/ City of Gulf Breeze Election Information 2026

 2026 CITY COUNCIL ELECTION INFORMATION

Welcome to the City of Gulf Breeze’s 2026 Municipal Election Information Center.  This page serves as a central resource for candidates and the public, providing important election dates, candidate information, qualifying requirements, campaign finance reporting deadlines, and other election-related resources.

City Council General Election

The City of Gulf Breeze will hold a General Municipal Election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, to elect members to the City Council.

Seats up for Election

Seats up for Election Term of Seat Current Office Holder
Seat C 2026-2030 Brittany Simpson
Seat D 2026-2030 Randy Hebert

Important Dates at a Glance

Date Event
July 6, 2026 Qualifying Packets Available
August 3, 2026 – 8:00 a.m. Qualifying Opens
August 14, 2026 – Noon Qualifying Closes
November 3, 2026 General Election

Council Seats and Terms

The Gulf Breeze City Council consists of five elected members, including the Mayor. Council Members are elected at large for staggered four-year terms. One council office is designated as the office of the Mayor, while the remaining four Council offices are designated as Seats A, B, C, and D. Although elected to specific seats, all Council Members represent the City as a whole.

All members of the Council, including the Mayor, take office thirty (30) days after the general election in which they are elected. Council positions are considered volunteer public service positions, and each Council Member receives an annual salary of $1.00.

Meeting Schedule

Regular City Council meetings are held on the first and third Mondays of each month at 5:30 p.m.  In addition, Council Members may be called upon to attend and represent the City at various board and committee meetings, workshops, special meetings, community events, and other official functions throughout the year.

Candidate Qualifications

To qualify, a candidate must be a qualified elector of the City of Gulf Breeze and a bona fide resident of the City (32561). Candidates must also comply with all applicable provisions of the Florida Election Code, Chapters 97–106, Florida Statutes, including requirements related to election assessments, qualifying fees, or the petition process in lieu of payment of the qualifying fee.

Qualifying Dates

Qualifying opens on Monday, August 3, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. and closes at 12:00 noon on Friday, August 14, 2026. The qualifying period is ten (10) business days.

During the qualifying period, candidates must submit all required qualifying documents, including candidate oaths, financial disclosure forms, and either the qualifying fee or a Petition Certificate of Completion.

Where To File

The City Clerk is the official Filing Officer for the City of Gulf Breeze. Candidate qualifying is conducted through the City Clerk’s Office located at Gulf Breeze City Hall, 1070 Shoreline Drive, Gulf Breeze, Florida 32561.

Qualifying is by appointment only. Appointments may be scheduled by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (850) 934-5115 or by email at [email protected].

Candidate Qualifying Packet

Click Here – Candidate Packet 2026

Candidate packets are available electronically and in the Clerk’s Office.

Getting Started

The DS-DE 9 Appointment of Campaign Treasurer Form must be filed with the City Clerk’s Office before opening a campaign account. This process is called Pre-filing. The DS-DE 9 must be filed before:

  • opening a campaign bank account
  • accepting contributions
  • making expenditures
  • obtaining signatures on candidate petitions

Note: The depository must be named on the DS-DE 9 form when filing for office. Many financial institutions require candidates to obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) before opening a campaign account. Although an EIN is not required by Florida campaign finance law, candidates should verify their bank’s requirements in advance.  A campaign account must be maintained separately from all personal and business accounts.

Campaign Reports

Campaign Reports must be electronically filed with the City Clerk’s Office and more frequently as the general election draws closer.  A copy of the campaign reporting schedule is provided in this packet.

Additional Information can be found in the 2026 Candidate and Campaign Treasurer Handbook. https://dos.fl.gov/elections/forms-publications/publicationsreports/

Qualifying Fees

Each person seeking to qualify for nomination or election as a City Council Member, except those qualifying by the petition method pursuant to section 99.095, Florida Statutes, must pay a qualifying fee consisting of a filing fee and an election assessment in the amount of $0.04.

 Payment of Fees

The qualifying fee must be paid by a check drawn on the candidate’s campaign account. For additional information regarding campaign checks, please refer to the 2026 Candidate Campaign Treasurer Handbook. Make checks payable to the City of Gulf Breeze.

Note: Candidates may choose to qualify by the petition method in lieu of paying the qualifying fee.

Financial Disclosure Requirements

Candidates are required to file a Form 6 Full and Public Disclosure of Financial Interests and Form 1 Statement of Financial Interests.

When to File: During the qualifying period.

See the attached 2026 Qualifying & Filing Financial Disclosure Information form for additional information.

Candidates are urged to allow ample time to register, create a profile and username/password, and complete the disclosure.

Florida Commission on Ethics Electronic Financial Disclosure Management System

Unopposed Candidates

The name of any unopposed candidate for City Council will not appear on any ballot.  In the event that no candidate is opposed to the election and no referendum matters are to be submitted, then the regular municipal election shall not be held. The City Clerk shall certify all unopposed candidates as elected.

Qualifying Officer

Leslie Guyer, MMC, City Clerk
1070 Shoreline Dr.
Gulf Breeze, FL 32561
850-934-5115
[email protected]

Notice of Logic and Accuracy Testing

Listed below are the dates, times, and locations of the Logic and Accuracy (L&A) Testing.

Testing Dates

  • July 28th at 9:00 p.m.
  • October 13th at 9:00 p.m.

Testing Location

  • 6495 Caroline Street, Suite F, Milton, FL

Resources

Campaign Finance

Candidate Qualifying Forms

Campaign Signs

Financial Disclosure Information

Notices

Websites

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