Key voters to pick two commissioners March 25

Election day is nearly a week away, but as of March 16, at least 17.8%, or 1,104, of the town’s 6,188 registered voters had cast their ballots for the town’s March 25 general municipal election.

Early voting, which began March 10, drew 656 voters to Longboat Key Town Hall during its first seven days. Another 448 voters returned absentee ballots through March 14.

In this year’s election, Terry Gans and Ray Rajewski are running for the District 3 seat, and Armando Linde and Irwin Pastor are running for one of two at-large seats on the Longboat Key Town Commission. All Key voters are eligible to vote in both races.

Early voting will continue from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through March 22 at Longboat Key Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road, for voters in both Sarasota and Manatee county. The town clerk’s office is sweetening early voting with daily refreshments. Refreshments are available only during early voting only. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is March 19.

On election day, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Manatee County residents will vote at Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, while Sarasota County residents will cast their ballots at Town Hall.

In the past three town elections, the majority of votes were cast before election day, either early or absentee.

Voter turnout for town elections is usually less than 50%. (See box.) By comparison, more than 80% of the town’s voters cast ballots in the previous two presidential elections.

Voter turnout
Fewer than 50% of voters typically cast ballots in town elections.

2009
Randy Clair vs. Gene Jaleski; $27 million capital improvements bond issuance
Registered voters: 6,502
Votes cast: 2,324
Turnout: 35.74%

2010
Lynn Larson vs. Randy Clair; David Brenner vs. Peter O’Connor; Hal Lenobel vs. Phillip Younger
Registered voters: 6,330
Votes cast: 2,970
Turnout: 46.92%

2011
Term limit referendum question; beach bond referendum
Registered voters: 6,296
Votes cast: 1,176
Turnout: 18.68%

2012
David Brenner vs. Ray Rajewski
Registered voters: 6,298
Votes cast: 2,334
Turnout: 37.06%

2013
Jim Brown vs. Larry Grossman; Terry Gans vs. Irwin Pastor; Gene Jaleski vs. Phill Younger
Registered voters: 6,263
Votes cast: 2,509
Turnout: 40.06%

Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected]