The incumbent commissioner, Republican Sarah Arnold, is not seeking re-election this year. Four candidates, all Republicans, are running for the office. As all of the candidates in the race are from the same party, the primary will be a Universal Primary Contest, meaning it will be open to all voters, regardless of party affiliation.
News4JAX sent a questionnaire to each candidate asking about their background and their views on several issues. Scroll down to read the responses of those seeking your vote in their own words.
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Note: Responses are sorted alphabetically by party and are presented exactly as submitted, with no editing by News4JAX staff.
| REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES |
Heather Brofford
Campaign website: www.heatherbrofford.com
Campaign social media: Facebook | Instagram
The Republican candidate has not responded to email and telephone invitations to complete the News4JAX candidate questionnaire. If responses are received, they will be promptly posted in this space.
Tim Burres
Occupation: Retired Law Enforcement Deputy Sheriff, 25 years.
Age: 56
Family: Wife, 3 children and 2 grandchildren
Education: St. Augustine High School
Bachelor of Science in Public Administration, Flagler College
Political experience: Seeking First term
What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?
1. I will manage growth on future developments, form partnerships with the community and stakeholders. We must prioritize infrastructure, protect our green spaces and manage rezoning requests strictly. We need to update codes to encourage mixed use developments that are community friendly and reduce sprawl.
2. I will address current traffic needs and making improvements to alleviate congestion. Make sure traffic studies are completed in a timely manner to get maximum benefit of existing traffic signals/patterns. Ensure our citizens are protected by putting in place community safety programs.
3. I will always be transparent, accessible and listen to taxpayer concerns. I will maintain availability through regular meetings with citizens and stops at our great local businesses. Communication will not stop after the election! I will forge a professional working relationship with others and maintain the highest level of ethics/morals. I will be a strong advocate for making St. Johns County the best place to live, work and raise a family. "
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
Having lived in St. Johns County for 54 years, I have witnessed the changes firsthand. I have observed the things which have worked and failed. Having that direct knowledge, I will not repeat the mistakes of the past and have formed a clear vision and plan on how St. Johns County can remain the best place to call home.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
As a loyal/faithful servant to the citizens of St. Johns County and as a person who cares deeply for the future of our great community.
Campaign website: votetimburres.com
Campaign social media: Facebook
Will McMullan
Occupation: I have spent my career analyzing complex financial and business challenges and developing practical, long-term solutions. Early in my career, I worked in finance, including investment banking, hedge funds, private equity, mergers and acquisitions, and wealth management, where I evaluated major investments, managed portfolios, and advised businesses ranging from local companies to international organizations. Those experiences taught me to ask difficult questions, understand long-term financial impacts, and make decisions based on facts rather than assumptions. Since returning to St Johns County, I have worked across finance, real estate, technology, and consumer packaged goods. Today, I manage an annual sales portfolio in excess of $80M where I am responsible for developing long-term business strategies, managing budgets, negotiating with executives, and making data-driven decisions that deliver measurable results. I believe my experiences have prepared me to be a solutions-focused commissioner who evaluates every issue on its merits and works to deliver practical results for the people of our county.
Age: 37
Family: I have proudly called St Johns County home since I was two years old. I grew up here, was baptized and married at Christ Episcopal Church, attended preschool there before attending PVPV (Ponte Vedra Palm Valley) Elementary School, The Bolles School (beginning at the St Augustine campus), and graduating from Bishop Kenny. This community helped shape my values and my principles. After graduating from the University of St Andrews in Scotland, where I met my wife during our first week of our freshman year, I began my career in New York City before returning home when my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer so I could be close to my family during a difficult time and take care of her. My father passed away when I was a teenager and my mother was my rock. I have remained here ever since. Having lived in four countries and visited more than sixty, I have come to appreciate just how unbelievably special St Johns County truly is. Today, my wife and I are expecting our first child, making this campaign deeply personal. I want my daughter to grow up enjoying the same safe neighborhoods, natural beauty, strong schools, sense of community, and opportunities that make St Johns County such a wonderful place to call home.
Education: I earned a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Business Management & Environmental Science and a Master of Letters (M.Litt.) in International Finance from the University of St Andrews in Scotland. My education provided a strong foundation in finance, economics, leadership, strategic planning, and organizational management while teaching me to evaluate complex issues objectively, think critically, and develop practical, evidence-based solutions grounded in sound judgment and long-term outcomes.
Political experience: While I have not previously held elected office, I believe that to be a strength rather than a weakness. I have spent my career leading organizations, managing budgets, solving complex problems, and bringing people together to achieve practical results. I approach challenges by listening first, evaluating the facts, and developing practical solutions rather than relying on political talking points. I believe those experiences are exactly what effective local government requires.
What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?
1. The first is responsible growth or rather lack thereof. Growth itself isn’t necessarily the problem, but poorly planned growth is. Growth should improve St Johns County and the life of our residents, not diminish what makes it special. I will insist that roads, schools, utilities, and public safety keep pace with development while protecting our natural resources and quality of life.
2. The second is economic opportunity. Too many residents (approximately 72,000 residents) leave the county every day to travel to surrounding counties for work. I plan to address this by working to actively recruit employers in fields such as healthcare, technology, advanced and precision manufacturing, and professional services to create more opportunities closer to home.
3. The third is diversifying our tax base. Approximately 87% of our county’s ad valorem tax revenue comes from residential property, while only 13% comes from commercial, industrial, and agricultural property. By comparison, the statewide average is closer to 65% residential, which highlights just how unbalanced our current tax structure is. That leaves our county overly dependent on housing growth and places too much of the tax burden on homeowners. We should be actively recruiting high-quality employers across multiple industries, as expanding our commercial and industrial tax base will create better-paying local jobs, reduce the need for residents to commute outside the county, generate more diverse county revenue, and lessen our reliance on residential development. Ultimately, that will create a stronger economy, protect taxpayers, reduce the influence that continued housing growth has over our county’s finances, and provide greater opportunities for families to live, work, and thrive in St Johns County. These challenges require practical, long-term solutions, not short-term political sound bites.
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
I bring a unique combination of lifelong local knowledge and international business experience. Throughout my career, I have managed significant budgets, negotiated complex agreements, led teams, and made decisions affecting millions of dollars. Those experiences have taught me to evaluate facts objectively, ask difficult questions, and focus on practical, long-term solutions rather than politics or short-term gains. I am a solutions-focused candidate who believes government exists to solve problems, not simply identify them. Good leadership means listening, evaluating the facts, building consensus where possible, and delivering measurable results for residents.
Just as importantly, I am not running to represent special interests. I am running to represent the people of St Johns County. Every decision I make will be guided by one principle: Will this decision improve the lives of the people of St Johns County? That’s the standard I will use as your County Commissioner.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
I would hope to be remembered for leaving St Johns County stronger than I found it and be remembered as a commissioner who approached every challenge with integrity, common sense, and a commitment to finding real solutions that improved people’s lives. I want to protect the character, history, culture, and natural beauty that make our community special while ensuring our infrastructure keeps pace with growth. I also want to create greater economic opportunity by attracting high-quality employers so our children and grandchildren can build successful careers here in St Johns County without feeling they have to leave home. If I can also leave behind a more transparent, accountable government that puts residents first, and that improves rather than diminishes their way of life, I will consider my service a success.
Campaign website: www.wmcmullan.com
Campaign social media: Facebook
Martin Valerian Pyszczymuka
Occupation: Small business owner - my business is out of state and professionally managed, so will devote full time to being county commissioner. I retired from the FBI where I was a special agent investigating white collar crime, complex financial crimes, fraud and public corruption. I took on additional responsibilities and put myself in harm’s way as a SWAT Team Operator (Breacher/Medic), apprehending child predators, an ISIS loyalist and other violent criminals. Previously, as a Federal Air Marshal, I was on the Global Response Team (an elite unit formed for the highest risk missions). Later, I became an instructor at the Federal Air Marshal Service Training Center where I instructed mission tactics, firearms, and defensive measures.
Age: 46
Family: Wife-Ava, Daughter-Amelia, Son-Luke
Education: Master of Business Administration and BA in Economics. PMP (Project Management Professional certification) Scholarship athlete, Co-captain of Rutgers Football Team; Dean’s List.
Political experience: This is my first foray into politics.
What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?
1. My top issue is the reckless overdevelopment that has negatively impacted quality of life. Traffic congestion is the #1 complaint, as 30% of our roads are over 100% capacity. Overcrowded schools have resulted in hundreds of portable classrooms which are unsafe. Our schools have even lost their #1 statewide ranking.
2. My other top issue is wasteful spending and a bloated budget that is burdening residents with high taxes. My predecessor put three taxes on the ballot; it’s time to focus on eliminating waste. As the only commission candidate who qualified via petition, and going door-to-door, I’ve talked to well over 4,000 residents, and I’ve learned that these two issues are the reasons many residents are actually leaving the county.
3. The Tallahassee takeover of home rule is exacerbating our top issue which is reckless overdevelopment. Several state bills have been passed that allow development to be fast-tracked with little to no local oversight and approval. We were already suffering the effects of Live Local which undermines our ability to limit building height and density. And now SB 180 pretends to protect residents rebuilding after hurricanes, but a last-minute revision to the bill can call anything from tree protections to comprehensive plan changes “burdensome to developers.“ I went to Tallahassee to fight SB 354 which puts 35,000 acres of untouched land in SJC in jeopardy, and I will fight it again when it comes back.
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
As a former FBI agent, I am the only candidate with specialized training and experience investigating white collar crime, complex financial crimes, fraud and public corruption - skills that will enable me to review complex financial proposals with an eye to conflicts of interest and even fraud. I’m trained to look deep beneath the surface level. I know where corruption hides and how to find it. As a small business owner who has an MBA specializing in entrepreneurship, I understand the needs and challenges of business owners, and the support they need. Our county should be run like a business: leaner, smarter, and as if it’s our money we’re spending, not someone else’s. We’ve watched our budget increase by 106% from 2020 - 2026, yet our population has only increased by 32%. I plan to get to the bottom of how our budget got so bloated to determine how and where we can control spending. My opponents seem to be using the fact that they’re local to justify not putting in the time to meet and speak with thousands of residents that I have. One of them has a banking career while she’s serving as commission; I will be full-time commissioner. Another opponent lacks integrity and had to remove four fraudulent endorsements from his website. And another opponent defended several candidates with election violations. Character and qualifications count. And I have both.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
A commissioner who slowed the growth and protected St. Johns County for future generations. One with integrity that restored accountability in the county government and always put the interests of the county residents first.
Campaign website: www.votemartin2026.com