Candidate forums give Sarasota, Manatee voters chance to hear candidates

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Published On: September 15, 2026 11:43 amLast Updated: September 15, 2026 12:02 pm

Voters across the Suncoast region will have several chances in the coming days to hear directly from candidates seeking to represent them in Tallahassee and Washington D.C.

Local chapters of the League of Women Voters are hosting a series of nonpartisan candidate forums ahead of the Nov. 3 general election, beginning this evening with candidates for Florida House District 72. 

Suncoast Searchlight is partnering with the League of Women Voters of Sarasota County on its slate of forums, while League chapters in Manatee County and St. Petersburg are organizing additional events.

The forums come as voters prepare to decide races at nearly every level of government, from Congress and the Florida Legislature to city commissions and school boards. League forums generally give candidates equal time to answer the same questions and are designed to allow voters to hear from them outside of campaign advertising and other partisan messaging.

Here’s what’s coming up:

FLORIDA HOUSE DISTRICT 72 — TUESDAY, SEPT. 15

The League of Women Voters of Manatee County will host Republican William Conerly and Democrat Harvey Shifrin from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday in a forum conducted via Zoom.

Candidates will answer questions developed by the League as they compete to represent House District 72.

The forum is free, but registration is required. Register here.

FLORIDA SENATE DISTRICT 22 — WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 16

The League of Women Voters of Sarasota County and Suncoast Searchlight will host a forum for candidates seeking the District 22 seat in the Florida Senate from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in a forum conducted via Zoom.

Democrat Lew Wasserman and no-party-affiliation candidate Martin Hyde are expected to participate. Republican James Buchanan, who was also invited, is unable to attend.

Suncoast Searchlight Executive Editor-in-Chief Emily Le Coz will moderate.

The forum will be livestreamed and recorded for later viewing. Registration is not required. The event can be viewed here.

U.S. HOUSE DISTRICT 16 — WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 23

The League of Women Voters of Manatee County and League of Women Voters of the St. Petersburg Area will host a virtual forum from noon to 1 p.m. Sept. 23 for candidates seeking to represent Florida’s 16th Congressional District.

Republican Sydney Gruters, Democrat Kelly Kirschner and no-party-affiliation candidate Mark Davis are scheduled to participate.

The district was significantly reshaped through redistricting and now includes southern Pinellas County, all of Manatee, DeSoto and Hardee counties and part of Sarasota County.

Veteran journalist Trevor Pettiford will moderate the Zoom forum. Registration is required. Register here.

MORE SARASOTA AND MANATEE COUNTY FORUMS

The local leagues also have a slate of forums planned for county commission, school board and municipal races in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

In Manatee County, upcoming forums include County Commission District 1 on Sept. 16 and 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. The forums will be held via Zoom. See the full schedule here.

In Sarasota County, the League of Women Voters and Suncoast Searchlight will host forums for Sarasota City Commission candidates on Oct. 7, North Port City Commission candidates on Oct. 15 and Venice City Council candidates on Oct. 23. The forums will be held via Zoom. See the full schedule here.