Sarasota County Commission, School Board Primary Election: What To Know Before Voting

SARASOTA COUNTY, FL — Voters will decide on the Democratic and Republican nominees for two available Sarasota County Commission seats during Tuesday’s primary election. The top vote-getters for each party will go head-to-head in the Nov. 8 general election.

Voters will also have a say in who wins three Sarasota County School Board races.

Who’s running for the Sarasota County Commission?

In District 2, three Democrats are vying for the nomination from their party — Fredd “Glossie” Atkins, Hagen Brody and Mike Cosentino. Meanwhile, two Republicans are in the running in the same district, Lourdes Ramirez and Mark Smith.

In response to a Patch candidate survey, Atkins said, “I have worked tirelessly my entire life for the betterment of the people. I worked to bring single-member districts to Sarasota city and worked to bring them to the county. I served as a city commissioner and mayor, working with a broad range of stakeholders to better our city and community. Now, this is the first real chance Democrats have at having a voice on the county commission in 50+ years. I felt that with my background of working across the aisle to get things done at the city level, I could bring that expertise to the county level, to help better everyone's lives in Sarasota.”

Cosentino, in his response to Patch, said, “There are stark differences between me and my opponents. One is a career politician whose policy decisions helped create today’s affordable housing crisis and environmental problems. The other aspires to be a career politician and has put my other opponent’s problems on steroids. Both are known for their cozy relationships with developers. I’m known for fighting the government they’re part of, fighting developers in court, and for writing and passing the most sweeping environmentally protective charter amendment in Sarasota’s history.”

Meanwhile, Brody, currently a Sarasota city commissioner, didn’t respond to Patch’s questionnaire. According to his campaign website, his priority issues are protecting the environment, supporting parks and neighborhoods, easing the cost of living, and responsible development.

In District 4, the Democratic contender, Daniel Kuether, is unchallenged for the nomination.

Two Republicans, Mark Hawkins and Joseph Neunder, are facing off Tuesday. Neither responded to Patch’s candidate survey.

According to his campaign website, Hawkins was elected to the Charter Review Board and also served on the Planning Commission.

“I have lived in District 4 for 60 years and live less than five minutes from where I grew up and as you can imagine I have seen a dramatic change in Sarasota. In the last 15 years the greatest changes have occurred. After term limits were put in place the reins on growth have really been loosened. Areas east of 175 are now all under current construction or pending construction pressure. The effects of all of this is a county that is out of control,” he wrote.

Neunder, a businessman, has served on the Evalyn Sadlier-Jones Branch-YMCA Board of Directors, Boys & Girls Club government outreach, Sarasota County Planning Commission, City of Venice Historic Preservation Board, and the Venice City Council, according to his campaign website.

He said he hopes to cut taxes, support law enforcement, work towards finding workhouse housing solutions and preserving the environment.

Who’s running for the Sarasota County School Board?

In District 1, Bridget Ziegler, the Moms for Liberty co-founder who is married to Christian Ziegler, vice chair of Florida’s Republican Party, is facing a Democratic opponent in the race, Dawnyelle Singleton. Singleton is a first-time candidate would be Sarasota County’s first Black school board member if elected, according to Politico.

In response to a Patch candidate questionnaire, Singleton said she “is committed to fighting for our schools, students, teachers and parents. One area of opportunity is the ESE processes, and we must improve communications, ensure our parents are involved and increase ESE staffing. We must look at ways to reduce class sizes, leading to better instruction and a better learning environment. Our staff deserves it. Our students deserve it. (My) message is clear and to the point…protect public schools, support teachers and parents, and most of all, keep the focus on what is best for our students.”

Ziegler, the incumbent, didn’t respond to Patch’s candidate survey. According to her campaign website, she’s “been a leading advocate for protecting parental rights, opposing indoctrination — including Critical Race Theory — working for taxpayers and supporting our teachers (and) students.”

In District 4, Lauren Kurnov and Robyn A. Marinelli are vying for the seat.

In response to Patch’s candidate questionnaire, Kurnov said, “I am running because I am a native of Sarasota, a professional educator with my doctorate in education, and a parent of two children that attend Sarasota County Public Schools. I am running to take the politics out of our classrooms and school boards so that we can shift the focus back to educational outcomes.”

In her responses, Marinelli said, “Just before the pandemic, I noticed a culture shift on the Sarasota County School Board. Board meetings that were predictably mundane suddenly became contentious. The family-like work culture that I remember within the school district turned hostile and even included criminal allegations. Unfortunately, COVID-19 brought more hostility to the process and further eroded the public's trust. Like many Sarasotans, I became frustrated with the chaos and personal agendas that consumed our School Board. I couldn't sit by while politicians bickered, and students suffered, so I decided to run for School Board last summer.”

Timothy Enos, former Sarasota County School Police chief, said in his response to the Patch survey that his primary issues are “parental rights as protecting them as it relates to their rights and making sure that they are involved throughout the educational decision making of their children.”

Nora Cietek, who didn’t respond to the Patch questionnaire, had a longtime career as an educator in upstate New York, according to her campaign website.

“With 30 years of experience as a special education teacher, principal and district-level assistant director, I bring a rare insight into how children learn and how a district can plan to help them achieve their dreams. Wherever a child is on the learning spectrum, we must meet their needs. This is one way our county schools can maintain their ‘A’ rating,” she wrote.

Where and how to vote

In order to cast your ballot in the 2022 primary election, you’ll need to bring a valid and current photo and signature ID to your polling station. Without proper identification, you may still vote a provisional ballot, which will later be evaluated by a canvassing board for eligibility.

If you’re not sure where to 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.

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.

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:

• Check in with your valid and current photo and signature ID.
• Receive your paper ballot and proceed to a privacy booth.
• Using the black pen provided, completely fill in the oval next to each of your selections.
• Review your ballot. If you wish to make changes, request another ballot.
• 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.