Neighborhood association forum highlights City Commission candidates

Key Takeaways:

• Five candidates are competing to fill two at-large City Commission seats.
• Hosted by the CCNA, the forum revealed common ground on key issues.
• The top three vote-getters from the August 18 primary will advance to November’s general election.
• Incumbent Jen Ahearn-Koch brings nearly 25 years of community involvement.
• Newcomers bring backgrounds from commercial real estate to security and physical therapy.

The Forum and Its Purpose

Held on June 6 at the recently renovated Bayfront Community Center, the Coalition of City Neighborhoods Association (CCNA) forum brought together five at-large candidates running for two seats on the Sarasota City Commission. With more than 100 neighborhood leaders in attendance, the event served as an influential platform for candidates to share their visions and priorities.

Who’s in the Race

Five candidates—Flo Entler, John Harshman, Rob Rominiecki, Jaime Loomis, and incumbent Jen Ahearn-Koch—answered questions in two-minute segments. Despite coming from diverse professional and personal backgrounds, they largely agreed on major policy topics. The top three finishers in the August 18 primary will move on to November’s general election, giving voters a second chance to choose who will step into office.

Candidate Profiles

Ahearn-Koch, seeking her third full term, draws on nearly a quarter-century of community commitment. She began advocating for local concerns in 2001 and once served on the city’s Planning Board. Entler, longtime president of the Arlington Park Neighborhood Association, brings years of grassroots activism, while Harshman, owner of a commercial real estate firm, emphasizes both business and civic involvement. Rominiecki, connected through his work at major cultural institutions such as the Guggenheim Museum, brings security and operations expertise to the table, while Loomis, a physical therapist and clinic owner, is the race’s newest Sarasota resident, having arrived in 2022.

Shared Concerns

Throughout the two-hour discussion, candidates delved into the concern many say tops voters’ minds: potential property tax reduction. They also touched on consistent local themes such as affordable housing, vacation rentals, and procedures for new development. Attendees heard how each candidate would tackle these issues and unify the community to progress toward shared goals.

Election Details

August 18 marks the primary election, where Sarasota voters will select their preferred two candidates. Only three will advance to the November 3 general election, and again, voters will be able to select two of those three finalists to represent them on the City Commission. As the forum concluded, each candidate offered a final pitch, underscoring their enthusiasm, experience, and respect for the neighborhood groups that shape Sarasota’s future.

Looking Ahead

Despite facing largely similar policy challenges, each candidate hopes to distinguish themselves through unique expertise, community connections, and perspective. Voters can watch a replay of the entire forum on YouTube to dig deeper into each hopeful’s platform. With one current commissioner stepping away, the 2026 election promises at least one new face and, potentially, a fresh vision for Sarasota’s at-large seats.