who do the work and not simply provide hot takes on social media,” he says. “They want someone who will show up, study the issues, listen to different perspectives, make the tough decisions, and bring people together to get results. We will not agree on every issue, but I believe tonight’s result reflects a desire for leadership that can unite rather than divide, find common ground without compromising important principles, and keep Lake County moving forward responsibly. I’m honored by this vote of confidence, humbled by the responsibility that comes with it, and ready to keep doing the work.”

Campione takes District 4 primary

In the Republican primary for Lake County Commission District 4, Campione defeated David Williamson with 61.81% of the vote. Williamson received 38.19%.

“I am extremely grateful for the support I received today from Lake County voters in the Republican Primary,” Campione says. “I spent the day visiting precincts throughout our county, driving from place to place and speaking with voters, and it reminded me why I love Lake County so much – this is a wonderful community with very special people and we need to fight to protect our unique Lake County character, our waterways and the natural beauty and open spaces that define Lake County.”

Kelley tops School Board District 1 race

Kelley defeated Eric Schwalbach in the Lake County School Board District 1 race, receiving 58.52% of the vote compared with Schwalbach’s 41.48%.

“I am humbled by the opportunity and very much looking forward to this next chapter of my life,” Kelley says.

Baker: ‘We did all we could do’

Baker’s election night was much different.

Although Baker won the Lake County portion of the Republican primary for Florida’s 11th Congressional District, the congressional district extends beyond Lake County into Sumter and Orange counties. Winning Lake County alone does not determine the Republican nominee.

At the latest districtwide count provided Wednesday morning, Strada had 27,381 votes, or 33.5%, while Baker had 26,988 votes, or 33%, leaving just 393 votes between them with 98.6% of the expected vote counted.

The race had not been officially called, and the final outcome remained subject to the completion of the count and election procedures.

Baker, however, said Wednesday he expects the current result to stand.

“I’m very proud of the campaign we ran,” Baker says. “I am extraordinarily grateful to those folks who did vote for me. I am thankful for my campaign supporters, my family, my wife in particular. I mean, we ran hard. It was a 9 week campaign. We did all we could do in 9 weeks.”

Baker said he expects a machine count and acknowledged that provisional ballots could cause small changes.

“At the end of the day, the voters have spoken,” he says. “And while I came close, and I know there’s going to be a machinery count. But I, quite frankly, fully expected to just confirm the current vote. I’m sure there may be some small changes. Because there’s provisional ballots that may not have been counted, but that’d just be a handful.”

Baker said he called Strada Tuesday night.

“Last night, I called Joe Strada last night, congratulated him. I wished him well on the race.”

Despite the outcome appearing to favor Strada, Baker said he has no regrets about the campaign.

“If I thought I had not done all I could do, you know, maybe I would feel bad about this. But I knew I did all that I could do with the resources I had. I did all I could do, with the time that was allotted in this campaign.”

Baker said he now plans to thank his supporters, finish campaign paperwork, and turn his attention back to his private life and business interests in Lake County.

He also said his commitment to Lake County has not changed.

“I am as completely invested in this community,” he says. “As I always have been. None of that changes. You know, I love this community. I love our country. I will continue to serve in whatever capacity.”

Both Baker and Strada were qualified Republican candidates for the open District 11 congressional seat.

Story: Roxanne Brown and Cindy Peterson