Sarasota City Commission Primary Election: What To Know Before Voting

SARASOTA, FL — Voters will choose between six candidates vying for two at-large Sarasota City Commission seats in Tuesday’s primary election.

The top three vote-getters for each party will go head-to-head in the Nov. 8 general election.

Who’s running

Incumbent Jen Ahearn-Koch is up against Dan Lobeck, Sheldon Rich, Terrill Salem, Carl Shoffstall and Debbie Trice for the at-large seats.

Ahearn-Koch is currently in her sixth year as a Sarasota city commissioner at-large.

“As the city continues to grow, I remain a strong advocate and representative at the commission table for the citizen’s voice in the conversation and process,” she wrote in response to a Patch candidate questionnaire. “The city of Sarasota is a desirable place to be, to learn, to live, to work, to create, to build a business, to raise a family, to retire, to visit, and so much more. This growth needs to be managed in a responsible and comprehensive manner.”

Lobeck, an attorney, has sat on the Sarasota-Manatee Metropolitan Planning Committee and the Citizen Advisory Committee.

In his candidate survey, he told Patch, “I seek to apply my 35 years of local civic advocacy and skills as an attorney to make a positive difference on the Sarasota City Commission. If elected, I will do my best to put our residents in the driver's seat, not the developers, to shape Sarasota's growth in a way that preserves and polishes our charm and character rather than create another overcrowded city from which people seek to flee.”

Health-care consultant and lecturer Sheldon Rich told Patch in his survey response, “After speaking in front of the city commission numerous times and not believing that my voice, or other citizens’ voices, were being heard, and finding this unacceptable for an elected body, I decided to run to give the citizens of Sarasota a voice at the table.”

Meanwhile, Trice worked in marketing for IBM, engaged in various entrepreneurial ventures and was elected to the Sarasota County Charter Review Board.

She told Patch in her questionnaire, “The demand for housing for Sarasota's working families is much greater than the supply, and that drives the costs beyond what these families can afford. But local developers continue to build homes for the wealthy and almost nothing for working families. So far, action by our city government has been ineffective. I seek to change that. I also seek to make sure current residents have a voice in plans for their neighborhoods. My goal is to make Sarasota a city that works for everyone — where everyone has a voice and a place to live.”

Salem, who served as a firefighter/emergency medical technician for the Sarasota County Fire Department and serves as chair of Sarasota’s planning board, and Shoffstall, who owns a construction company and championed Lido Beach renourishment, didn’t respond to Patch’s survey.

Where and how to vote in Sarasota

Polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Aug. 23. If you are in line at 7 p.m., you will be allowed to vote, but if you arrive at the polling place after 7 p.m., you will not be allowed to vote.

Before heading to your voting precinct on Tuesday, be sure you bring a valid and current photo and signature ID with you.

If you’re uncertain of where to cast your vote, you can look up your precinct on the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections website. Sample ballots are also available.

If you voted by mail, you can track the status of your ballot here.

Voters are welcome to bring a sample ballot to the polling place marked with their choices so there are no delays in voting.

When you arrive at the polls:

1. Check in with your valid and current photo and signature ID.
2. Receive your paper ballot and proceed to a privacy booth.
3. Using the black pen provided, completely fill in the oval next to each of your selections.
4. Review your ballot. If you wish to make changes, request another ballot.
5. If you have any questions, ask a poll worker before you insert the ballot in the scanner. Once a ballot has been accepted, it cannot be retrieved.

If you are satisfied with your selections:

• Take your ballot to the optical scanner in the secrecy folder provided.
• Insert your ballot into the optical scan feeder.
• The scanner will record your votes and place your ballot into the locked ballot box.
• The scanner will alert you if your ballot appears blank or if it detects too many votes.
• You will have the option to either submit the ballot as is or make changes.
• You are not required to vote in every race or for every issue on the ballot, therefore, the scanner will not alert you of instances in which you did not vote.