STUART – More than 800 city residents have already voted by mail for the City Commission Group 4 race with Election Day a week and a half away.

On Mondays, residents can vote in person from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the five-day advance voting period at the Election Supervisor’s office, 135 SE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.

Election day is August 17 and the winner of the primary will serve a three-year term with an annual salary of $ 18,000.

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Following: McDonald and Hall will face off on August 17 in the rematch of the Stuart City Commission election for the Group 4 seat

Starter Troy McDonald is challenged by Caryn Hall (Yost-Rudge) for the second time. Commissioner Becky Bruner will retain her undisputed Group 2 seat.

The total number of votes in last year’s race between Hall and McDonald’s was 3,530, according to city records. McDonald’s won by 790 votes.

The turnout for the 11,000 registered voters could be as low as 11% or 12% for a one-race municipal election, said Martin County Election Supervisor Vicki Davis.

The odd-numbered, non-partisan run follows an extension of the municipal commission’s term approved by voters last year, taking it from two to four years. Seats in Groups 2 and 4 will be re-eligible in 2024, and Groups 1, 3 and 5 will be re-eligible in 2022.

McDonald’s and Hall have raised $ 15,700 and $ 326 respectively as of July 29.

Despite the limited funding, Hall said she thinks her campaign is going well.

“It’s a very low budget campaign, but a lot of residents are on a low budget,” she said.

Putting public comment before commissioner and staff comments on meeting agendas, as Martin County does, would be one of Hall’s top priorities if elected, she said. . Additionally, she would address police training for mental health-related appeals.

No matter who wins, Hall said she will continue to be an active voice in the Stuart community.

“I am not attached to the result,” she said of the election.

As the two candidates attempt to educate the public on the upcoming election, McDonald said he expects 2,100 total votes between himself and Hall.

“It would be on the upper side,” he said.

If re-elected, McDonald’s would continue to focus on water quality issues and stop the Lake Okeechobee spills, ensuring police and firefighters are properly funded and ensuring that Stuart retains its “high quality of life”.

“This is the best campaign I have ever had from a strategic standpoint,” said McDonald.

Lina Ruiz is TCPalm’s surveillance reporter for Martin County. You can reach her at lina.ruiz@tcpalm.com, on Twitter @ Lina_Ruiz48 or at 321-501-3845.