Candidates finalized for March commission election

The ballot has been finalized for the March City Commission election, with seven candidates qualifying for the three district races.

An incumbent is running in all three districts, but just two of them will face a challenge. In District 2, the qualified candidates are:

+ Liz Alpert, an attorney serving on the city’s Civil Service/General Personnel Board
+ David Morgan, Sarasota Housing Authority chairman
+ Eileen Normile, sitting city commissioner

Normile was appointed to the commission in November, filling the final months of Paul Caragiulo’s term following a resignation. Alpert applied for that same position, and previously ran for District 72 State Representative in 2012. Morgan also serves on the Arlington Park Neighborhood Association board.

The qualified District 3 candidates are:

+ Shelli Freeland Eddie, an attorney serving on the Newtown Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board
+ Matt Wooddall, freelance property manager
+ Stan Zimmerman, sitting city commissioner

Zimmerman, like Normile, was appointed in November to finish the remainder of Shannon Snyder’s term on the commission. Eddie also sought appointment to that seat, and was the first choice of Mayor Willie Shaw. Wooddall previously ran as a Sarasota Soil and Water District candidate.

In District 1, Shaw is the only qualifying candidate and has already secured his reelection.

The election will be held March 10, with a runoff scheduled for May 12 if necessary. Commissioners will take office on May 15.

Contact David Conway at [email protected].