The Ballot Brief
Santa Rosa County, Florida

Santa Rosa County Commission District 2

Florida › Santa Rosa County › Santa Rosa County Commission District 2

Decided at the 2026 primary: Jeff Ates IV won the seat

DECIDED August 18: Jeff Ates IV won the Republican primary with 26.42 percent of the vote (6,137 votes) in a universal primary open to all voters, because every candidate was a Republican with no write-in; the sitting commissioner Kerry Smith had 14.88 percent (3,457), Jeff Snow 19.45 percent (4,518), Reni Johnmeyer 16.6 percent (3,856), Erin Nisewonger 15.65 percent (3,635) and Ronald "Casper" Pittman 6.99 percent (1,623), per the Santa Rosa County Supervisor of Elections' posted results (not labeled official on the results site as of September 29); this race will not appear on the November 3 ballot.

Winner

Jeff Ates IV

Republican

Biography
Jeff Ates is a sixth-generation Santa Rosa County resident with decades of experience in land management, earthworks and infrastructure projects, per his campaign site and his candidate statement filed with the Supervisor of Elections.
Top Priorities
  • Improving infrastructure such as roads and drainage
  • Responsible growth and protecting quality of life
  • Public safety and accountable government
Per the campaign site.
Campaign Finance
$13,149 raised · county campaign-finance filings
Campaign site

Also ran in the primary

Kerry Smith

Republican

Profile
Biography
Kerry Smith is the sitting District 2 commissioner and a real estate broker and owner who earlier spent 19 years in the trucking industry and opened a CrossFit gym, per his candidate statement filed with the Supervisor of Elections.
Jeff Snow

Republican

Profile
Biography
Jeff Snow served eight years on the Milton City Council for Ward 3 and six years on the county Tourist Development Council, including one year as chairman, per South Santa Rosa News.
Top Priorities
  • Responsible fiscal management and transparent government
  • Infrastructure planning and protecting quality of life
Per the South Santa Rosa News.
Reni "Renee" Johnmeyer

Republican

Profile
Biography
Renee Johnmeyer was born and raised in Pensacola, moved back to Santa Rosa County in 2007, is vice chair of the county's Republican Liberty Caucus chapter and a Republican precinct committeewoman, per her candidate statement filed with the Supervisor of Elections.
Erin Nisewonger

Republican

Profile
Biography
Erin Nisewonger recently returned to Santa Rosa County after four years in Hawaii, per the Santa Rosa Press Gazette.
Ronald "Casper" Pittman

Republican

Profile
Biography
Casper Pittman is a business owner with more than 40 years operating three businesses, including 30 years as a marine contractor, per his campaign site.
Top Priorities
  • Fixing roads, drainage and flooding
  • Stopping over-development and protecting farmland
  • Public safety first
Per the campaign site.
Campaign site
What this office does

County commissioner. The county board is the county's legislative and, in most states, executive body. Commissioners adopt the county budget and property tax rate, oversee roads, the jail, public health, planning and zoning in unincorporated areas, and appoint or confirm department heads. In counties with an elected county executive or judge, the board's role is mainly the budget and ordinances.

This race. The sitting officeholder, Kerry Smith, is on the ballot.

Next on your ballot Santa Rosa County School Board District 5 Open
Also on your ballot Navarre Beach Fire Rescue District Seat 5, Holley-Navarre Fire District Seat 3, Florida House District 2 All 5

Questions about this race

Who is running for Santa Rosa County Commission District 2 in 2026?

The Santa Rosa County Commission District 2 race was decided at the 2026 primary - Jeff Ates IV won the seat - and does not appear on the November 3, 2026 ballot. 6 candidates were on the primary ballot: Jeff Ates IV, Kerry Smith, Jeff Snow, Reni "Renee" Johnmeyer, Erin Nisewonger and Ronald "Casper" Pittman. Candidate information follows official Santa Rosa County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Santa Rosa County Commission District 2 election in Florida?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Florida are on the Florida election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Santa Rosa County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Sources
Verify this race
Candidate roster from official Santa Rosa County Supervisor of Elections filings, last verified September 29, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.
Cross-check with the official Florida election office, or see the full Santa Rosa County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Santa Rosa County ballot

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