Two newcomers will compete for Sanford’s District 3 city commission seat, as incumbent Randy Jones chose not to run for reelection.
Steve DellaSalla and Patrick Austin met today’s noon qualification deadline for District 3, while District 4 incumbent Patty Mahany was unchallenged for her seat and will be elected by default.Jones, who was first elected in 2000, said he has been pondering a step away from elected office for several weeks.
“Now just seems to be the right time,” said Jones. “I’ve got some opportunities with my business, and I’ve been a commissioner for a long time.”
Jones was first elected in a June 2000 special election to replace A.A. “Mac” McClanahan, who died earlier that same year. Jones defied the odds by outright winning a 5-way race without having to go to a run-off election. He garnered 325 votes (out of 649 total votes), two more than needed to avoid a run-off.
Since that first election, Jones has never faced an opponent. He won elections by default in 2003, 2007 and 2012 when no one qualified to run against him.
DellaSalla is an aeronautical engineer who works with military/government clients. Originally from New York, he moved to Sanford about 14 years ago.
Austin, a Sanford native, works for the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. He has been actively involved with Seminole High School and it’s athletics programs as the president of the booster club.
Sanford, Fla. 