Atwell, Chapman Elected; Did Sarasota Voters Get it Right?

Suzanne Atwell and Susan Chapman won seats on the Sarasota City Commission, according to unofficial results from Tuesday's runoff election.

The two Democrats were the two top vote-getters, with Atwell taking 38 percent of the vote and Chapman 33 percent after all 18 precincts reported. Republican Richard Dorfman won 28 percent of the vote.

Voter turnout was nearly 20 percent for Tuesday's runoff, higher than the 17 percent for the March general election, in which none of the six original candidates for the two seats received a majority of the vote.

Atwell, an incumbent, has served as Sarasota's mayor for two of her four years on the commission. This will be the first term for Chapman, who has served as chairwoman of the City of Sarasota Planning Board.

The two will hold at-large positions, meaning they will represent the whole city of Sarasota for their four-year term.

They will be sworn in Friday at noon in the Commission Chambers in City Hall, after which the commission will select a new mayor and vice mayor to serve for the next year.

Related Coverage

• Letter to the Editor From Candidate Suzanne Atwell
• Chapman Touts Endorsements From Sarasota Politicians

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