Oviedo mayoral race challenger candidate withdraws from election

Correction: A previous version of this article stated an incorrect date for the end to the Oviedo mayoral election’s new qualifying period. The correct date Thursday, Sept. 4,

Oviedo’s upcoming election appeared to be heading to a ballot but is, once again, uncontested.

The announcement came from City Manager Bryan Cobb during the Oviedo City Council’s Aug. 25 special meeting, which saw unanimous approval for a resolution to reopen the election’s qualifying period a second time, following the race’s only challenger candidate dropping out.

“Last week Mr. Jimmy Boston Junior, who was a qualified candidate for the office of mayor, withdrew himself from consideration,” Cobb said prior to the resolution vote, which heard no public comment. 

Boston, whose withdrawal came after questions surrounding his ability to qualify, was the only candidate in the running against incumbent Mayor Megan Sladek for the general election slated Nov. 4, 2025. 

“It was a little bit of a surprise, I think because he waited so long to do it,” Sladek said, during a recent phone interview. “Friday is when he withdrew … My first thought was, ‘We’ve got to call a meeting right away, because we have to keep this election on track if somebody does come forward and want to run.’”

With only the race’s incumbent remaining, the city must now open the election’s qualifying period for candidates once more. 

“Our charter [states]…when you have two candidates for an elected office, and one of those candidates drops out leaving only one candidate, that the city will reopen qualifying and have a special qualifying period to see if a second candidate emerges,” Cobb said. 

Boston’s campaign Facebook has largely remained inactive since his initial qualification and subsequent withdrawing, save for a single post made Aug. 18 containing only an American flag emoji. 

Oviedo Community News reached out to Boston by phone call, text message and email, but did not receive a response prior to publication. 

Boston’s withdrawal also potentially saves the city from having to host an election that could cost it anywhere from $24,000 to more than $45,000, depending on the number of polling locations used, according to a memo submitted in May by Cobb.

There’s still a chance the election could go to a ballot, but only if another candidate emerges before the end of the new qualifying period, which runs from Thursday, Aug. 28 to noon on Thursday, Sept. 4, excluding Labor Day, during regular hours at the City Clerk’s office. 

Candidates must be a qualified elector and have lived within the incorporated city limits for more than one consecutive year prior to the time for qualifying for office.

Sladek will not be required to qualify again for the election. City Council member Natalie Teuchert, whose seat is also up for re-election this year, remained uncontested after initial qualifying ended.

Candidacy questioned

Boston announced his campaign at the beginning of August, with his campaign start largely focused on gaining the 150 resident signed petitions he’d need as a candidate to run. 

Oviedo City Clerk Elianne Rivera confirmed Boston had successfully submitted his petitions just before the original Aug. 8 qualifying period deadline at noon — but shortly after, questions surrounding his eligibility to hold public office began to arise.

Seminole County Supervisor of Elections Amy Pennock previously confirmed her office was contacted by the city Aug. 7 for verification of Boston being a qualified voter and that it’d determined it had “conflicting information” regarding questions of his voter eligibility.

The Supervisor of Elections office confirmed its subsequent investigation into the matter is still ongoing.

Boston, in a Facebook post announcing his qualification, shared he held a criminal history. 

“I want to be upfront: I am a convicted felon,” Boston wrote on Aug. 9. “And, no matter how anyone, including my opposition may attempt to construe a part of my life — the full record of my being is far more than just past mistakes and regrettable decisions.”

Per the city’s charter a person must be a qualified elector, someone who is eligible to vote in an election, at the time of qualifying in order to hold public office.

State convicted felons may lose their right to vote but can have it restored upon the completion of all terms of their sentence, including prison time, parole, probation and payment of any associated fines, according to the Florida Division of Elections. According to the Florida Commission on Offender Review, restoring voting rights for offenders is separate from restoring their right to sit on a jury and hold public office, which can only be obtained by applying to the state’s Board of Executive Clemency.

Ability to check candidate validity limited 

When it comes to checking the eligibility criteria of candidates, supervisors of elections and election qualifying officers like the city’s clerk are largely limited to ensuring qualifying papers and other required items are properly filed and completed. 

According to the Florida Division of Elections Supervisor’s Handbook on Candidate Qualifying, qualifying officers for elections cannot “refuse to qualify a candidate even when the officer knows that the person has not complied with the requirements of the law.”

Qualifying officers also cannot determine if the contents of qualifying papers are “true or accurate.”

In a recent email to OCN, Assistant Supervisor of Elections Jason Teaman said the office primarily serves as a “vendor” for municipal elections like Oviedo’s, providing “election equipment, supplies and support.” 

He added the Supervisor of Elections does not have the authority to remove a candidate from the ballot. 

“Only a court order can remove a candidate from the ballot,” Teaman wrote. “This process can be initiated by an individual with standing filing a civil lawsuit. Additionally, a candidate may remove themselves from the ballot by withdrawing with appropriate notice.”

Pennock previously said when it comes to candidates the role of the Supervisor of Elections is “purely ministerial.” Her office isn’t authorized to immediately disqualify a candidate based on potential verification issues though, she said, it’s a popular misconception.

Oviedo’s Public Information Officer Lisa McDonald echoed that sentiment in an email to OCN, writing that the city clerk’s role in reviewing candidate qualifications as the city’s local Elections Official is also “strictly ministerial” under Florida law.

“That function is limited to assessing that all the paperwork and required items are completed and filed by the qualifying deadline,” McDonald wrote on Aug. 14. “The law states a filing officer may not determine whether the contents of the qualifying papers are accurate. The City Clerk’s office is prohibited by Florida law from stopping an individual from qualifying as a candidate if all the items required by law are completed.”

That would remain true, she said, even if the city receives “potentially credible information” that a candidate’s qualifying papers might be inaccurate or that they could be disqualified from holding office under Florida’s Constitution. 

What happens now?

According to the city’s charter, Sladek technically can’t be declared unopposed unless “no additional candidate qualifies for election during the supplemental qualifying period.” 

If a candidate does qualify before the end of the new period, the city council must schedule a special election on the date of the state’s general election. If not, the special election is cancelled and the race will be called in Sladek’s favor following the period’s end. 

City charter also allows Sladek to continue accepting campaign contributions until she’s declared unopposed. Her most recent campaign finance report shows she’s raised $10,199 in campaign contributions and spent $3,441, leaving her with a remainder of $7,757.

Sladek has previously shared her concerns regarding Boston running, which largely stemmed from the fact his candidacy would’ve triggered election costs for the city. That would’ve been a major expense for taxpayers, she wrote in an Aug. 1 Facebook post, incurred by a candidate she wasn’t convinced at the time would “actually run a vigorous and serious campaign.” 

Considering the city hasn’t had to spend anything just yet on the election, she said she’s appreciative Boston made the decision to withdraw from the race when he did. 

“The cost of the election to date is zero,” Sladek said. “If nobody qualifies but me, the cost will continue to be zero. If somebody qualifies, if anybody qualifies, then the cost will be $45,000.”

If there is an election to be had by the end of qualifying, however, the city’s prepared for it.

“We know the cost,” Sladek added. “We know what it will take to run an election that looks the way the council already predetermined.”

She said the new qualifying period will provide “more opportunity for democracy,” something Sladek said she still welcomes, regardless if it ultimately yields any new challengers to the seat.

“I’m always ready to run for office,” Sladek said. “I expected to have a contender, and did — I just didn’t expect the person to bow out.”

Got a question for the candidates?

Oviedo Community News is collecting questions for all of the candidates, contested or uncontested, here. A voter guide that aims to include full candidate profiles and answers to reader-submitted questions, as well as questions the OCN editorial team will create based on reader-submitted priorities, will come out before the Nov. 4 election as well.

The last day to register to vote for this election is Oct. 6. The Oviedo election would have one day of early voting, on Saturday, Nov. 1, at Oviedo City Hall and at the Seminole County Supervisor of Elections office in Sanford. 

Want to contact your elected leaders and weigh in on this topic? Find their contact information here. Have a news tip or opinion to share with OCN? Do that here.