Challenger Jim Melvin, 65, defeated two-term incumbent Gordon Goodin in the winner-take-all universal primary Tuesday to represent District 4 on the Santa Rosa County Commission.

“I feel humbled,” Melvin said shortly after unofficial results were posted. “It’s a big win for Santa Rosa County.”

Melvin received 38 percent of 20,385 votes cast in the four-way race. Goodin was second with 32 percent, followed by Ruth Dupont Esser at 18 percent and Mark Goode with 12 percent.

According to state law, if the winner of a party primary election faces no qualified opposition for the November general election, that party primary is declared to be a “universal” primary and all eligible voters, regardless of party affiliation, may vote to choose that primary winner.

For more on this story, check out the Aug. 26 edition of the Navarre Press, or subscribe online.