Candidates share their thoughts on Election Day

The City Commission runoff election candidates share their thoughts on Election Day:

“I feel good (about tonight). This has been the culmination of a lot of hard work for all three of us in the runoff. It all boils down to voter turnout. Everybody needs to get out and use both votes wisely. Forty percent of the commission will be decided today, so take both votes very seriously.” — Mayor Suzanne Atwell

“It’s been a long campaign, and it’s been interesting. I’ve had the privilege of being both an incumbent and a candidate. It’s been a fascinating few months. I’ve learned a great deal; this is my third time around, and I think I’m in a great position and I’m ready to get back to the people’s business.” — Atwell

“I don’t think we have any idea what the results are going to be, but it seems like a lot of people are streaming in today for the election.” — Susan Chapman

“I think we’ve done everything we can do,” Chapman said. “We’ve worked very hard. We have a lot of volunteers, and it will be for the voters to decide.” — Chapman

"I've been trying to get out as much as I can to knock on doors and meet as many people as I can, face to face. It's been a long campaign, and I've just been doing my best to get in front of people to communicate my message and my plans." — Richard Dorfman

“Wer'e having a great day at the polls, but it’s a little light. If you care about Sarasota, and you care about our future, please come out and vote. Polls will be open until 7 p.m. — get out there and cast your ballot for Sarasota’s future. We can learn from the past, but we don’t have to live in it." — Dorfman

Be sure to visit yourobserver.com tonight for breaking election results.

And pick up a copy of Thursday’s Sarasota Observer for in-depth coverage of the election. We will give readers a behind-the-scenes look of Election Day from the perspective of Chapman and Dorfman, the two candidates challenging the incumbent, Atwell.