02/26/2026
March Municipal Elections
*The political party affiliation is based on public data available and could be inaccurate*
Belleair Bluffs Commissioner (Vote for up to Two)
Joe Barkley Dem
Ana Hale Rep
David Roberts NPA
City of Gulfport
Councilmember Ward 1
Jennifer M. Daunch NPA
Joe Guenther NPA
Councilmember Ward 3
Jennifer N. Webb Dem
Keri Nelson Dem
10 Referendum Questions
City of Indian Rocks Beach
Mayor-Commissioner
Denise Houseberg FFP
Lan Vaughan Not Found
Commissioner (Vote for up to Two)
Matthew Barrowclough NPA
Don House Rep
Michael Mirmanesh NPA
Kellee Watt Rep
Janet Wilson Dem
Town of Indian Shores
Council Member (Vote for up to Two)
Ellen A. Bauer Rep
Michael P. Howard Rep
Michael A. "Mike" Petruccelli Rep
Town of Kenneth City
Mayor
Robert Arrison Rep
Bonnie A. Noble NPA
2 Charter Amendments
City of Madeira Beach
Commissioner District 2
Charles "Chuck" Dillon NPA
Ray Kerr Not listed
Town of Redington Shores
Commissioner District 1
Douglas Harr Not listed
Shawn Hatfield Rep
City of Safety Harbor
Commissioner Seat 4
David Gallagher Rep
Kevin Shanks Dem
City of St. Pete Beach
Mayor-Commissioner
Adrian Petrila Rep
Scott Tate Rep
Commissioner District 3
Al Causey Rep
Betty Rzewnicki Rep
City of Tarpon Springs
Commissioner Seat 2
Va Celia Koumendouros NPA
Craig Lunt NPA
Lori Weaver not listed
Election is March 10, 2026 and polls are open 7a-7p.
Your sample ballots along with referendum questions are available online at
https://www.votepinellas.gov/373/March-10-2026-Municipal-Elections
Florida municipal elections are arguably the most impactful contests for your day-to-day life, yet they often see the lowest voter turnout. While national headlines focus on the White House, municipal leaders in Florida make the decisions that determine how your specific neighborhood functions. ​Here are reasons why these elections are critical (in my opinion):
​1. Control Over Local Infrastructure & Services
​Municipal officials—such as Mayors and City Commissioners—directly manage the services you use every morning. They oversee:
​Public Utilities: Decisions on water, sewage, and in some cities, electricity rates.
​Public Safety: Funding and policy for local police and fire-rescue departments.
​Infrastructure: Which roads get paved, where new traffic lights are installed, and the maintenance of local bridges and drainage systems.
2. Development and "Home Rule"
​Florida is a "Home Rule" state, meaning cities have the power to pass their own laws and ordinances as long as they don't conflict with state or federal law. (More on the attack on home rule by our state legislation to come in future articles)
​Zoning and Land Use: Your city council decides whether a vacant lot becomes a park, a high-rise apartment, or a shopping center.
​Environmental Protection: Local leaders manage soil and water conservation districts and make decisions regarding sea-level rise mitigation—a major factor in Florida’s coastal communities.
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3. Immediate Accountability
​Unlike federal representatives in Washington, local officials live in your community.
​Accessibility: It is significantly easier to attend a city commission meeting or speak directly to a council member about a neighborhood issue than it is to reach a state or federal official.
4. Long-Term Policy Stability
​Many Florida cities use a Council-Manager form of government. While elected officials set the "vision," they hire a professional City Manager to run daily operations. The stability of your local government's budget and long-term projects (like roadway expansions or park upgrades) depends on the quality of the leaders you elect to hire and oversee that manager
We have municipal elections coming up again in August 2026 and November 2026 so stay tuned for information regarding those elections as we get closer.
Yours in Liberty,
Heather Aynne Vernillo
Use Find Your Precinct to view your precinct-specific sample ballot when available. Audio Sample Ballots are also available on our website.
