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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.

Offices up for Election

Clerk of the Court and Comptroller

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 - 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.

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

Charles Bear - Rep

Bear has been director of tax operations at the Charlotte County Tax Collector from 2006-2012, and again from 2019 to today. In between, he helped design a tax collection product for Thomson Reuters, and was a director for West Florida Business Systems, a company that provides tax services to businesses. He says that thanks to 20 years of working for both tax collectors and vendors, he has "an understanding of the inner workings of an elected or appointed official's office while also understanding the needs to make a profit by a vendor." He has also been teaching specific delinquent tax knowledge though the Florida Department of Revenues. About his professional beginnings at Sears he has this to say: "While many may discount a retail beginning, I believe it may be my most enlightening journey. Retail encourages speed and demonstrates that the customer is always right."

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.

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).

County Commissioner (District 1)

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.

Candidates

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

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.

Alexandra Coe

Currently serving on the Sarasota County Charter Review Board, Coe announced that she will run for the open District 1 seat. Coe previously ran for County Commission in 2018, before redistricting shifted district lines, and also before voters approved a switch to single-member elections. She lost a Republican Primary that year to Christian Ziegler, who chose not to run for re-election. Now, Coe is once again running in pursuit of a change in philosophy at the county level. She said the Commission has been too influenced by development interests. (Florida Politics - 2/11/24)

County Commissioner (District 3)

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.

Candidates

Tom Knight - REP

Knight is a career law enforcement officer and was Sarasota County's Sheriff for 12 years.
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.

Neil Rainford - REP - (Incumbent)

Rainford was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to fill the Sarasota County Commission District 3 seat. He is a senior executive with Sarasota-based Mullet's Aluminum Products Inc. Rainford has served the Sarasota community as a former member of the Sarasota County Planning Commission and the Charter Review Board. He has also been twice elected Secretary of the Republican Executive Committee. He also formerly served on the Board of Trustees of Tabernacle Church.

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.

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.

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.

School Board (District 2)

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.

Candidates

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.

Karen Rose

Rose has filed for re-election for her seat on the school board, a position she has held since 2020. Rose was a an educator and behavioral specialist before becoming the principal at Brookside Middle and Sarasota Middle School. Rose advocates for increasing the Sarasota district's reading achievement while eliminating common core, Critical Race Theory, and social engineering programs. She emphasizes the importance of student success in reading, writing, and math.

School Board (District 3)

Candidates

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.

Gregory Wood

Woods is an experienced business owner, executive director, board member, and community member. He moved to the Sarasota County area to pursue his career in working with today's youth. Woods is determined to maintain parental rights in education and emphasizes the use of classical education.

Thomas Andrew Babicz

No further information currently available.

Sarasota Memorial Hospital Board Candidates

The
Sarasota
County
Public
Hospital
Board
(SCPHB)
is
responsible
for
the
Sarasota
Memorial
Health Care
System
(SMHCS).
The
SCPHB
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.

 at Large (Seat 2) Candidates

The winner of the Republican Primary in August will face Democrat John Lutz in November. 

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.

John lutz - DEM

John Lutz is the Executive Vice President of Integrated Delivery Systems for Capital District Physicians Health Plan. Lutz has over 40 years of hospital, physician practice, health insurance, and consulting experience. He graduated from the State University of New York/Oneonta with a degree in chemistry and holds a masters degree in public health in hospital administration from Yale.

Kendra Becker-Musante - REP

Kendra Becker-Musante is a Doctor of Naturopathy (CT) and Advance Practice Nurse (CT, FL licensed) she has integrated these 2 degrees to provide the best possible care to her patients. Prior to becoming a physician, Kendra Becker-Musante spent 10 years practicing as an ICU nurse for both adults and children, specializing in cardiac surgery and cardiac anomalies. Kendra Becker-Musante is part of the Medical Freedom Slate.

Dr. Stephen Guffanti - REP

Dr. Stephen Guffanti, the retired emergency room physician whose complaints about his treatment at Sarasota Memorial Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic helped spur the local “health freedom" movement in protest, has filed to run for At-Large Seat 2 on the Sarasota County Public Hospital Board. Guffanti’s protestations about the treatment he received – as well as the treatment administered to his roommate while being treated for COVID-19 – galvanized many of the participants in 2022 health freedom movement that has shaken award-winning hospital system and its policy-making board over the last year and a half. (Sarasota Herald-Tribune)

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.

The winner of the Republican Primary in August will face Democrat George Davis in November. 

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.

Mary Flynn O’Neill - REP

O’Neill is sister to former Donald Trump National Security Advisor Michael Flynn. She announced her campaign as part of a slate of “medical freedom” candidates seeking changes to the hospital system. Mary Flynn O’Neill is the Executive Director of America’s Future, Inc., guiding the nonprofit organization’s administration, operations, finances, and educational programming to fulfill its mission to preserve American values and ideals, protect the nation’s Constitutional Republic, promote strong American families, revitalize the role of faith in our society, and advance the virtues of free market capitalism. Flynn, now a Venice resident, has openly called for the privatization of Sarasota Memorial. She is part of the Medical Freedom Slate of Candidates. [Michael Flynn, who became a central figure in pushing lies about widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election, was appointed board chair for America’s Future in April 2021. He subsequently brought his brother Joe Flynn on as a director and his sister Mary O’Neill on as the nonprofit’s executive director, along with a consulting firm owned by Flynn’s sister Clare Eckert. America’s Future steered a total of more than $513,000 to Michael Flynn, Joe Flynn, O’Neill and Eckert’s firm, Flynn Consulting, in 2021 and 2022. (Politico - 02/22/2024)]

AT Large seat 1

If no other candidates enter the race, the At Large Seat 1 election will be decided in the August primary and voters of all parties will be able to vote.

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.

Tamzin Rosenwasser - REP

Tamzin Rosenwasser MD has practiced internal medicine, emergency medicine, and dermatology. She is part of the Medical Freedom Slate of Candidates.

Alan Jerome Sprintz - DEM

No further information available at this time.

central district

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.

Tanya Marie Parus - REP

Tanya founded the clinic We The People Health and Wellness Center in Venice, Florida. She has served as President for the Sarasota Moms for America Chapter and as the Medical Specialist for Moms for America National. Tanya is running as part of the Medical Freedom Ticket.

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.

Melissa Morrill-Furman

Morrill-Furman has been a purser with Delta Airlines for 46 years.

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

WILLIAM D "BILL" VAN ALLEN JR (REP)

Van Allen is North County vice chair of the Republican Liberty Caucus of Sarasota County.

district 4 candidates (2 yr term)

george thomas aiton (Rep)

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.

Adam John Hendzel (Rep)

district 3 candidates

James Nelson Coler - Rep

No information currently available.

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.

district 5 candidates

Elaine miller - Rep - incumbent

Elaine is the President as well as co-founding partner of SUNCOAST ARCHITECT. She has over 30 years experience, having performed design, development, general contracting, consulting and/or project management in Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Nebraska, Louisiana, Texas and Florida. She has worked as a team member on multiple-year, complex projects and as lead Architect for AIA-award winning projects. S