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Low Turnout Expected At Sarasota Polls For Primary

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By DOUG SWORD

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Published: August 26, 2008

SARASOTA - Turnout in today's primary is expected to be low even though an unusually large array of local Sarasota offices are on the ballot.

And many of these elections have been particularly contentious since the winners of several contests, including a Sarasota County Commission seat, a school board seat and the county property appraiser post, will be shoe-ins for victory in November. They face either no opposition from another political party or token opposition from a write-in candidate. Voters will also decide on a pair of proposed changes to the county charter that are being opposed by slow-growth advocates.

Supervisor of Elections Kathy Dent predicted late Monday that turnout would be between 21 percent and 25 percent, based on the number of people who had cast early or absentee ballots. Usually about twice as many people show up to the polls on Election Day as cast absentee or early ballots, she said.

That would put turnout at a lower percentage than the 26 percent recorded in the 2004 primary.

"So, it's sort of disappointing that maybe only a quarter of our voters even care, unless I get totally shocked by turnout tomorrow," Dent said.

As of late Monday afternoon, 18,361 voters had cast either absentee ballots or early votes out of the county's 252,000 registered voters.

The most contentious countywide race is probably the one featuring incumbent Property Appraiser Jim Todora's attempt to win a fourth term in office and well-financed opponent Bill Furst. Todora has emphasized his experience, but Furst hopes taxpayer frustration over property taxes and assessments will help his candidacy. The winner will take the office since no Democrat has filed and the write-in candidate, Gary Johnson, does not plan to campaign or raise money.

Republicans in Senate District 23, which is represented by state Sen. Lisa Carlton, will choose between Nancy Detert and Michael Grant. The winner faces Democrat Morgan Bentley in November.

The victor between incumbent Shannon Staub and North Port City Commissioner Shannon Staub will be the county commissioner for Sarasota County's southernmost district since no opponent filed for the November election. This is a countywide election even though the winner represents District 3, which includes North Port.

The GOP primary for District 1 – the county's northernmost district - is between Carolyn Mason and Richard Redding, who are hoping to occupy the seat of County Commissioner Paul Mercier, a Republican who is retiring from office in November. The winner of the primary faces Democrat Jono Miller and independent John Mullarkey in the November general election.

A three-way Republican primary for sheriff is between Larry Dunklee, David Gustafson and Tom Knight, with the winner running against Democrat Curt Lavarello.

Tuesday's primary will determine the representative for the School Board's District 2 between incumbent Caroline Zucker and challenger Millicent Puleo.

Also on the ballot are two seats for the county hospital board, which oversees Sarasota Memorial Hospital and votes on property tax rates to pay for indigent care; a judgeship on the 12th Judicial Circuit; and the public defender for the 12th circuit.

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