Vernon Burton re-elected without opposition in Lake Helen; 2 newcomers vie for open seat

Photos for Headline Surfer® / Vernon Burton, shown above, continues public service in his zone 2 commission seat for another two years. Jim Connell and Daisy Raiser will vie for the zone 4 seat that incumbent Tura Schnebly opted not to seek re-election for in the 2016 elections.

LAKE HELEN, Fla. -- Zone 2 Commissioner Vernon Burton got a free pass to-re-election when no one else put in qualifying papers by the noon Friday deadline.

And so Burton will serve another two years when his current term expires after November's election.

It's not as if Burton would have likely had any trouble holding onto his seat in this small city of 2,624 residents, judging by how well he did two years ago, easily defeating Ernie Deboliac. 

Burton captured 61.39 percent of the votes in the 2014 general election, 639 to Deboliac's 403. An independent insurance agent, the 68-year-old Burton has been on the commission since he first won election in 2008. Burton volunteers at senior centers and a local food pantry. Burton served on the Lake Helen Planning Board and at one point, led the city's parks and recreation board.

Burton captured 61.39 percent of the votes in the 2014 general election, 639 to Deboliac's 403. An independent insurance agent, the 68-year-old Burton has been on the commission since he first won election in 2008. Burton volunteers at senior centers and a local food pantry. Burton served on the Lake Helen Planning Board and at one point, led the city's parks and recreation board.

Two newcomers -- Jim Connell and Daisy Raisler - will vie for the zone 2 seat in November that first-term incumbent Tura Schnebly won in the 2012 elections. That's because Schnebly opted not seek re-election this time around.

Did You Know?

An episode of WCW Monday Nitro from Feb. 17, 1997, featured a home movie filmed during the preceding week by NWO members Kevin Nash, Scott Hall and Syxx.

In the video, the three are driving through Lake Helen as the city's name appears on the side of a building that is captured on the video. The NWO members cross paths with the Steiner Brothers in their car and run them off the road. 

 FAST FACTS: Lake Helen, Florida