The filing period for the 2025 municipal elections in Sanford and Broadway closed on Friday, and there will be a number of contested races in both the primary and general elections.

Republican Louis Williams filed on Tuesday for the at large seat on the Sanford City Council currently held by Democrat Linda Rhodes. Rhodes, who filed on July 7, has held the seat since 2022.

Linda Rhodes (left) and Louis Williams. -Lee County Board of Elections

In Broadway, retired Town Clerk Laura Duval filed Friday for one of three at large seats on the Town Board. She joins incumbents Thomas Beal, April Collins and Jim Paschal and challenger Wendy Bryan in that race (the top three vote getters win seats).

(From left) Thomas Beal, Wendy Bryan, April Collins, Laura Duval, and Jim Paschal. -Lee County Board of Elections

Both of those races will be decided in the November 4 general election. The Broadway race is nonpartisan.

Another Sanford race – the Democratic primary for the city council’s Ward 3 seat between challenger Christopher Petty and incumbent J.D. Williams – will be decided on September 9. Because no Republican filed for the seat, the winner of that primary will be elected.

Christopher Petty (left) and J.D. Williams. -Lee County Board of Elections

Neither Sanford Mayor Rebecca Wyhof Salmon nor Ward 1 City Councilman Mark Akinosho drew a Republican challenger for their seats. They will be unopposed on the November ballot, as will the winner of the primary between Petty and Williams.