Aranibar, Steube win

LAKEWOOD RANCH — In the August primary, just 245 votes separated Manatee County School Board candidate Julie Aranibar and her opponent, incumbent Jane Pfeilsticker.

What a difference three months makes on the campaign trail.

On Nov. 2, Aranibar, surrounded by family and friends at The Polo Grill, emerged victorious for the District 3 seat — this time with a more than a 10,000-vote advantage.

“It’s great to be here tonight with the people (we started the campaign with),” Aranibar said minutes after her supporters let out a round of victory cheers. “I got in this to represent the kids of Manatee County. They don’t have a voice, and tonight, they have somebody to listen.”

Aranibar, a mother of two, has been a volunteer in East County schools for more than a decade and has played the role of an educate advocate, helping to get voter approval for the half-cent sales tax for schools in 2002 and serving on the school budget review committee, for example.

Aranibar’s friend and campaign manager Jane Grace could not have been more pleased with Tuesday’s results, which placed Aranibar ahead with nearly 56% of the vote.

“I have never worked with anyone that has shown as much integrity and character as Julie Aranibar,” she said. “She truly will be an asset to the school board.”

Florida House District 67
Just a few feet away, Greg Steube celebrated a victory of his own as voters overwhelmingly elected him to the Florida House District 67 seat vacated by longtime Rep. Ron Reagan.

Reagan, whose term officially ended at midnight Tuesday, led the applause as he officially welcomed the 32-year-old to his new post.

“I can’t think of a finer person to replace me,” Reagan said.

Stuebe, who bested two other Republican candidates as the District 67 forerunner in the August primary, has been on the campaign trail for two years. During Tuesday’s contest, he beat out Democrat Z.J. Hafeez and independent John Studebaker, capturing 70.6% of the vote in Manatee County.

“I look forward to doing the things I’ve talked about all campaign season,” Steube said. “I’m just thankful for all the people who supported me and I look forward to representing District 67.”

Steube said he would focus on small business growth and economic development as well as policies and other initiatives that will promote agriculture in Florida.

Steube will attend a legislative orientation next week.

Manatee County Commission
Manatee County Board of County Commissioners District 6 incumbent Carol Whitmore retained her seat, defeating challenger Sundae Knight with 68.85% of the vote.

In District 4, Robin DiSabatino earned the seat over Roger Galle, capturing 60.5% of the vote.

Lakewood Ranch CDDs
Lakewood Ranch CDDs will have several new faces following Tuesday’s election.

Stacy White won the CDD 4 Seat 1 seat over Michael Spring. Keith Davey will take CDD 4 Seat 2, defeating Anne Fischer, and Joseph Sidiski earned a victory over Gordon Norquay.

Davey said he is anxious to get to work for his community.

“I look forward to working with all the residents in Greenbrook to implement the improvements they are looking for,” he said. “I’ve heard a lot of comments regarding (that people would) like improvements to the landscaping and the lakes. We can accomplish that through better policies and better contracts with no increase in assessments.”

In CDD 5, Marty Cohn defeated Steven Peters for Seat 5.

GreyHawk Landing CDDs
In the hotly contested GreyHawk Landing CDD races, C.O. Kyte Jr. won Seat 1 by just four votes. Kyte’s 272 votes were enough to defeat Bryan Balak, (268) and George Fischer (157).

Julie Mekhail’s 369 votes bested Marcia Weaver’s 334 for Seat 3.

Finally, Sandy McDonald (358 votes) will retain her Seat 5. McDonal beat Scott Ziegler (217 votes) and Anthony Francis (139 votes).

University Place CDD
In the four-candidate race for University Place CDD Seat 1, Diana Armbrust won 60% of the vote over her opponents Jack Hanrahan (21.9%), Hal Sheridan (10.2%) and Ronald Weismehl (7.77%).

Download a PDF of Manatee County results here.