Historic, Crowded Contest Defines Sarasota County's First District Commission Race

Four first district county commission candidates have qualified to run: myself (Jono Miller), John Mullarkey (no party affiliation) and two Republicans, Carolyn Mason and Richard Redding. That's more candidates than qualified in the two other commission races combined!

This is a situation that no one anticipated late last year when incumbent Paul Mercier and challenger Kirk Reid were the only candidates. Both men, Republicans, are no longer running. 

Instead voters will be confronted with a diverse group that ensures this will be a truly historic election. At this point citizens are guaranteed a significant political milestone in Sarasota County. Any of the possible outcomes would constitute a significant 'first':

• The first Democrat elected to the County Commission since 1966

• The first Afro-American elected to the County Commission

• The first NPA (no party affiliation) candidate elected to the County Commission

Mason and Redding will participate in a Republican primary and join Miller and Mullarkey on the November ballot.