Two to challenge Nora Patterson

County Commissioner Nora Patterson will face two challengers as she runs for re-election in 2010.

Siesta Key architect Mark Smith will run against Patterson in the District Four Republican primary, and

Democrat Rasheen Davis will face the winner of that race in the general election.

Aside from running his own architectural firm, Smith is vice president of the All Faiths Food Bank and sits on the board of the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce. He calls Patterson, who has twice won re-election and also sat on the Sarasota city commission, a career commissioner.

“After two decades, I believe our community deserves a commissioner more in touch with the economic situation,” he said. “Our families are hurting, (and) our government is not responding.”

Davis has a 20-year background in management at companies such as Vanguard Group, Deloitte, Cox Newspapers and Jabil Circuit. She currently home schools her two children.

She said she was running for County Commission because she wants to better the community.

“I believe we could have more diversity and fresh opinions on the County Commission,” said Davis.