Early voting starts for Sarasota runoff election

City of Sarasota residents can head to the polls today, as early voting begins for the May 12 runoff election for two City Commission districts.

Eligible voters can cast their ballot from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, at the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections office in the Terrace Building at the corner of South Washington Boulevard and Adams Lane.

The races between incumbent Eileen Normile and Liz Alpert for District 2 and incumbent Stan Zimmerman and Shelli Freeland Eddie for District 3 have taken on a partisan flavor, with the local Democratic party formally endorsing Alpert and Eddie and the incumbent candidates welcoming Sarasota GOP support. 

The District 2 contest in particular has become contentious, with Normile and Alpert raising a combined $71,320 and spending $51,046 during their campaigns, according to the latest finance reports filed May 1. Normile leads all candidates in fundraising with $39,345 worth of contributions, and remains ahead in the total amount left with $15,976 remaining to be spent.

Alpert, who has raised $31,975, has spent $25,976 during her campaign.

Eddie has edged Zimmerman in total fundraising with $17,082 worth of contributions compared with Zimmerman’s $11,601, but the latter candidate still has $7,223 to spend as the election approaches.

Roughly 1,092 residents voted early in the March 10 election, which accounted for 4% of overall voting.