Bay County, Florida

Callaway Commissioner, Ward 1

2 candidates are tracked for Callaway Commissioner, Ward 1 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Bobby J. Birdsell and Karen Custer. Candidate information follows official Bay County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

This race was not on the August 18 primary ballot: incumbent Ward I Commissioner Bobby J. Birdsell and challenger Karen Custer meet on the November 3 general ballot, per the Bay County Supervisor of Elections' official candidate list and the City of Callaway's official website. Every voter in the city votes on this seat; the ward is a residency requirement for the officeholder.

What this office does

City council member. The council is the city's legislative body. It adopts the city budget and tax rate, passes ordinances on zoning, public safety, utilities and local services, and hires the city manager where the charter provides one. Members may represent a district or the whole city.

This race. Nonpartisan: candidates appear without party labels. The sitting officeholder, Bobby J. Birdsell, is on the ballot.

Florida › Bay County › Callaway Commissioner, Ward 1

Bobby J. Birdsell

Nonpartisan Incumbent

Biography

Bobby J. Birdsell is the incumbent Callaway Ward I Commissioner, a resident of the city since 2017, per the City of Callaway's official website. He is a security professional and retired U.S. Air Force senior noncommissioned officer who also works as a paramedic, per his candidate filing with the Bay County Supervisor of Elections. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.

Campaign finance

$1,200 raised · county campaign-finance filings

Karen Custer

Nonpartisan

Biography

Karen Custer's professional background includes work as a principal process engineer, project engineer and process safety and risk engineer, and she co-founded a general contracting company, per her candidate filing with the Bay County Supervisor of Elections. She holds a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, serves as a Guardian ad Litem for five children, and is a board member of the Kiwanis Club and a life member of VFW Post 8205 Auxiliary, per her candidate filing. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.

Campaign finance

$1,934 raised · county campaign-finance filings

Next on your ballotCallaway Commissioner, Ward 2

See your full ballot

Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Callaway Commissioner, Ward 1 in 2026?

When is the Callaway Commissioner, Ward 1 election in Florida?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Florida are on the Florida election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Bay County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Bay County Supervisor of Elections filings, last verified September 25, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Florida election office, or see the full Bay County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Bay County ballot

9 tracked races in Bay County, Florida. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

Panama City Beach Council, Ward 1 Panama City Beach Council, Ward 3 Lake Powell Residential Golf Community Development District, Seat 2 See all 9 Bay County races

Candidate profiles

Bobby J. Birdsell, full profile Karen Custer, full profile Official Florida election office