Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

North Port City Commission Election 2026

2 of 5

council seats up

2 contests

4 candidates

Updated Oct 4, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

City Commission District 4 · 1 seat

Elaine Allen-EmrichFormer longtime Daily Sun journalist who moved to North Port in 1989. She describes 39 years in the newspaper business and advocacy for children and families through North Port Kiwanis.5sourced
Lyudmila DunchykHomeschool program director with degrees in paralegal studies and interdisciplinary education. She has worked in law and in the Sarasota County Public School system.4sourced

City Commission District 5 · 1 seat

All city voters choose each seat, but each commissioner must live in the district they represent. Districts 4 and 5 are on this ballot; Districts 1, 2 and 3 are not.

2 notes on these statements

Four candidates are running for the two seats. There is no primary because the race is nonpartisan. The Daily Sun · Jul 24, 2026

All four candidates attended a July forum hosted by the political action committee Citizens for Accountability, which said it would not endorse any candidate. The Daily Sun · Jul 24, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

David DuvalCommissioner, District 3; term ends November 20287sourced Barbara LangdonVice Mayor and Commissioner, District 2; term ends November 20287sourced Demetrius PetrowCommissioner, District 1; term ends November 20286sourced

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesData centers, City borrowing, Property taxes and fees Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Voter registration deadline

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Data centers

Where it standsIn September the commission adopted an 18-month data center moratorium that still lets staff review, but not approve, one pending application.

What's on the tableThe next commission will oversee the moratorium period, the planned workshop and rules updates, and decisions on the pending Deep Park application.

The commission voted 3-2 to pass the moratorium on second reading; Commissioners Demetrius Petrow and David Duval dissented. The Daily Sun · Sep 23, 2026
The pending application is from North Port 300 LLC for the Deep Park project, which would include seven data center buildings. The Daily Sun · Sep 23, 2026
On July 21 the commission voted 5-0 to schedule an 18-month moratorium ordinance, and by amendment also directed a hyperscale data center workshop and updates to the noise ordinance and land code. North Port City Commission Regular meeting minutes, July 21, 2026 · Jul 21, 2026

City borrowing

Where it standsIn July the commission approved a term loan of up to $34,125,000 for capital improvements on a 3-2 vote.

What's on the tableThe next commission will oversee how the borrowed money is spent and whether to seek further borrowing authority.

Resolution 2026-R-49 accepts a TD Public Finance proposal for a term loan of up to $34,125,000, repaid from legally available non-ad valorem revenues. North Port City Commission Regular meeting minutes, July 7, 2026 · Jul 7, 2026
On April 7 the commission voted 4-1 to direct the City Manager to seek borrowing authority for a $25 million police headquarters, the Community Service Center and Dallas White Park. North Port City Commission Regular meeting minutes, April 7, 2026 · Apr 7, 2026
In January the commission voted 5-0 to schedule a joint meeting with the Charter Review Advisory Board on a recommendation about issuing bonds during a declared emergency without voter approval. North Port City Commission Regular meeting minutes, Jan. 13, 2026 · Jan 13, 2026

Property taxes and fees

Where it standsOn July 29 the commission voted 5-0 to submit a proposed 2026 millage rate of 3.7667 and set September budget hearings.

What's on the tableThe next commission will set future tax rates and budgets and decide whether to lower the city's tax on FPL electric bills.

The commission directed the City Manager to submit the 2026 Certification of Taxable Value with a proposed millage rate of 3.7667. North Port City Commission Special meeting minutes, July 29, 2026 · Jul 29, 2026
Budget hearings were scheduled for Sept. 10 and Sept. 24, 2026. North Port City Commission Special meeting minutes, July 29, 2026 · Jul 29, 2026
On Jan. 13 the commission voted 5-0 to have the City Manager review reducing to 6% the tax rate the city charges on FPL electric bills. North Port City Commission Regular meeting minutes, Jan. 13, 2026 · Jan 13, 2026

Mandatory water connection

Where it standsIn April the commission paused a mandatory water connection project and directed an ordinance making connection voluntary for existing homes and required for new construction.

What's on the tableThe next commission will take up the ordinance, including the incentive amount for homes that connect voluntarily.

The 5-0 direction calls for a voluntary opt-in incentive within 365 days, elimination of a $10 service fee, and mandatory connection for new construction. North Port City Commission Regular meeting minutes, April 21, 2026 · Apr 21, 2026
All 17 public comments listed in the minutes expressed opposition to the item. North Port City Commission Regular meeting minutes, April 21, 2026 · Apr 21, 2026

Growth and land use

Where it standsThis year the commission changed rules on corridor-zone business hours and manufactured homes, and a large Deep Park mixed-use proposal has been filed.

What's on the tableThe next commission will vote on land development code changes and development applications as they arrive.

On Feb. 10 the commission adopted Ordinance 2026-04 on authorized hours for business activities and deliveries in corridor zoning districts, 3-2. North Port City Commission Regular meeting minutes, Feb. 10, 2026 · Feb 10, 2026
On July 21 the commission adopted Ordinance 2026-20 on manufactured homes to comply with Section 553.385, Florida Statutes, 4-1. North Port City Commission Regular meeting minutes, July 21, 2026 · Jul 21, 2026
The Deep Park project includes 62 acres of commercial development near Interstate 75 and 107 acres of apartments and homes. The Daily Sun · Sep 23, 2026

Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

1. How should North Port handle data center proposals?
2. Should the city borrow money for major capital projects?
3. What should North Port require for connecting to city water?
4. How should North Port handle growth?
5. Should the city lower the tax it charges on FPL electric bills?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

Voter registration deadlineCity of North PortOct 5, 2026
Sample ballots in the mailCity of North PortOct 5, 2026
Early voting beginsCity of North PortOct 19, 2026
Deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot (5 p.m.)City of North PortOct 22, 2026
Election day (polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.)City of North PortNov 3, 2026

The seat math

3 stay (not up this year): David Duval, Barbara Langdon, Demetrius Petrow2 on this ballot

5 council seats. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.

Commissioners are elected at large to one of five district seats, in which they must live, for four-year terms. City of North Port
The commission chooses a ceremonial mayor each year on a rotating basis; on Nov. 18 members unanimously elected Pete Emrich mayor and Barbara Langdon vice mayor for 2026. Sarasota Herald-Tribune (via Yahoo)
The Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections lists City of North Port District Seats 4 and 5 among the offices up for election in 2026. Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections

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