Special Republican primary will reveal favorites for three seats in Legislature

A costly primary to determine the Republican finalists for three seats representing St. Johns County in the state Legislature will conclude today.

Several of the candidates have spent large sums of money on the campaign, and the election will cost at least one established Republican his role in state politics.

The primary is for registered Republicans only for the offices of Florida Senate District 6 and Florida House Districts 17 and 24.

Republican winners will move on to the special general election April 7, where they will be heavy favorites.

According to the St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections, 4,350 county residents participated in the early voting opportunities. Another 4,726 have voted by absentee ballot.

The special election was called by the governor after Sen. John Thrasher won re-election to the District 6 seat in November but resigned almost immediately after to become the next president at Florida State University.

The vacancy drew the attention of St. Johns County's two most prominent state lawmakers in Travis Hutson and Doc Renuart.

To run, Hutson is relinquishing his House District 24 seat and Renuart his District 17 seat. They are joined in the primary by Dennis McDonald of Flagler County.

But it has been Hutson and Renuart exchanging the punches during the campaign. They've both been airing television commercials to help their respective causes.

It's been an expensive tactic. Hutson's campaign has spent more than $450,000 while Renuart has spent around $173,000.

The winner will face Democrat David Cox.

In the race for House District 17, Renuart's replacement will most likely come from the primary contenders: St. Johns County commissioner Cyndi Stevenson, St. Augustine businessman Mike Davis and St. Johns veteran and attorney Jack Capra.

Stevenson, with her 10 years as a commissioner, and Davis, with his local reputation in the business community, are the favorites. Campaign spending would also suggest they are the top choices.

Davis has spent almost $135,000 in his effort to get elected while Stevenson has also reported more than $100,000 in campaign expenditures.

The Republican winner will face write-in candidate Mary Anne Boczek and Judy Stevens, who is running without party affiliation.

The House 24 race also has three Republicans: Former St. Johns County commissioner Ron Sanchez, Palm Coast businessman Paul Renner and Flagler County journalist Danielle Anderson.

The district includes all of Flagler County, a small portion of Volusia County and the southern part of St. Johns County.

Renner has tremendous backing from various PACs and those with real estate and insurance interests. He's raised more than $200,000 and has spent almost $190,000.

Sanchez has more local recognition, having served two terms as a county commissioner.

The top Republican will face Democrat Adam Morley of St. Augustine in the general election.