As nationwide headlines in regards to the 2026 midterm elections begin to dominate the nationwide information, Key West is strapping in for its personal metropolis elections that may happen Aug. 18, 2026. If no candidate in a race receives greater than 50% of the vote, that race will head to a runoff election on Nov. 3, 2026.
In District 5, Commissioner Mary Lou Hoover won’t search reelection resulting from well being issues. However two others are vying for the job.
Neighborhood advocate and civic chief Chris Massicotte on Oct. 27 introduced his candidacy for the District 5 seat, pledging to revive belief and confidence in native authorities, rein in wasteful spending and get again to fixing the actual issues going through residents, states a marketing campaign press launch.
“Commissioner Hoover has been a steadfast voice for our metropolis and a real buddy to the LGBTQ neighborhood,” Massicotte stated in a ready assertion. “Her years of service and dedication to equality have left an essential mark on Key West, and I want her consolation and power as she focuses on her well being.”
He added, “Whereas I deeply respect Commissioner Hoover, I typically disagreed together with her on key points together with her vote to fireplace the town lawyer with out trigger fairly than with trigger, which allowed him, regardless of a number of felony indictments, to stroll away with an additional $120,000 of taxpayer cash. I additionally disagreed together with her vote to facet with huge builders on the Casa Marina challenge.”
A graduate of each the Key West Ambassador Program and Management Monroe County, Massicotte at the moment serves as president of the board of Keys Final Stand and on the board of Honest Insurance coverage Charges for Monroe (FIRM). His file of civic engagement has targeted on defending the Keys’ setting, selling moral governance and standing up for our Key West workforce.
Massicotte, recognized for his fiscal self-discipline, has already saved taxpayers cash by urging the town fee to postpone a proposed particular election to increase mayoral phrases from two years to 4 years, a transfer that may have price the town $75,000.
“I’m a fiscal hawk,” Massicotte stated. “I cannot tolerate wasteful spending or political pet tasks. The taxpayers of Key West deserve higher. I intend to work tirelessly to restore the injury that’s already been achieved and to make sure our metropolis’s funds mirror the priorities of the individuals, not the priorities of insiders.”
He additionally reaffirmed his dedication to run an unbiased marketing campaign free from conflicts of curiosity.
“I cannot settle for marketing campaign contributions from any enterprise or particular person with present or potential enterprise earlier than the Metropolis,” Massicotte stated. “Our leaders ought to reply solely to the voters, to not these looking for particular remedy or favorable phrases.”
Massicotte stated his marketing campaign will concentrate on the problems that matter most: inexpensive housing, infrastructure, water high quality, and preserving the character of the island.
“It’s time to get again to work for the individuals of Key West,” he stated. “Which means moral management, fiscal self-discipline, and common sense resolution making that places residents first.”
For extra data go to chrisforkeywest.com.
Massicotte faces Harry Russell
Months earlier than Massicotte entered the District 5 race and lengthy earlier than Hoover stated she wouldn’t run once more, longtime educator Harry Russell had introduced his candidacy again in Could. For extra data, go to harryrussellforkeywest.com.