Sarasota voters head to the polls

Casting their ballots at First Presbyterian Church of Sarasota, Sherry and Vald Svekis both supported moving city elections. “That takes some of the neighborhood control away, which is a good thing,” Vald Svekis said.

Toska and Richard Strong voted in favor of reacquiring and reopening a section of Beach Road on Siesta Key. “That’s a road,” Toska Strong said. “That belongs to all of us, not whoever thinks they can buy it.”

Leonard Christensen offered a straightforward explanation of his support for changing city election dates: “It was a gut thing, I guess.”

Colin Reid, 26, supported the proposal to move city election dates. “I think it should be in November, when more people are out to vote — especially young people,” he said.

At St. Boniface Episcopal Church on Siesta Key, Mark Simon voted against the proposal to reopen Beach Road to vehicular traffic. “I think there's too many roads along beachfront,” he said.

Darleen Passewitz supported the Beach Road proposal, but in general, she found the county charter items confusing. “I don’t really understand what charter amendments I voted on,” she said.

Tina Johns initially thought she would support the Beach Road amendment, but after researching the proposal, she voted against it.

Joyce Naegele supported the proposal to reacquire and reopen Beach Road to vehicular traffic. “I think they should keep it open for the beachgoers,” she said.

At Fellowship of Believers Church, Matthew Ayres said the county charter amendment regarding Beach Road was important to him because he previously signed a petition to get the proposal on the ballot.

Alyce Turner, 78, voted in favor of the bond issue that would help extend the Legacy Trail. “I think it's a good thing to get people outdoors,” Turner said.

Charter Review Board candidate Krista Lohr opposed a proposal requiring more signatures to get an amendment on the ballot. “I don't think we need to make an already difficult process exponentially more difficult," she said.