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Sarasota County Elections

With the approach of election year, WSLR is here to provide information regarding the upcoming 2024 elections.

Not registered to vote? Solve that issue by registering to vote online! Florida citizens can register to vote here.

For those looking to vote by mail, don’t forget that vote-by-mail requests made prior to November 8, 2022 have expired. Requests can be made online or in person at any election office.

Below are detailed explanations of the Sarasota County offices up for election during the 2024 year. The candidates of each office are also included with a brief description of who they are and what they stand for.

WSLR Elections Coverage Here

Offices up for Election

Clerk of the Court and Comptroller

KAREN RUSHING WAS RE-ELECTED WITHOUT OPPOSITION.

Karen Rushing - Rep (Incumbent)

Karen E. Rushing has been Sarasota County’s elected Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller since 1987. She has many years of court financial management experience, with financial responsibilities that include accounting for a budget of roughly a billion dollars. She is committed to providing citizens with the highest quality customer service, transparency, and effective cost control measures. She has been honored with numerous awards for excellence in financial management. Ms. Rushing received a BA in Social and Behavioral Science, and a Masters Degree in business. In addition, she completed post graduate work at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, at Harvard University.

sheriff

KURT HOFFMAN WAS RE-ELECTED WITHOUT OPPOSITION. 

Kurt Hoffman - Rep (Incumbent)

Sheriff Hoffman served his community for more than 30 years as both an assistant state attorney for the 12th Judicial Circuit, and as the general counsel for the sheriff’s office since 2005. During his tenure at the sheriff’s office, Sheriff Hoffman promoted to captain, major, and colonel. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Saint Leo College, a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from International College, and a Juris Doctorate degree from Nova Southeastern University

Property Appraiser

The Sarasota County Property Appraiser estimates the market value of a piece of property. This estimated amount is the basis upon which the property is appraised. Florida law states that every property must be inspected at least once every five years.

BILL FURST WAS RE-ELECTED WITHOUT OPPOSITION.

Candidates

Bill Furst - Rep (incumbent)

Furst was first elected Sarasota County Property Appraiser in August of 2008 when he ran his campaigns on the principles of fairness and transparency. Furst has over 40 years of experience within the real state industry, beginning his career as a Real Estate Appraiser in Coral Gables, Florida. He is a licensed real estate broker and building contractor and former president of the Sarasota Association of Realtors. He is a current member of the executive committee and board of directors of the Florida Association of Realtors and has served on the board of directors of the National Association of Realtors since 1998.

Tax Collector

The Sarasota County Tax Collector is responsible for directing, planning, organizing, budgeting, and implementing policies that impact local and state government. They are charged with the collection of ad valorem taxes levied by the county, the school board, any special taxing districts, and all municipalities within the county. They participate in the management of the executive branches of state government including the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, and the Department of Revenue.

Candidates

Mike Moran - ReP

Moran is currently serving as chair of the Sarasota County Commission. He was elected to the county commission in 2016 and re-elected in 2020. He served as the vice chair in 2019, then as chair in 2020. Moran says he advocates conservative policies and makes it his goal to make government accountable to taxpayers and fully represent all constituents. He is committed to maintaining Sarasota as a "world-class community". Moran owned a payroll and insurance firm in Michigan before selling it and moving to Sarasota in 2002, giving him extensive experience in business.

Barbara Ford-Coates - DEM - (Incumbent)

Ford-Coates will seek her 11th term in office as Sarasota Tax Collector. Ford-Coates joined the Tax Collector's office in 1975. In her time running the department, she served as the President of the National Association of County Collectors, Treasurers & Finance Officers and in 2008 was recognized as the Outstanding Tax Collector in the United States.

Supervisor of Elections

The Sarasota Supervisor of Elections is responsible for conducting all public elections in the county, overseeing voter registration, maintaining election equipment, and overseeing adjustments made on registered voter rolls when necessary.

The Supervisor of Elections is also responsible for overseeing candidate qualifications, finance reports, and making those reports available to the public. Other responsibilities include: maintaining statistics on election results, voting history and voter registration and maintaining precinct information.

RON TURNER WAS RE-ELECTED WITHOUT OPPOSITION. 

Candidates

Ron Turner - Rep (incumbent)

Turner has been Sarasota County's Supervisor of Elections since 2016 and he was re-elected in 2020. Turner served as chief of staff for the Sarasota County elections office in 2011 up until his election in 2016. He began his career as a city council member and deputy mayor for the City of Arcadia before serving as supervisor of elections for DeSoto County , Florida. Turner currently serves as president of the Florida Supervisors of Elections statewide association (FSE).

Sarasota County Commission Races

Find Sarasota County Commission District Maps Here

The Sarasota Board of County Commissioners consists of five members who serve staggered four-year terms. No commissioner may serve more than two consecutive terms, and elections are held every two years. Commissioners are elected by votes in the district in which they reside. The county commission district map can be found here.

Commissioners are responsible for overseeing Sarasota County’s management and administration. They represent the county’s interests at the state and federal level, participating in planning, and managing budgeting and finances.

District 1 Candidates

Teresa Mast won the Republican primary to represent Northeast Sarasota County receiving 55% of the vote in the primary and defeating Alexandra Coe. The primary was closed due to the filing of a write-in candidate so Democrats and Independents/NPAs did not get to vote in this election.

District 1 leans heavily Republican. As of the end of January 2024, it was home to nearly 30,000 Republicans, more than 17,000 Democrats, and more than 16,000 other voters.

Teresa Mast - REP

Mast is a member and former chair of the Sarasota County Planning Commission, and has also served as the vice chair of the Citizen's Tax Oversight Committee. She has also spent a decade working in Sarasota County's Planning and Development Services, Neighborhood Service, and Economic Development. Mast is a member of the Building Industry Association board and the founding chair of the Professional Women in Building Council. Mast is committed to lowering taxes, reducing traffic, and investing in talent.

Sarasota County Commissioner (District 3)

District 3 Candidates

Tom Knight - REP

Knight is a career law enforcement officer and was Sarasota County's Sheriff for 12 years. He defeated Neil Rainford in the Republican primary.
Knight is committed to protecting Sarasota County families and businesses by increasing representation within the Sarasota community. He wants to keep special interests and "hidden agendas" out of Sarasota County.

Sharon Kay Thornton - NPA

Sharon has 30-plus years experience as an executive in the healthcare industry. ​ Sharon has served at the Sarasota County Polls for multiple elections and currently serves as the President for her community HOA.

Sarasota County Commissioner (District 5)

The Sarasota Board of County Commissioners consists of five members who serve staggered four-year terms. No commissioner may serve more than two consecutive terms, and elections are held every two years. Commissioners are elected by votes in the district in which they reside. The county commission district map can be found here.

Commissioners are responsible for overseeing Sarasota County’s management and administration. They represent the county’s interests at the state and federal level, participating in planning, and managing budgeting and finances.

RON CUTSINGER WAS RE-ELECTED WITHOUT OPPOSITION.

Candidates

Ron Cutsinger - REp - (incumbent)

Cutsinger was elected to the Sarasota County Commission in November 2020. He served as vice chair in 2022 and is currently serving as chair for 2023. He represents the commission on the boards of the Economic Development Council of Sarasota County, Sarasota-Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization, West Coast Inland Navigation District, Nathan Benderson Park Conservancy, and Visit Sarasota. He also previously served on the boards of the Coastal and Heartland Estuary Partnership, and Suncoast Continuum of Care Leadership Council. Cutsinger also holds a Series 24 Securities Principal License and is certified by the Securities and Exchange Commission as a registered investment advisor.

sarasota county School Board

The School Board of Sarasota County implements policies for the school district that advance and enhance educational opportunities for students. School board members are also responsible for appointing a school superintendent who directs the day-to-day academic and operational strategies of the school district.

The school board is comprised of five members elected county-wide, and each school board member serves four-year terms on an alternating basis. The school board district map can be found here.

School Board Elections are NONPARTISAN. All registered voters can vote in School Board elections.

District 2 Candidates

Liz Barker defeated Karen Rose to serve on the Sarasota school board.

Herald-Tribune columnist Carrie Seidman provides some insight into Karen Rose’s record here.

Liz Barker

Barker has been a hands-on parent for nine years by volunteering, leading the PTO at Lakeview Elementary, and contributing to the School Advisory Committee (SAC). Her past experience as a school psychologist allows her to have expertise in various educational areas such as cognitive assessments or behavior interventions. Barker aims to focus on student achievement, teacher support, and keeping culture wars out of the boardroom. Barker wishes to make teaching positions more desirable while protecting the rights for all parents. She also wishes to bring transparency to the school board and remove politics from schools.

District 3 Candidates

Tom Edwards received 55.9% of the vote, defeating Gregory Wood and Thomas Babicz to win re-election to the Sarasota School Board. 

Thomas Edwards - DEm - (incumbent)

Edwards currently holds a seat on the Sarasota School Board and is now running for re-election. Edwards is the co-founder and owner of two successful New York businesses, giving him over 40 years of entrepreneurial experiences. He also has 11 years of experience in small-business advocacy at the state legislative level within the New York State General Assembly. Edwards prides himself on his accomplishments during his 2020 term, such as building community partnerships and responding to the shortage of healthcare workers. He advocates for the freedom of teachers, the rights of students and parents, as well as the preservation of public schools.

Sarasota Memorial Hospital Board Candidates

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 Sarasota
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 Memorial
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The 
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is also responsible for supervising and directing its officers and governing efforts to carry out the Board’s mission. The Board is responsible for establishing policy guidelines, evaluating proposals brought to the SCPHB, and monitoring programs and activities.

The 2024 race could shake up the Sarasota County Public Hospital Board even more than the 2022 race. If two of the four candidates critical of hospital policies and running on “medical freedom” principles win, that would create a majority that could potentially alter hospital policies, though the three current health freedom candidates, Rohe, Patricia Maraia and Bridgette Fiorucci have rarely voted as a block.

Find Sarasota Hospital Board Districts here.  NOTE:  Even though candidates run by district, the race is Countywide – so you can vote for candidates in all of the Hospital Board races. 

 at Large (Seat 2) Candidates

Kevin Cooper - REP

Cooper currently works as the Vice President for Communications and Strategic Initiatives for Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium and has served in this position since 2019. He previously served as the leader of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce and worked as the head of the chamber from 2016 to 2018. Cooper earned his Bachelor's of Business Administration at Kent State University before pursuing his Master's at Florida State University. Cooper is part of an anti-privatization slate of candidates running to preserve Sarasota Memorial Hospital as a public institution.

Dr. Dale Anderson - DEM

For the last three years, as managing director of BDC Advisors in Sarasota, Anderson has led the development of clinically integrated networks for 12 health systems. Anderson earned his undergraduate and master’s in business at Iowa State University in Ames and his medical degree from Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago. He practiced internal and emergency medicine before becoming president of the OhioHealth Medical Specialty Foundation in Columbus. While at OhioHealth, he assisted the more than $4.5 billion health system in developing the infrastructure for effective physician employment. He was the lead negotiator in acquiring crucial cardiology and other specialty practices. Before that, Anderson served as senior vice president and executive medical director of the Presbyterian Medical Group in Albuquerque, NM. He led the growth of the physician practice there from 116 to 455 doctors over six years. He and his wife have been residents of Sarasota for 10 years.

Donna Hurlock

Write in Candidate.

Candidates - at large seat 3

george davis - dem

Davis practices medicine in New York State for over 35 years, specializing in end-of-life and palliative care. He received his bachelor's from Harvard, a medical degree from Columbia, and a master's in bioethics from Union University.

PAM Beitlich -Rep

Beitrich, who started her health career as a cardiac nurse at Sarasota Memorial, now serves as executive director of Women and Children’s Services. She holds a doctorate in Nursing Practice and Healthcare Systems Leadership. She will soon retire after 40 years at the institution. The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce honored her with a “Lifetime of Leadership” award. Beitlich is part of an anti-privatization slate of candidates running to preserve Sarasota Memorial Hospital as a public institution. “The complex issues facing health care in the future cannot be overstated, and I am confident I have the knowledge base to bring expertise to the table,” Beitlich said.

Curt Erlandson & Emilio Carlesimo

Write In Candidates

AT Large seat 1

The winner of the Republican Primary in August will face Democrat Alan Sprintz in November. 

Sharon Wetzler DePeters - REP - Incumbent

Wetzler DePeters earned an associate degree in science, a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a master’s degree in nursing at the State University of New York at Buffalo. She is licensed in Florida and New York as a registered nurse as well as advance practice registered nurse. She retired after 21 years as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, stationed at Andrews Air Force Base with occupational status in the intensive care unit, operating room and post-anesthesia recovery unit.

Alan Jerome Sprintz - DEM

Sprintz, a retired hospital administrator and businessman from Sarasota joins Dr. George Davis and John Lutz as Democratic candidates committed to ensuring Sarasota Memorial Hospital remains a public institution dedicated to the best medical care possible and untainted by politics or ideology. Like Davis, who practiced family medicine in New York State for more than 35 years, and Lutz, who has more than 40 years of hospital, physician practice, health insurance, and consulting experience, Sprintz served in senior administrative positions at Olympia Fields Osteopathic Medical Center, Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council, and South Suburban Hospital, all in Illinois, from 1970-1993. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history and political science from Pennsylvania State University and a master’s in hospital administration from George Washington University in Washington.

Ethan Garrett, Suzanne HaTaTah, & Jennifer Lee Zambrano

Write In CandidateS

central district, Seat 1

If no other candidates enter the race, the Central District election will be decided in the August primary and voters of all parties will be able to vote.

Sarah Lodge - REP - Incumbent

Sarah Lodge, who was recently named chairwoman of the nine-member board, filed to run for her second term as the Central District Seat 1 representative on the nine-member board that governs the Sarasota Memorial Health Care System. A financial advisor and community advocate, Lodge won her first race in 2020 by nearly 40,000 votes.

Vicki Nighswander - DEM

Vicki Nighswander holds a bachelor's degree in biology from Heidelberg College, Tiffin, Ohio; an MAT degree from Miami University, Ohio; and a master's degree in public health from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Before moving to the Sarasota area, Nighswander worked for the Washtenaw County Public Health Dept., Ypsilanti, Michigan, as an environmental health professional, health educator, HIV/STD program and clinic supervisor, and health services supervisor. During her tenure at Washtenaw Public Health, Nighswander's exceptional contributions were recognized with the Unsung

Barbara Miller Vaughn

Write In Candidate

To see a complete list of candidates that have filed to run for office in Sarasota County, please visit: https://www.sarasotavotes.gov/Candidates-Committees/Local-Candidate-Committee-and-Party-Reports


sarasota city commission races

There are five city commissioners: two are elected at-large and three are elected from single-member districts. The commissioners are responsible for selecting a Mayor and Vice Mayor in November of each year. These individuals are chosen from among the city commission members. The city commission is responsible for appointing a City Auditor and Clerk and a City Attorney.

The city commission meets the first and third Monday of every month. These meetings take place at 9:00 AM in City Hall and the public is welcome to attend.

The city commission district map can be found here.

City Commissioner (District 1)

Kyle battie - incumbent

Kyle Scott Battie grew up in District 1 and graduated from Sarasota High School. He has a long family history in the community. His mother, Mrs. A Jean Battie taught in the Sarasota County School System for thirty (30) years and His father Henry "Hank" Battie, was, at the time, one of the few African American entrepreneurs to establish a business downtown Sarasota at the old Quay. Growing up around his father’s shop and later working in hospitality, Kyle Battie learned firsthand the challenges facing local business owners and working families in the city of Sarasota.

Sequoia Felton

Felton was born in Oneco and raised by her grandmother, a corrections officer. In 2006, she moved to Sarasota to work as an expediter at the Longboat Key Club & Resort. Her experience in creating hospitable surroundings continued during her 7 year employment at Plymouth Harbor as an environmental technician. After helping to support and educate her younger siblings, she earned her degree from Suncoast Tech in 2019. She currently works downtown and has a vested interest in safe, shaded multi-modal transportation and clean streets! Felton volunteers with homeless outreach at the Sarasota Harvest Church, and she used to sit on Sarasota’s Human Relations Advisory Board. She has been endorsed by former City Commissioners Fredd Atkins and Willie Charles Shaw.

City Commissioner (District 2)

There are five city commissioners: two are elected at-large and three are elected from single-member districts. The commissioners are responsible for selecting a Mayor and Vice Mayor in November of each year. These individuals are chosen from among the city commission members. The city commission is responsible for appointing a City Auditor and Clerk and a City Attorney.

The city commission meets the first and third Monday of every month. These meetings take place at 9:00 AM in City Hall and the public is welcome to attend.

The city commission district map can be found here.

Candidates

Liz Alpert - incumbent

Liz Alpert is a family law attorney in Sarasota, Florida. She has been practicing in Sarasota since her admission to the Florida Bar in September 2006. Liz graduated from Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Florida in December 2005. In 2003, Liz was appointed to the City of Sarasota’s Human Relations Board where she served until 2007. She was then appointed to the City’s General Personnel/Civil Service Board where she served until her election to the Sarasota City Commission on May 12, 2015.

Ronald Kashden

Kashden previously worked as CFO of a multi-billion dollar private equity fund and he's a former CEO of a successful technology firm. He has also trained as a CPA, giving Kashden 30 years of professional experience analyzing complex systems and making important decisions. Kashden is focused on restoring Sarasota residents' voices to City Hall and making sound decisions regarding finances. Kashden has also emphasized that he will not accept developer donations.

City Commissioner (District 3)

There are five city commissioners: two are elected at-large and three are elected from single-member districts. The commissioners are responsible for selecting a Mayor and Vice Mayor in November of each year. These individuals are chosen from among the city commission members. The city commission is responsible for appointing a City Auditor and Clerk and a City Attorney.

The city commission meets the first and third Monday of every month. These meetings take place at 9:00 AM in City Hall and the public is welcome to attend.

The city commission district map can be found here.

Candidates

Erik Arroyo - Incumbent

Erik J. Arroyo is the current District 3 Commissioner of the City of Sarasota. He also practices law at Band, Gates & Dramis, focusing on business, corporate, and estate planning, with a particular concentration on family foundations. However, he comes from humble beginnings. Born in the Dominican Republic and raised by a single mother, Erik went to the United States as a teenager and met his wife locally at Riverview High School. Erik’s business practice includes counseling business owners on entity formation, funding, capital, and organizational structures, mergers, joint ventures, divestitures, acquisitions, and equity-owner agreements.

Kathy Kelley Ohlrich

Ohlrich is a 30-year resident of Glen Oaks and represented Glen Oaks Ridge as former president of the City Coalition of Neighborhood Associations (CCNA). She also served on the Architectural Review Committee as secretary and president. She previously served on the CCNA Executive Committee as D3 representative, Vice Chair, and two terms as chair in 2015 and 2016. She is a co-founder of Conserve Bobby Jones Now and received the Conservation of the Year Award from The Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast in 2022.

Sarasota County Charter review board

The Charter Review Board is an elected body of 10 members, two members from each of the five county commission districts, who serve staggered terms of four years. The Charter Review Board reviews and proposes changes to the Sarasota County Charter which are submitted to referendum in accordance with the provisions of Article VI of the Charter. An affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Charter Review Board members is required to submit amendments to referendum.

Members are elected countywide by the voters of Sarasota County at the General Election and take office on the second Tuesday following the General Election. They serve without compensation.

Meetings are held to organize, elect officers, and conduct business pursuant to the Charter Review Board bylaws.

district 1 candidates

jay William Riley - Rep - incumbent

Governor Ron DeSantis appointed Jay Riley to the Sarasota County Charter Review Board in December 2023. Riley, of Sarasota, is the Senior Director of Special Projects and External Affairs at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee Campus. Active in his community, he is a member of the Nathan Benderson Park Board of Directors, the Payton Wright Foundation Board of Directors, and the Manatee Chamber of Commerce Education and Workforce Committee. Riley earned his bachelor’s degree in mass communications and public relations from Mansfield Universit

Julie Forestier - Dem

Space Coordinator at Social Equity and Education Alliance Studied Business and Government Policy at Harvard Kennedy school of government Past: New Hampshire Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy and City of College Park MD

DISTRICT 1 (2 YEAR TERM)

Nicholas R. Altier - Rep

Born and raised in Sarasota, Florida, Nicholas Altier grew up working in the family business industry of small business video production. After going out on his own, Nick became an Insurance Broker. Realizing there was a gap in helping his clients, it was a natural progression for Nick to merge the two and launch First Day Films: a company solely focused on the importance of internal video communication within businesses. In 2022 Nick ran for the hospital board - https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2022/jul/27/sarasota-hospital-board-northern-district-seat-2-nick-altier/..

Altier defeated William van Allen in the Republican Primary.

district 4 candidates (2 yr term)

Gregory Scott Bukowski (Rep)

Greg Bukowski moved to Sarasota from Chicago, Illinois in 2016. He owns a restaurant and wine bar located in downtown Sarasota called "The Fountain," as well as a mold removal company based out of Chicago called "Moldman" that just started franchising nationally. Greg graduated from Northwestern University undergrad, and later got an MBA in entrepreneurship from the University of Southern California. While at USC he worked for the football program under head coach Pete Carroll as the Assistant Director of Recruiting and Operations and was part of the team that won back-to-back national championships. He has also worked for the Philadelphia Eagles under head coach Andy Reid. Greg is 1st Vice President of the Sarasota Republican Club and a proud America First conservative.

Robin Williams (Dem)

Retired biology teacher.

district 2 candidates

Webber won election without opposition.

Stephen Webber - REP

No information currently available.

district 3 candidates

Thomas DeSano (ReP) - incumbent

In August 2023 Governor Ron DeSantis appointed Thomas DeSane to the Sarasota County Charter Review Board. DeSane is a Security Supervisor for CoolToday Park. He currently serves as a member of the Blue Line Club and was a delegate to the National Conference of Law Enforcement Emerald Societies. DeSane earned his bachelor’s degree from Long Island University.

William Brad Hardin - Dem

No information available at this time.

district 5 candidates

Nancy Ceci - DEM

Former Palliative Care Nurse Specialist at Inspira Health. Lives in North Port

Jose William Jimenez

No information currently available.