The August primary: election foreplay
August 27th, 2008 by Justin Richards in News, Politics
Most of the races in this local primary pitted republican against republican, since democrats are a struggling species on the suncoast. In many of those races, the republican was running unopposed, so he or she won an early victory. Here’s a quick rundown of the results.
- Tom Knight took the republican nomination for county sheriff. He made a pretty convincing case for himself in our interviews last month, though a survey of the police discussion boards shows that officers are skeptical of his outsider status (He comes from the Florida Highway Patrol.)
According to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, “a flurry of glossy mailers and TV spots apparently gave voters a comfort level with [him].” Nothing like glossy mailers to bring that personal touch, I guess. He won almost triple the votes of runner-up David Gustafson. Knight will face pro-rehabilitation democrat Curt Lavarello in November.
- Both charter amendments were shot down.
- Assistant public defender Larry Eger beat out attorney Ron “end the revolving door system” Filipkowski. Eyebrows were raised, here at the CL office, over this slogan. Was he campaigning to be a good public defender, or a bad one? Eger will face Democrat Adam Tebrugge in the general election.
- Venice politician Nancy Detert won the Republican nomination for District 23 of the State Senate. She’ll go up against Democrat Morgan Bentley.
- State Rep. Ron Reagan, R-Bradenton, will face democrat Richard Jackson.
- Ken Roberson won the republican nomination for the District 71 State House seat.
- Democrat *gasp!* Darryl Rouson will move on to vie for the District 55 seat in the State House.
- Bill Furst won the race for county appraiser.
- Shannon Staub holds her seat in Sarasota County Commission District 3.
- Former Sarasota Mayor Carolyn Mason will face Democrat Jono Miller for the District 1 seat.
- Caroline Zucker retained her District 2 seat on the Sarasota County School Board.
- Bradenton attorney Gilbert Smith won a judge’s seat in the 12th Judicial Circuit.
Edit: Democrat Adam Tebrugge will be facing Larry Eger in the November. Any implication that the race was already decided was a slight on my part.
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