Who is the Sarasota County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller?

Karen E. Rushing (Republican) is the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller of Sarasota County, Florida.

Who is the Sarasota County Property Appraiser?

Bill Furst (Republican) is the Property Appraiser of Sarasota County, Florida.

Who is the Sarasota County Sheriff?

Kurt Hoffman (Republican) is the Sheriff of Sarasota County, Florida.

Who is the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections?

Ron Turner (Republican) is the Supervisor of Elections of Sarasota County, Florida.

Who is the Sarasota County Tax Collector?

Mike Moran (Republican) is the Tax Collector of Sarasota County, Florida.

Who are the Sarasota County commissioners?

Teresa Mast (District 1); Mark Smith (District 2); Tom Knight (District 3); Joe Neunder (District 4); Ron Cutsinger (District 5); Jay Riley (Charter Review Board, District 1); Nicholas R. Altier (Charter Review Board, District 1); Jordan Keller (Charter Review Board, District 2); G. Matthew Brockway (Charter Review Board, District 2); Tom DeSane (Charter Review Board, District 3); Andrew J. Kirby (Charter Review Board, District 3); Greg "Tex" Bukowski (Charter Review Board, District 4); Clayton W. Taylor (Charter Review Board, District 4); Jose Jimenez (Charter Review Board, District 5); Joe Justice (Charter Review Board, District 5).

Who is on the Sarasota County School Board?

Bridget Ziegler (District 1); Liz Barker (District 2); Tom Edwards (District 3); Robyn Marinelli (District 4); Karen Rose (District 5).

What is the population of Sarasota County?

About 459,547 people, with a median age of 57.4; the median household income is $83,416 and 8.6% live below the poverty line (Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates).

What is the unemployment rate in Sarasota County?

4.7% in September 2026 (preliminary): 9,546 people unemployed in a labor force of 201,260, against 4.7% a year earlier (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted).

How many local governments are there in Sarasota County?

35 in the Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments: 1 county, 3 municipal, 1 school district and 30 special district governments.

What cities and towns are in Sarasota County?

4: Longboat Key, North Port, Sarasota, Venice. Each has its own page with its mayor and council.

Sarasota County, FL elected officials: commissioners, sheriff, school board and cities

Who holds every elected county, school board, city and special-district office in Sarasota County: 134 seats on 29 elected bodies. 13 seats were on the November 3, 2026 ballot; they update once the county certifies its results.

County Commission

Sarasota County Board of County Commissioners

Each member is elected by the voters of their district.

Office	Who holds it now	Next term
County Commissioner, District 1	Teresa Mast Republican source
County Commissioner, District 2	Mark Smith Republican source
County Commissioner, District 3	Tom Knight Republican source
County Commissioner, District 4	Joe Neunder Republican source	On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet · the race
County Commissioner, District 5	Ron Cutsinger Republican source

Official website

Sarasota County Charter Review Board

Every member is elected countywide.

Office	Who holds it now	Next term
Charter Review Board, District 1	Jay Riley Republican source
Charter Review Board, District 1	Nicholas R. Altier Republican source	Next term: Alexandra Coe (won the August 18, 2026 election)
Charter Review Board, District 2	Jordan Keller Republican source
Charter Review Board, District 2	G. Matthew Brockway Republican source	Re-elected (won the August 18, 2026 election)
Charter Review Board, District 3	Tom DeSane Republican source
Charter Review Board, District 3	Andrew J. Kirby Republican source	On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
Charter Review Board, District 4	Greg "Tex" Bukowski Republican source
Charter Review Board, District 4	Clayton W. Taylor Republican source	On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
Charter Review Board, District 5	Jose Jimenez Republican source
Charter Review Board, District 5	Joe Justice Republican source	On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet

County officers

Office	Who holds it now
Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller	Karen E. Rushing Republican source
Property Appraiser	Bill Furst Republican source
Sheriff	Kurt Hoffman Republican source
Supervisor of Elections	Ron Turner Republican source
Tax Collector	Mike Moran Republican source

School Board

Sarasota County School Board

Every member is elected countywide.

Office	Who holds it now	Next term
School Board Member, District 1	Bridget Ziegler source	On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet · the race
School Board Member, District 2	Liz Barker source
School Board Member, District 3	Tom Edwards source
School Board Member, District 4	Robyn Marinelli source	Next term: Megan Tennimon (won the August 18, 2026 election)
School Board Member, District 5	Karen Rose source	Next term: Beth Mayberry (won the August 18, 2026 election)

Official website

Cities and towns

Longboat Key · Mayor Debra Williams · 7 seats
North Port · Mayor Pete Emrich · 5 seats
Sarasota · Mayor Debbie Trice · 5 seats
Venice · Mayor Nick Pachota · 7 seats

Special districts

Boards elected by the voters who live in each district. What special districts do.

Blackburn Creek Community Development District · 5 seats

Office	Who holds it now	Next term
Supervisor, Seat 1	Michael Sprout source
Supervisor, Seat 2	James Sverapa source
Supervisor, Seat 3	Phil B. Davis source	Re-elected (elected unopposed)
Supervisor, Seat 4	Kevin Johnson source	On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet · the race
Supervisor, Seat 5	Kirk Fegley source

Bobcat Trail Community Development District · 5 seats

Office	Who holds it now	Next term
Supervisor, Seat 1	Paul Fisher source	On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet · the race
Supervisor, Seat 2	Jeffrey Brall source	Re-elected (elected unopposed)
Supervisor, Seat 3	Michael San Antonio source
Supervisor, Seat 4	Steven Ball source	Re-elected (elected unopposed)
Supervisor, Seat 5	Robert Branch source

Englewood Area Fire Control District · 5 seats

Office	Who holds it now
Supervisor, Seat 1	Eldon Loisell source
Supervisor, Seat 2	Not listed by an official source source
Supervisor, Seat 3	Ron Benedetti source
Supervisor, Seat 4	Mark Knauf source
Supervisor, Seat 5	Patrick Maley source

Englewood Water District · 5 seats

Office	Who holds it now
Supervisor, Seat 1	Lani Gaver source
Supervisor, Seat 2	Taylor Meals source
Supervisor, Seat 3	Sydney B. Crampton source
Supervisor, Seat 4	Tony Babington source
Supervisor, Seat 5	Rob Stern source

Holiday Park Park and Recreation District · 9 seats

Office	Who holds it now
Supervisor, Seat 1	Robert Bachman source
Supervisor, Seat 2	Donald E. La Master source
Supervisor, Seat 3	Rick Haggard source
Supervisor, Seat 4	Debra Burns source
Supervisor, Seat 5	Jacqueline Mitchell source
Supervisor, Seat 6	Joni Anderson source
Supervisor, Seat 7	Tim Seelow source
Supervisor, Seat 8	George Clinch source
Supervisor, Seat 9	Shawn Charles Slattery source

LT Ranch Community Development District · 5 seats

Office	Who holds it now	Next term
Supervisor, Seat 1	James Kuca source	Next term: Aaron Holowaychuk (elected unopposed)
Supervisor, Seat 2	Ronald Schwied source	Next term: Merle Sogge (elected unopposed)
Supervisor, Seat 3	John Wollard source
Supervisor, Seat 4	Rob Berry source
Supervisor, Seat 5	Anthony Briandi source

Lakeside Plantation Community Development District · 5 seats

Office	Who holds it now	Next term
Supervisor, Seat 1	Devon Poulos source	Next term: Clint Woods (elected unopposed)
Supervisor, Seat 2	Alan "Bud" Sabol source	On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet · the race
Supervisor, Seat 3	Patrick Lavoy source	Re-elected (elected unopposed)
Supervisor, Seat 4	Ken Saul source
Supervisor, Seat 5	Ronald Perry source

Lakewood Ranch Stewardship District · 1 seat

Office	Who holds it now
Supervisor, Seat 2	John Gleeson source

Sarasota County Public Hospital Board · 9 seats

Office	Who holds it now	Next term
Hospital Board, Northern District Seat 1	Brad Baker source	Re-elected (won the August 18, 2026 election)
Hospital Board, Northern District Seat 2	Victor Rohe source	Next term: Tara Butler (won the August 18, 2026 election)
Hospital Board, Central District Seat 1	Sarah Lodge source
Hospital Board, Central District Seat 2	Bridgette Fiorucci source	Re-elected (won the August 18, 2026 election)
Hospital Board, Southern District Seat 1	Patricia Maraia source	Re-elected (won the August 18, 2026 election)
Hospital Board, Southern District Seat 2	Gregory A. Carter source	Next term: Tracy Knight (won the August 18, 2026 election)
Hospital Board, At-Large Seat 1	Sharon Wetzler DePeters source
Hospital Board, At-Large Seat 2	Kevin Cooper source
Hospital Board, At-Large Seat 3	Pam Beitlich source

Official website

Sarasota National Community Development District · 5 seats

Office	Who holds it now	Next term
Supervisor, Seat 1	Cary Leuschner source	Re-elected (elected unopposed)
Supervisor, Seat 2	Richard Smith source
Supervisor, Seat 3	John Istwan source
Supervisor, Seat 4	Not listed by an official source source	On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet · the race
Supervisor, Seat 5	Gerald Bergmoser source	Next term: Peter C. Duthie (elected unopposed)

Stoneybrook Venice Community Development District · 5 seats

Office	Who holds it now	Next term
Supervisor, Seat 1	Not listed by an official source source
Supervisor, Seat 2	Gary Compton source	Re-elected (elected unopposed)
Supervisor, Seat 3	Josh Lazarus source
Supervisor, Seat 4	Steve McEntegart source
Supervisor, Seat 5	Dave Cory source	Re-elected (elected unopposed)

The Woodlands Community Development District · 5 seats

Office	Who holds it now	Next term
Supervisor, Seat 1	Bob Ripatrazone source	Next term: Steven Yager (elected unopposed)
Supervisor, Seat 2	William E. Richardson source	Next term: Jay Aldrich (elected unopposed)
Supervisor, Seat 3	Lawrence Tinkham source
Supervisor, Seat 4	Elio M. Bucciero source
Supervisor, Seat 5	Carl Impastato source

Toscana Isles Community Development District · 4 seats

Office	Who holds it now	Next term
Supervisor, Seat 1	Bill Contardo source	Next term: Chris Simmons (elected unopposed)
Supervisor, Seat 2	Jim Collins source
Supervisor, Seat 3	Scott Blaser source	Next term: Robert Manzella (elected unopposed)
Supervisor, Seat 4	Michael Traczuk source

Tri-Par Estates Park and Recreation District · 9 seats

Office	Who holds it now
Supervisor, Seat 1	Jacquelynne Hunter source
Supervisor, Seat 2	Mark Wright source
Supervisor, Seat 3	Daryle von Holdt source
Supervisor, Seat 4	Gary Kormann source
Supervisor, Seat 5	Jerome Gallagher source
Supervisor, Seat 6	Everett Stanley source
Supervisor, Seat 7	Douglas Ward source
Supervisor, Seat 8	Pam Regula source
Supervisor, Seat 9	Maureen Lafortune source

Venetian Community Development District · 5 seats

Office	Who holds it now	Next term
Supervisor, Seat 1	Ken Smaha source
Supervisor, Seat 2	Jill Pozarek source	Next term: Byron Mattson (elected unopposed)
Supervisor, Seat 3	Cynthia Sniezek source
Supervisor, Seat 4	Cheryl Terrana source	Re-elected (elected unopposed)
Supervisor, Seat 5	Rich Goodman source

West Villages Improvement District · 1 seat

Office	Who holds it now	Next term
Supervisor, Seat 5	John Meisel source	Next term: James Hammar (elected unopposed)

Windward at Lakewood Ranch Community Development District · 2 seats

Office	Who holds it now	Next term
Supervisor, Seat 2	Not listed by an official source source	Next term: Laurence Mascera (elected unopposed)
Supervisor, Seat 5	Not listed by an official source source	On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet · the race

How many local governments Sarasota County has

The Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments counts 35 local governments in Sarasota County. This page lists the ones whose offices are elected.

Kind of government	Census count (2022)	Listed on this page
County government	1	1
Cities, towns, villages and townships	3	4
School districts (school boards)	1	1
Special districts (elected boards)	30	17

Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Government Units Listing (census.gov).

About these counts

The Census Bureau counts every independent local government once, in the county it assigns it to: the one it mostly serves or where it's based. A city or district that crosses county lines is counted in only one county, so it may be listed on this page but counted elsewhere, or the other way around. Many special districts, such as housing authorities, have appointed boards, and some places have more than one elected body, so the two columns measure different things. School systems run by a county, city or the state aren't counted as separate governments, though their boards may be listed here; in some states the Bureau counts community or state colleges as school districts. The counts are as of 2022.

Who lives in Sarasota County

459,547people

57.4median ageU.S.: 38.9

$83,416 household incomeU.S.: $80,734

8.6%below the U.S.: 12.5%

40.8%of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degreeU.S.: 35.7%

$411,800median home valueU.S.: $332,700

3.7%unemployed (of the labor force)U.S.: 5.2%

13%born outside the U.S.U.S.: 14.1%

8.8%of adults are veteransU.S.: 6.2%

9.9%U.S.: 8.4%

59.3%of renting households pay of income on rentU.S.: 51.1%

35.3%of homeowners with a mortgage pay of income on housing costsU.S.: 28.1%

Race and Hispanic origin: Hispanic or Latino 10.7% · White 80% · Black 3.9% · Asian 1.9% · Other or more than one race 3.5% (Hispanic or Latino people can be of any race; the other groups are non-Hispanic.)

Census Bureau, 2020–2024 5-year estimates (data.census.gov).

About these figures

The American Community Survey asks about 3.5 million households a year about who lives there, their work, income, schooling and housing. The 5-year estimates pool 2020–2024 answers so that every county and district has enough of them. They're estimates with a (larger for smaller places), and they're different from the once-a-decade census count. "Median" means half are above and half below. Household income is before taxes and includes everyone in the household. The unemployment share here is the survey's five-year average, so it differs from the monthly rate in the BLS jobs report. Race and Hispanic origin are as people describe themselves.

Health insurance means any coverage, private or public (such as Medicaid or Medicare), when people answered; the share is of everyone except people on active military duty and people living in institutions such as prisons and nursing homes. The housing shares are of renting households, and of homeowners with a mortgage, for whom the Census Bureau can compute them (households with no income, or renters who pay no cash rent, are left out). Rent here is gross rent, rent plus utilities; owner costs include the mortgage, property taxes, insurance, utilities and fees.

Jobs in Sarasota County

4.7%September 2026, preliminary. A year earlier: 4.7%. Florida: 4.2%.

9,546people unemployedSeptember 2026, preliminary.

191,714people employedSeptember 2026, preliminary. Counted where they live, not where they work.

201,260in the September 2026, preliminary.

Yearly average unemployment rate, 2016–2025.

Every month, last two years

Month	Rate	Unemployed	Employed	Labor force
September 2026 (preliminary)	4.7%	9,546	191,714	201,260
August 2026	5.0%	10,119	190,882	201,001
July 2026	5.1%	10,212	190,995	201,207
June 2026	5.0%	10,137	193,958	204,095
May 2026	4.8%	9,645	192,516	202,161
April 2026	4.9%	9,906	193,016	202,922
March 2026	4.7%	9,586	192,507	202,093
February 2026	5.3%	10,717	192,075	202,792
January 2026	5.5%	11,089	190,388	201,477
December 2025	4.8%	9,723	191,359	201,082
November 2025	5.4%	10,887	190,488	201,375
October 2025	not collected (2025 federal shutdown)
September 2025	4.7%	9,365	191,064	200,429
August 2025	4.6%	9,309	191,022	200,331
July 2025	4.4%	8,933	192,523	201,456
June 2025	4.2%	8,488	193,448	201,936
May 2025	3.7%	7,466	193,339	200,805
April 2025	3.6%	7,239	194,371	201,610
March 2025	3.6%	7,204	194,178	201,382
February 2025	3.8%	7,597	192,952	200,549
January 2025	3.9%	7,836	192,645	200,481
December 2024	3.4%	6,697	190,800	197,497
November 2024	3.9%	7,562	188,661	196,223
October 2024	3.9%	7,572	187,665	195,237

Yearly averages

Year	Rate	Unemployed	Employed	Labor force
2025 (11 months)	4.3%	8,550	192,490	201,040
2024	3.5%	7,021	191,309	198,330
2023	3.1%	6,082	190,361	196,443
2022	3.1%	5,820	183,088	188,908
2021	4.2%	7,612	175,385	182,997
2020	7.3%	12,957	164,277	177,234
2019	3.3%	5,902	174,354	180,256
2018	3.6%	6,375	172,226	178,601
2017	4.1%	7,254	169,230	176,484
2016	4.7%	8,234	165,704	173,938

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, : BLS publishes county figures only that way, so they rise and fall with the seasons; compare a month with the same month a year earlier rather than with the month before. Florida's figure above is on the same basis; seasonally adjusted, as in BLS's monthly state release, it was 4.4% in September 2026. The latest month is preliminary and is revised the next month, and BLS revises earlier years each spring. People are counted where they live. October 2025 wasn't collected during the 2025 federal government shutdown, so 2025's yearly average covers 11 months.

Crime reported in Sarasota County

223.7 per 100,0002020. Florida: 383.6.

1,509.9 per 100,0002020. Florida: 1,769.4.

7murders2020, 971 violent crimes in all.

2020 is the latest year with complete reporting here: at least one of the county's police agencies didn't send the FBI a full year of figures since, so later totals would be undercounts.

Earlier years

Year	Violent	Rate	Property	Rate
2020	971	223.7	6,555	1,509.9
2019	909	213.8	7,290	1,714.9
2018	945	225.0	7,568	1,801.8
2017	963	232.2	7,497	1,808.0
2016	898	220.7	8,020	1,970.8

By police agency (4)

Agency	Year	Violent	Property	People served
Sarasota County Sheriff's Office	2025	268	2,060	287,365
North Port Police Department	2025	93	435	97,818
Sarasota Police Department	2024	335	962	58,432
Venice Police Department	2020	16	346	24,366

Crimes to the county's city and county police agencies (FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, Return A), per 100,000 people they serve. Years with incomplete reporting are left out. Crime in Florida · the U.S.

Police staffing

1.78 per 1,000 residents2020, 4 agencies serving 434,136 people.

771sworn officers2020, full-time, as of October 31.

646civilian staff2020, full-time.

2020 is the latest year every agency here sent the FBI its staff count.

Agencies counted (4), 2020

Agency	Officers	Civilians	People served
Sarasota County Sheriff's Office	425	542	278,379
Sarasota Police Department	175	49	59,002
North Port Police Department	121	37	72,389
Venice Police Department	50	18	24,366

Earlier years

Year	Officers	Per 1,000	Civilians	Agencies
2020	771	1.78	646	4
2019	752	1.77	668	4
2017	695	1.68	626	4
2016	711	1.75	624	4

Full-time employees of the county's city police departments and sheriff's office, as each reported them to the FBI (Uniform Crime Reporting, Law Enforcement Employees), per 1,000 people in the areas those agencies serve (the FBI's population figures). A year is shown only when every one of these agencies sent a count; a count under half or over double the agency's own counts in nearby years is treated as not sent. Towns policed under contract by another agency are counted through that agency. State police, campus and other agencies aren't included. Sheriffs' offices often also run the county jail and courthouse security, so their staff counts include those jobs.

Quick answers

Who is the Sarasota County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller?: Karen E. Rushing (Republican) is the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller of Sarasota County, Florida.
Who is the Sarasota County Property Appraiser?: Bill Furst (Republican) is the Property Appraiser of Sarasota County, Florida.
Who is the Sarasota County Sheriff?: Kurt Hoffman (Republican) is the Sheriff of Sarasota County, Florida.
Who is the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections?: Ron Turner (Republican) is the Supervisor of Elections of Sarasota County, Florida.
Who is the Sarasota County Tax Collector?: Mike Moran (Republican) is the Tax Collector of Sarasota County, Florida.
Who are the Sarasota County commissioners?: Teresa Mast (District 1); Mark Smith (District 2); Tom Knight (District 3); Joe Neunder (District 4); Ron Cutsinger (District 5); Jay Riley (Charter Review Board, District 1); Nicholas R. Altier (Charter Review Board, District 1); Jordan Keller (Charter Review Board, District 2); G. Matthew Brockway (Charter Review Board, District 2); Tom DeSane (Charter Review Board, District 3); Andrew J. Kirby (Charter Review Board, District 3); Greg "Tex" Bukowski (Charter Review Board, District 4); Clayton W. Taylor (Charter Review Board, District 4); Jose Jimenez (Charter Review Board, District 5); Joe Justice (Charter Review Board, District 5).
Who is on the Sarasota County School Board?: Bridget Ziegler (District 1); Liz Barker (District 2); Tom Edwards (District 3); Robyn Marinelli (District 4); Karen Rose (District 5).
What is the population of Sarasota County?: About 459,547 people, with a median age of 57.4; the median household income is $83,416 and 8.6% live below the poverty line (Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
What is the unemployment rate in Sarasota County?: 4.7% in September 2026 (preliminary): 9,546 people unemployed in a labor force of 201,260, against 4.7% a year earlier (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted).
How many local governments are there in Sarasota County?: 35 in the Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments: 1 county, 3 municipal, 1 school district and 30 special district governments.
What cities and towns are in Sarasota County?: 4: Longboat Key, North Port, Sarasota, Venice. Each has its own page with its mayor and council.

Officeholders as of November 5, 2026, from each county Supervisor of Elections' official lists and candidate filings and the bodies' own websites; each name links to its source. Officials change between elections (appointments, resignations), and the body's own website is the authority. Party is shown only for offices elected on a partisan ballot.

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