Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Venice City Council Election 2026

2 of 7

council seats up

2 contests

5 candidates

Updated Oct 5, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

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

City Council Seat 2 · 1 seat

Christopher DerbakVeteran of the U.S. Air Force and Coast Guard and founder of the nonprofit Jump for Valor. He moved to Venice in 2023.4sourced
Jenny HeussnerManagement professional with two decades at a global industrial distributor. She has managed two regional sales offices.3sourced
Sue PerryRetired pharmaceutical sales professional and Toscana Isles HOA volunteer. She cites a background in finance, budgeting and community leadership.3sourced

City Council Seat 5 · 1 seat

All city voters choose each seat; seat numbers are not districts. Five seats (1, 2, 5, 6 and 7) are up in 2026, but only Seats 2 and 5 are contested and appear on the ballot; the other three candidates were unopposed.

1 note on these statements

Christopher Derbak, Jenny Heussner and Sue Perry are running for Seat 2, which Ron Smith is vacating; Rick Howard and David Gress are running for Seat 5. The Daily Sun

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Jim Boldt6sourced Kevin EngelkeCouncilmember, Seat 3; term ends 20285sourced Rachel FrankCouncilmember, Seat 6; unopposed on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot6sourced Lloyd WeedCouncilmember, Seat 1; unopposed on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot8sourced

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 decidesFY27 budget, tax rate and public safety, Venice Municipal Airport, Growth, zoning and redevelopment Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Voter registration deadline

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

FY27 budget, tax rate and public safety

Where it standsCouncil set a preliminary FY27 operating millage of 3.8450 on July 14 and gave first-reading approval to the tax levy and budget ordinances on Sept. 8.

What's on the tableThe next council will work within the adopted FY27 budget, the new police staffing plan and a planned fire fee and staffing study.

On July 14 Council voted 5-2 to set the preliminary operating millage at 3.8450 and the debt service rate at 0.3451; Vice Mayor Jim Boldt and Kevin Engelke voted no. Venice City Council meeting minutes, July 14, 2026 · Jul 14, 2026
On July 14 Council voted 6-1 to adopt a new police organizational chart and pursue two traffic officers; the Finance Director said hiring two officers would cost $423,000 from the general fund for one fiscal year. Venice City Council meeting minutes, July 14, 2026 · Jul 14, 2026
On July 14 Council voted 7-0 to pursue a staffing and fee assessment study for the fire service; staff estimated the study at $120,000. Venice City Council meeting minutes, July 14, 2026 · Jul 14, 2026
At the Sept. 8 budget hearing the City Manager noted uncertainties due to the possible property tax amendment. Venice City Council meeting minutes, Sept. 8, 2026 budget public hearing · Sep 8, 2026

Venice Municipal Airport

Where it standsCouncil postponed an Advanced Air Mobility Task Force memorandum on Aug. 25 and delayed a proposed T-hangar and tie-down rent increase on Sept. 22.

What's on the tableThe next council will decide airport rates, management policies and how to respond to resident concerns as the airport master plan proceeds.

On Aug. 25 Council voted 6-1 to postpone the Advanced Air Mobility Task Force memorandum of understanding; Mayor Nick Pachota voted no. Venice City Council meeting minutes, Aug. 25, 2026 · Aug 25, 2026
On May 12 Council voted 7-0 on a motion directing staff to review the airport lease and operating standards, and 7-0 on a motion to develop an environmental review of the airport property and neighboring areas. Venice City Council meeting minutes, May 12, 2026 · May 12, 2026
Airport staff proposed T-hangar rent increases of 53% to 147%; Council voted to delay further consideration until its Oct. 13 meeting, after a Sept. 30 public workshop. The Daily Sun

Growth, zoning and redevelopment

Where it standsCouncil has recently decided land-use changes and a site-plan appeal, and heard a technical plan for the Seaboard area.

What's on the tableThe next council will rule on development petitions, land development code changes and redevelopment plans.

On April 28 Council approved a land-use map change for 490 Substation Road from High Density Residential to Industrial on a 5-2 vote. Venice City Council meeting minutes, April 28, 2026 · Apr 28, 2026
On June 23 Council voted 5-1 to approve a site plan for six multifamily units at 816 Ormond Street, on appeal of the Planning Commission's approval. Venice City Council meeting minutes, June 23, 2026 · Jun 23, 2026
On July 14 Council received the Seaboard Phase 1 Technical Plan presentation from consultant Dover, Kohl & Partners. Venice City Council meeting minutes, July 14, 2026 · Jul 14, 2026
On Aug. 25 the City Manager told Council that no applications had been filed for a wellness village development on the old Venice Hospital site. Venice City Council meeting minutes, Aug. 25, 2026 · Aug 25, 2026

Data centers

Where it standsOn Aug. 25 Council directed staff to bring back an ordinance for an 18-month data center moratorium.

What's on the tableThe next council will vote on the moratorium ordinance and on land development code rules for data centers.

Council voted 7-0 on Aug. 25 to direct staff to bring back an ordinance on an 18-month moratorium on data centers, or a time frame that is legally permissible. Venice City Council meeting minutes, Aug. 25, 2026 · Aug 25, 2026
The City Attorney said the moratorium would allow the development of code provisions, not the denial of applications. Venice City Council meeting minutes, Aug. 25, 2026 · Aug 25, 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 Venice handle building density and height limits?
2. What property tax rate should Venice set for FY27?
3. Should Venice add police traffic officers in the FY27 budget?
4. How should Venice approach new airport initiatives?
5. How should Venice handle data center proposals?

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 beginsSarasota Herald-Tribune (via Bradenton Herald): Sarasota County voters must register by Oct. 5 for general election · Oct 2, 2026Oct 19, 2026
League of Women Voters forum for Seats 2 and 5 (5:30 p.m.)League of Women Voters of Sarasota County: Venice City Commission - Seats 2 & 5 forumOct 21, 2026
Deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot (5 p.m.)Sarasota Herald-Tribune (via Bradenton Herald): Sarasota County voters must register by Oct. 5 for general election · Oct 2, 2026Oct 22, 2026
Early voting endsSarasota Herald-Tribune (via Bradenton Herald): Sarasota County voters must register by Oct. 5 for general election · Oct 2, 2026Nov 1, 2026
Election daySarasota Herald-Tribune · Oct 2, 2026Nov 3, 2026
New Council members sworn inThe Daily SunNov 17, 2026

The seat math

4 stay (not up this year): Jim Boldt, Kevin Engelke, Rachel Frank, Lloyd Weed2 on this ballot

7 council seats. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.

Venice has a council-manager government with a seven-member City Council; the Council hires and supervises the City Manager, City Clerk and City Attorney. City of Venice
The Mayor is one of the seven Council members and presides at meetings; Seat 7 is the mayor's seat. City of Venice
Voters approved four-year Council terms in 2024, ending odd-year city elections so city races coincide with county, state and federal ones. The Daily Sun
Seat 4, now held by Jim Boldt, becomes vacant at the election and will be filled by Council appointment afterward. The Daily Sun

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