Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Sarasota City Commission Election 2026

2 of 5

council seats up

Vote for up to 2

3 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 At-Large · Vote for up to 2

Jen Ahearn-KochIncumbentIncumbent at-large city commissioner and marketing consultant who runs JAK Consults. She was first elected to the commission in 2017 and spent six years on the city Planning Board.11sourced
Flo EntlerPresident of the Arlington Park Neighborhood Association and owner of a small fitness-training business. She previously served as Second Vice President of the Coalition of City Neighborhood Associations.4sourced
John HarshmanLicensed real estate broker and CEO of Harshman & Co., a Sarasota commercial brokerage founded in 1989. He chaired the city's Community Redevelopment Advisory Board in 2012-2013.4sourced

Voters citywide choose two of the three at-large finalists on Nov. 3; the two with the most votes win four-year terms. Districts 1, 2 and 3 are not on this ballot.

3 notes on these statements

Debbie Trice, an at-large commissioner and the current mayor, did not run for reelection, so at least one new at-large commissioner will join the commission. Your Observer · Jun 9, 2026

Yevgeny Khodorkovsky and Rob Rominiecki were eliminated in the Aug. 18 first election; Jen Ahearn-Koch, Flo Entler and John Harshman advanced. City of Sarasota · Aug 18, 2026

Jen Ahearn-Koch is the only incumbent in the race. Your Observer · Aug 18, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Liz AlpertCommissioner, District 2; term ends 20285sourced Kyle BattieCommissioner, District 1; term ends 20285sourced Kathy Kelley OhlrichVice Mayor and Commissioner, District 3; term ends 20286sourced

Start here

Match quiz4 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesDowntown parking, Density bonuses, Sound limits Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Voter registration deadline

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Downtown parking

Where it standsThe commission suspended its longer paid-parking hours on Aug. 3, 2026 and is looking for another way to cover the parking division's costs.

What's on the tableWhat hours, rates and funding the city uses for downtown and St. Armands parking, which is paid for as an enterprise fund.

On March 23, 2026 the commission voted 5-0 to direct staff to move forward with higher citation fees and extended parking hours. City of Sarasota · Mar 23, 2026
On Aug. 3 commissioners voted unanimously to suspend all the parking changes except the increase in fines. Your Observer · Aug 4, 2026
The Parking Division budget grew from $3.75 million in fiscal 2025 to $6.7 million requested for fiscal 2027. Your Observer · Aug 13, 2026
The parking division is enterprise funded, so it must be self-sustaining from parking fees. Sarasota Magazine · Aug 4, 2026

Density bonuses

Where it standsThe city's attainable-housing density bonus programs, approved in 2022, are in use downtown and along major corridors.

What's on the tableWhether to keep, change or roll back the bonus programs and how their affordability terms are set.

The commission approved Comprehensive Plan Amendment 22-PA-04 on Nov. 7, 2022 to give developers a density incentive when attainable housing is provided on site. City of Sarasota
The corridor program applies along major commercial roads and centers, including Fruitville Road, US 301 and US 41. City of Sarasota
The policy allows developers to quadruple the number of units they can build in exchange for providing attainable housing in the urban core. WUSF · Jan 24, 2026

Sound limits

Where it standsA revised sound ordinance with a plainly audible standard passed on first reading Dec. 1, 2025, and the commission hired a consultant to study decibel limits.

What's on the tableMaximum decibel levels, possible noise zones and the sound rules for special events.

The existing nighttime limit was 65 decibels when the revised ordinance was considered on Dec. 1, 2025. Sarasota News Leader
The motion to adopt the plainly audible standard passed unanimously on Dec. 1, 2025, and a motion to hire a sound consultant also passed unanimously. Sarasota News Leader
On April 20, 2026 two motions to change the Special Events Sound Permit's decibel language each failed 2-3. City of Sarasota · Apr 20, 2026

Rezoning and development approvals

Where it standsThe commission has split on individual rezonings and on a contested condo tower approved administratively.

What's on the tableHow much development is decided by staff versus the commission, and how it rules on rezonings and appeals.

The commission voted 4-1 in May 2025 to uphold an appeal of the administrative approval of 1260 North Palm Residences, and 4-1 on May 4, 2026 to reject a mediated settlement. Your Observer · May 7, 2026

City budget and Amendment 3

Where it standsThe commission approved a $322.4 million fiscal 2027 budget on first reading with the General Fund rate unchanged, while a statewide property tax amendment is on the Nov. 3 ballot.

What's on the tableThe tax rate and how the city responds if Amendment 3 raises the homestead exemption and cuts property tax revenue.

The total proposed 2027 budget is $322,363,899, up from $303,575,381 in 2025-26. Sarasota News Leader · Sep 8, 2026
The General Fund millage rate for fiscal 2027 is 3.2730 mills, unchanged from the current year. Sarasota News Leader · Sep 8, 2026
Amendment 3 would raise the homestead property tax exemption for non-school taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028. Sarasota News Leader · Sep 8, 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. Sarasota suspended its longer paid-parking hours in August 2026 while it looks for other ways to pay for the parking division. What should happen next?
2. Sarasota lets developers build up to four times the base density in exchange for attainable housing. What should the commission do with the bonus?
3. The commission is revisiting citywide sound limits and special-event sound permits. Which approach would you choose?
4. Some development plans are approved by city staff with no public hearing or commission vote. What should change?

Seat the Council →

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

Key dates

Voter registration deadlineSarasota Herald-Tribune · Oct 2, 2026Oct 5, 2026
Early voting begins (through Nov. 1, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.)Sarasota Herald-Tribune · Oct 2, 2026Oct 19, 2026
Deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot (5 p.m.)Sarasota Herald-Tribune · Oct 2, 2026Oct 22, 2026
Election DayCity of Sarasota · Jun 12, 2026Nov 3, 2026
Winners sworn inCity of Sarasota · Jun 12, 2026Nov 6, 2026

The seat math

3 stay (not up this year): Liz Alpert, Kyle Battie, Kathy Kelley Ohlrich2 on this ballot

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

The City of Sarasota has a Commission-Manager form of government with five commissioners: two elected at-large and three from single-member districts, in nonpartisan elections. City of Sarasota
Each November the commissioners select a mayor and vice mayor from among themselves. City of Sarasota
The two at-large winners on Nov. 3 are sworn in Nov. 6 to four-year terms. City of Sarasota · Jun 12, 2026

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