AUGUST 18, 2026 REPUBLICAN PRIMARY
Meet the Candidates
Districts 2 and 4 are contested in the August 18, 2026 Republican primary. Only Republicans can vote in this primary. Compare each candidate's background and platform below.
THE RACE
Find Your District
Enter your address to find which commissioner district you're in. Districts 2 and 4 are contested on August 18, 2026.
Source: Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections • sarasotavotes.gov
Download Official Map (PDF)District boundaries shown are approximate for the address search. The map image above is the official Supervisor of Elections district map with exact boundaries.
DISTRICT 4
DeNiro vs Neunder
Mid-county: Venice, North Port, south Sarasota County
JIM DeNIRO — CHALLENGER
Career
Retired Sarasota Police Department Sergeant after a 30-year career; led the Underwater Search and Recovery Unit and also served in criminal investigations, narcotics, patrol, traffic, and marine units.
Later career
Worked as a Realtor and mortgage loan officer.
Community
Environmentally Sensitive Lands Oversight Committee; Traffic Advisory Committee.
Awards
Distinguished Service Award (2002); Chief's Award (2016) for creating the TYLA anti-human-trafficking program.
Running on
Fiscal discipline, public safety, affordability, and environmental protection.
JOE NEUNDER — INCUMBENT
Background
Chiropractic physician and small business owner. Native of Buffalo, NY; moved to Florida as a teenager.
Education
Graduated Pine View School; Doctorate in Chiropractic Medicine, Life University (Georgia).
Political history
Venice City Council (2020–2022); elected to the County Commission November 2022.
Commission role
Vice Chair 2024, Chair 2025. Serves on boards including CareerSource Suncoast, the Early Learning Coalition, and the Sarasota/Manatee MPO.
In his words
Small government, low taxes, balanced budgets, and support for law enforcement.
EXPOSED
THE PAY GAP
What county officials earn vs. the workers who pay their salaries
The County Administrator earns more than 12 food service workers COMBINED.
Sources: BLS OEWS May 2024, Sarasota News Leader Oct 2025, FL EDR Ch. 145
CNA ANNUAL SALARY: $33,280 • COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR: $460,000 • BOTH PAID BY YOUR TAXES
SHE SAVES LIVES FOR $16 AN HOUR. AFTER HER SHIFT SHE SITS IN A PARKING GARAGE AND CRIES BECAUSE SHE CAN'T MAKE RENT.
Illustration
SarasotaCountyFacts.org
“
I save lives for $16 an hour. After my shift I sit in my car in the parking garage and cry because I don't know how I'm going to make rent this month. The county administrator makes $460,000. The commissioners make $112,580. I make $33,280. And they want me to believe they represent me?”
— CNA, night shift, Sarasota County hospital
KRISTINA SARGENT IS A VETERAN AND FORMER PROSECUTOR. SHE'LL FIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE THEY FORGOT.
DISTRICT 2
Sargent vs Smith
City of Sarasota, barrier islands, Siesta Key, south Longboat Key
KRISTINA SARGENT — CHALLENGER
Background
A veteran and former Baltimore prosecutor.
Career
Moved to Sarasota about five years ago, passed the Florida bar, and founded a civil defense firm.
Running on
Prioritizing roads, stormwater, and infrastructure — without raising taxes.
In her words
The county has “a priority problem, not a revenue problem.”
MARK SMITH — INCUMBENT
Background
Architect. Born in Detroit; moved to Sarasota in 1963; graduated Riverview High School (1973).
Education
Bachelor's and master's degrees from Georgia Tech.
Career
Founded Smith Architects, P.A. (1994) in Siesta Key Village. President of AIA Florida (2007); 2009 AIA Florida Silver Medal.
Office
Elected November 2022; Vice Chair 2026. Long civic record on Siesta Key boards.
Priorities
Traffic, water and air quality, affordable housing.
Family
Wife Esther; four children.
What They Earn vs. What You Earn
While working families go in the hole, county officials enjoy opulent compensation.
WHAT THEY EARN
WHAT YOU EARN
The County Administrator's compensation equals the combined wages of 12 food service workers.Sources: BLS OEWS May 2024; Sarasota News Leader Oct 2025; FL EDR Ch. 145 salary schedule.
$876M IN NEW SPENDING & DEBT • FIREFIGHTER: $48,000 • ADMIN: $460,000
HE RUNS INTO BURNING BUILDINGS. HIS FAMILY EATS RICE AND BEANS. THE COUNTY SPENDS $4,394/PERSON ON PAPER PUSHERS.
Illustration
SarasotaCountyFacts.org
“
I run into burning buildings for this county. My family eats rice and beans because we can't afford meat this week. The county spends $4,394 per person on administration. Not firefighters. Not roads. Paper pushers. Neunder and Smith voted for every dollar of it.”
— Firefighter/EMT, Sarasota County Fire Department
THEY SPEND YOUR TAXES ON BUREAUCRATS, NOT FIRST RESPONDERS. THE $876 MILLION RECORD IS ON THE BALLOT.
RELATED COVERAGE
Independent reporting on the races
Coverage of the District 2 and District 4 contests from independent news outlets.
Kristina Sargent to make the case against Mark Smith in Sarasota Co. Commission Primary
Florida Politics · Oct 1, 2025
Jim DeNiro tops Joe Neunder in Q1 fundraising for Sarasota County Commission District 4 race
Florida Politics · Apr 15, 2026
Florida Police Benevolent Association backs Jim DeNiro for Sarasota County Commission
Florida Politics · Mar 9, 2026
National Association of Police Organizations backs Jim DeNiro's bid for Sarasota County Commission
Florida Politics · Mar 26, 2026
Sarasota County approves $2.52B budget, with boosts for stormwater and sheriff
Sarasota Herald-Tribune · Sep 30, 2025
Mark Smith wins Sarasota County Commission District 2 race; Joe Neunder takes District 4 seat
Sarasota Herald-Tribune · Nov 8, 2022
Headlines and sources as catalogued in our research database. Sarasota County Facts is a project of the Local Government Accountability and has made no endorsement of any candidate to date.
THE CHALLENGERS' COMMITMENT
Their Day One Agenda
Both challengers have made the same core promise: stop the spending, cut the debt, and restore fiscal discipline to a county government that has grown out of control.
Republican Primary: August 18, 2026
In this closed-primary county, the primary is the election.