Ranch Incorporation fails straw poll

After more than a year of public debate, the question of whether Lakewood Ranch should become a city has come to an end, at least temporarily.

Results of a straw poll released today show 56.5% of 4,154 respondents voted against moving forward with the idea.

Members of the Lakewood Ranch Incorporation Study Group, the group leading the charge for incorporation, said worked toward their mission of determine if incorporating would be financially feasible for Lakewood Ranch and communicating their positive results clearly.

"It is clear that the majority of voters participating in the straw poll believe that the time is not right for incorporation," Study Group member Keith Davey said. "While we are disappointed in the results of the poll, we are at the same time proud that we were able to get a very important discussion started, which engaged thousands of residents in the process. As promised, we are putting our efforts 'on the shelf' at this time."

Kerkering, Barberio & Co., the independent accounting firm that conducted the study, said it received 4,154 ballots out of 11,961 ballots mailed. Ballots had to be postmarked by Aug. 22 and received by today to be counted.

Kerkering, Barberio's managing partner Rob Lane said the company had received about 200 inquiries from residents who did not receive ballots, and those individuals either were not registered voters or simply did not receive ballots.

"Overall, we are very satisfied with the process," Lane said.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].