Sarasota Voting Results: New Sheriff, School Board Members

SARASOTA, FL — Republican Kurt Hoffman handily won the Sarasota County Sheriff's race Tuesday against fellow Republican Paul Fern.

Hoffman, a colonel in the agency, will replace Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight, who is retiring. Hoffman beat Fern by a spread of 72.61 percent and 68,157 votes to 27.39 percent and 25,705 votes.

Sheriff-elect Hoffmnan is the general counsel and second in command of the 985-member agency. He was endorsed by Sheriff Knight and will take office on Jan. 5, 2021 as Sarasota County Sheriff.

In the race for the School Board of Sarasota County, Tom Edwards defeated Eric Robinson by a margin of 52.01 percent and 53,362 votes compared to 47.99 percent and 49,245 votes for Robinson in the District 3 race.

Karen Rose defeated David Graham for the District 2 seat by a margin of 56.18 percent and 57,942 votes compared to 43.82 percent and 45,196 votes for Graham.

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Terry Turner, incumbent Liz Alpert, Daniel A. Clermont and Erik “E” Arroyo all advanced to the Nov. 3 general election for the Sarasota City Commission following Tuesday's primary.

Turner and Alpert were the top two vote-getters for the District 2 seat on Tuesday and will be on the ballot in the Nov. 3 general election as will Clermont and Arroyo in the District 3 race.

Incumbent Willie Charles Shaw and challenger Kyle Scott Battie bypassed Tuesday's primary and will be on the Nov. 3 ballot for District 1.

Turner received 30.14 percent and 1,950 votes while Alpert received 29.13 percent and 1,885 votes. Clermont received 41.66 percent and 1,378 votes while Arroyo received 30.44 percent and 1,007 votes.

In North Port, David Iannotti and Richard G. Suggs were the two top vote-getters for the District 1 City Commission race while Jacqueline Moore and Barbara Langdon appeared to be the top vote-getters in the District 2 City Commission race though Cheryl Cook only trailed by a handful of votes as of Wednesday.

"Went to bed last night as a 20-vote loser and woke up a four-vote winner," Langdon posted on her FaceBook account. "We'll see what the recount on Friday brings. If you thought that your vote doesn't count, think again."

Iannotti got 45.52 percent and 5,895 votes while Suggs received 28.26 percent and 3,660 votes.

Moore received 39.4 percent and 5,137 votes while Langdon received 30.32 percent and 3,953 votes. Cook had 30.29 percent and 3,949 votes.

State Attorney Ed Brodsky won his Republican primary over challenger Lisa Chittaro by a margin of 67.20 percent and 30,889 votes compared to 32.8 percent and 15,078 votes.

Brodsky will meet Democrat Betsy Young in the general election. Young has been critical of some of Brodsky's prosecutorial decisions in Florida's 12th Circuit.

Brodsky received 66.64 percent and 56,149 votes compared to 33.36 percent and 28,111 votes for Chittaro.

While the results were consistent in Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties, Brodsky had his best margin of 67.2 percent among Sarasota County voters.

Naval Reserve Officer Fiona McFarland defeated her fellow Republicans Tuesday for the right to take on Democrat Drake Buckman in November for the Florida House of Representatives District 72 seat held by Democrat Margaret Good.

McFarland received 43.24 percent and 7,750 votes compared to 41.77 percent and 7,487 votes for Donna Barcomb. Jason M. Miller received 14.99 percent and 2,687 votes.

Good is running for the District 16 congressional seat held by Republican Vern Buchanan. That race will be decided on Nov. 3.

All of the results from Tuesday’s primary were considered unofficial until they are certified.

For more information, visit www.SarasotaVotes.com.