Commission election deadline approaches

What will the Longboat Key Town Commission look like next year? That will depend on what happens between now and Monday, Nov. 21 — the deadline for candidates to submit paperwork to the Sarasota and Manatee County Supervisor of Elections offices.

Four commissioners are up for re-election in the town’s election, scheduled for March 20: Vice Mayor David Brenner and commissioners Lynn Larson, Hal Lenobel and Pat Zunz.

According to Town Clerk Trish Granger, four residents have taken out election papers.

Dr. Lawrence Kassouf, who moved in 2010 to Country Club Shores and opened Longboat Key Dental, confirmed last week that he had taken out papers but was undecided about whether he would run. On Tuesday, Nov. 15, Kassouf was listed as a candidate for the District 1 seat held by Larson on the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections website, srqelections.com. Kassouf was not available for comment Tuesday afternoon.

Bay Isles resident Ray Rajewski is listed as a candidate for the District 3 seat held by Brenner. Rajewski, who serves on the Citizens Oversight Tax Committee, said Monday that although he submitted election papers, he hadn’t decided whether he would run but planned to make a decision about Thanksgiving.

Tangerine Bay Club resident Phyllis Black, who is active in a variety of local organizations and currently serves as Republican Club of Longboat Key president, said Monday night that she had taken out papers but had not yet submitted them. She said that she hadn’t yet decided whether she would run for office.

Village resident Michael Drake, who has served as president of the Longbeach Village Association and took out election papers in October, said Tuesday, Nov. 15, that he is no longer considering a commission run.

“I’m still a working man and in my opinion, in order to do the job, I just don’t have the time,” Drake said.
Drake said that he would be willing to consider a run in the future.

All four commissioners who face re-election have qualified to run in the upcoming race.

Current Commission
District     Commissioner   Term ends
1                  Lynn Larson       2012
2                 Jack Duncan       2013
3                 David Brenner    2012
4                 Jim Brown           2013
5                 Pat Zunz              2012
At-large     Hal Lenobel        2012
At-large     Phill Younger     2013