Lakewood Ranch voters get free candidate forums through October

Lakewood Ranch-area voters can hear candidates for Congress, the Florida Legislature and the Manatee County Commission in a series of free online forums running through early October.

The League of Women Voters chapters in Manatee County, Sarasota County and the St. Petersburg area are hosting the nonpartisan Zoom events ahead of the Nov. 3 general election, Suncoast Searchlight reported.

US House District 16 Forum Scheduled Sept. 23

The highest-profile event for Lakewood Ranch residents is the US House District 16 forum on Sept. 23, from noon to 1 p.m. via Zoom. Republican Sydney Gruters, Democrat Kelly Kirschner and no-party-affiliation candidate Mark Davis are all scheduled to participate. Veteran journalist Trevor Pettiford will moderate. Registration is required.

Primary Results Set Up November Matchup

Gruters, a former congressional staffer, won the Republican primary in August with 63.5% of the vote. Kirschner, a former Sarasota mayor, won a five-candidate Democratic primary with 43%, according to Spectrum News 13. The redrawn CD-16 covers all of Manatee County, southern Pinellas County, DeSoto and Hardee counties and part of Sarasota County.

Race Rated Solidly Republican by Analysts

Both Inside Elections and the Cook Political Report rate the seat as "solid Republican."

Senate District 22 Forum Set for Sept. 16

A Florida Senate District 22 forum is set for Sept. 16, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. Democrat Lew Wasserman and no-party-affiliation candidate Martin Hyde are expected to participate. Republican James Buchanan was invited but is unable to attend. Emily Le Coz, executive editor-in-chief of Suncoast Searchlight, will moderate. No registration is required, and the forum will be livestreamed on YouTube.

House District 72 Forum Opened Series Sept. 15

The League of Women Voters of Manatee County opened the series on Sept. 15 with a Florida House District 72 forum featuring Republican incumbent William Conerly and Democrat Harvey Shifrin.

More Manatee County Forums Follow Through October

Several more Manatee County forums follow: County Commission District 1 on Sept. 16, District 2 on Sept. 17, Bradenton City Council Wards 3 and 4 on Sept. 22, School Board District 2 on Sept. 23 and School Board District 5 on Oct. 7. All are via Zoom.

Commission Race Follows Felts' Death in February

The Manatee County Commission District 1 race drew attention after Commissioner Carol Ann Felts died in February. Republican Liz Arnold, who won a crowded primary with 27.96% of the vote, faces Democrat Sari Lindroos-Valimaki in November, according to AMI Sun.

Sarasota Forums Produced With Searchlight Partnership

Vilia Johnson, co-president of the League of Women Voters of Sarasota County, and Le Coz are moderating the Sarasota County forums, which are being produced in partnership with Suncoast Searchlight. Those forums do not require registration and will be livestreamed and recorded.

Library Sessions Cover Ballot Amendments, Referendum

The League of Women Voters of Manatee County is also hosting presentations at local libraries on the three Florida constitutional amendments and a Manatee County referendum on the 2026 ballot, according to The Bradenton Times.