Moran beats Atkins in Sarasota County Commission race

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The Republican Party has maintained its dominance of the Sarasota County Commission, as Mike Moran defeated Democrat Fredd Atkins in the race for the District 1 seat.

Moran ran on a platform of career creation and economic diversity, and believes his policies resonated with Sarasota voters.

"I just think the message is ringing loud and clear for everyone," Moran said. "The voters are very smart and intuitive."

Moreover, he believes his win speaks speaks to residents' positive feelings regarding the commission's past performance. 

"I think people overall are very happy and there is a very small, vocal negative group," Moran said. "I will never ever see this community in a negative light no matter how hard they beat that drum."

Moran earned 58% of the vote, with Atkins drawing 42% of the ballots cast in Tuesday’s election. The District 1 seat is being vacated by Carolyn Mason, who reached her term limit.

Moran isn’t the only new face that will join the board. State Sen. Nancy Detert will fill the District 3 seat, going unopposed in her bid to replace Commissioner Christine Robinson. Detert said she believed she could use the contacts she has fostered in Tallahassee as a senator to make sure Sarasota’s beach renourishment and water quality issues remain a priority at the state level. 

Detert was elected to the state Senate in 2008 and was subsequently reelected in 2012. Prior to her two terms as senator, she held a seat in the state House of Representatives from 1998 to 2006. 

She said she is excited to take on a local role and looks forward to working for “smart growth” in Sarasota County, though she doesn’t anticipate any issues collaborating with her fellow commissioners. 

“They might want more development than I want, but I don't call that butting heads,” Detert said. “I call that a disagreement, and we might have disagreements. Then we'll meet somewhere in the middle.”

This is a breaking story and will be updated as more information becomes available.