City Commission Election 2013

Chapman to Face Atwell, Dorfman In City Commission Runoff

Susan Chapman led all City Commission candidates with 2,705 votes.

Incumbent Commissioner Suzanne Atwell have one more election to go if she wants to defend her seat on the City Commission.  No candidate received the majority of the vote, meaning the top three candidates are headed for a run-off election on Tuesday, May 14. With all 18 precincts reporting, the candidates in the run-off are:  Atwell said she felt "very, very good" about tonight's election results. "I think I'm in a unique position to be a centrist in this election," Atwell said. Now, she has to turn her efforts to May if she wants to be back on the commission, and believes that governing while campaigning will give her an advantage. "I'm going to sit down with team and be very strategic. We're going to be knocking on doors, will be chasing…

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RB

10:21 pm on Sunday, March 17, 2013

It will be interesting to see what way that goes. With all of the current problems in the city, I don't see a future study of noise as a big issue for this election. If voters use their fantasies of what they think will be said about a possible proposed change to an ordinance on noise being allowed on public sidewalk dining locations as a deciding factor in their votes, they have no perspective …   more ›

City Commission Election 2013

Suzanne Atwell: Candidate For City Commission

Suzanne Atwell seeks re-election as the only incumbent running in the City Commission race.

Candidate: Suzanne Atwell Neighborhood: Bird Key Moved To Sarasota: 1994 Employment: Clinical Psychologist Treasurer: John Dowd Campaign Info:    Mayor Suzanne Atwell said she couldn't imagine not running again, and said she needs four more years her momentum in the community "I'm a commissioner that embraces the community," Atwell told Patch. "We need to sometimes go beyond the scopes of the vote and into the broader community because it can only help you in the long run." Atwell is the only incumbent in the race after Commissioner Terry Turner decided against running. Before her time on the commission, she was the chair of the City Human Relations Board and has a master's in clinical psychology from Marymount University, and worked in …

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City Commission Election 2013

Mayor Atwell Kicks Off Re-Election Campaign

Six candidates have filed so far to run for the Sarasota City Commission.

Christmas never comes early, but election season can in Sarasota.  Six candidates have filed to run for two City Commission at-large seats in the citywide race so far for the March 2013 election, and Mayor Suzanne Atwell stands alone as the only incumbent running. Commissioner Terry Turner announced earlier this month he will not run.  Atwell kicked off her campaign officially Tuesday by filing her paperwork and hosting an event at Libby's to collect the 25 signatures needed to get her name on the ballot. "I can't imagine not running," Atwell said.  Atwell has spent four years on the commission and two of those as mayor, which is a chairwoman/chairman post that the commission appoints each year, but Atwell said she embraced that role. "…

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Mayor Atwell: State Of The City Is Good

Sarasota Mayor Suzanne Atwell said in her state of the city speech that Sarasota is a good place to live, work and play, but has budget challenges that need resolved.

Sarasota's mayor says the city has a bright future, but real challenges to solve to keep that light burning. "The state of the city is good," Mayor Suzanne Atwell said. "We have much to be proud of."  During her nearly 30-minute state of the city speech at City Hall Friday afternoon, Atwell rattled off numerous successes over the past year, while addressing some of the challenges the city has and will face. "The city has financial responsibilities that we must address now," Atwell said. Some of the budget issues Atwell highlighted: • Now that parking is free, Palm Avenue Parking Garage costs city taxpayers $20,000 a month to keep open due to insurance, maintenance and more • Consider raising operating millage rate  • Unfunded pension plans…

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