Candidates for Sarasota County Commission in District 2 are in an admittedly low-profile contest, but say they are committed to getting supporters out on Tuesday. Now the write-in candidates have started creating some buzz of their own, some intended to boost other players and some to demand voters give the lower-billed candidates a second look. 

First, the candidates whose names appear on the ballot this Tuesday.

Republican Paul Caragiulo, a Sarasota CIty Commissioner, faces independent Alexandra Coe, a board member for Control Growth Now. "It hasn't slowed down at all," Caragiulo said. "My last event before the race is Monday." Coe said she has been canvassing neighborhoods and gathering places throughout the county, as well as early voting locations. 

Coe, a consultant who has been involved in several United Nations agriculture efforts, said she wants to bring a new approach to county government while Caragiulo represents the status quo. While differences on growth policy are, in her words, "obvious," she hopes voters respond to the different set of academic competencies she brings to the table. "I come with a lot of knowledge and experience for what it takes to create a sustainable future," she said. 

Caragiulo is running as a businessman—he and family members own several restaurants in Sarasota—and as an experienced official. Caragiulo was elected in 2011 to the Sarasota City Commission; he is required to resign his seat on the board in November regardless of whether he wins the county contest. 

In the final days of the race, the actions of write-in candidates, though, have been the most surprising. Write-in Steve McAllister, the first candidate to declare for the contest, announced last week he was endorsing Coe and withdrawing from the race. Coe said she will also be helping McAllister, a filmmaker, with his ongoing documentary Home Free.

On the other hand, Pete Theisen, who has served with Coe on the Control Growth Now board, said he was approached by Coe about dropping out but has no interest in doing so. He expressed anger that Coe, who he said at one point told him she wouldn't run if he was running, would now ask for an endorsement. "If someone is a liar and a cheat, you don't want to elect that person," Theisen said. "She could conceivably win office, and if she did would be the most self-interested person on the panel."

Coe disagreed with Theisen's account of events. "I don't look at Pete as opposition," she said. She would rather not have the race turn negative, and wanted to turn more focus on her policy differences with Caragiulo.

Caragiulo said he wasn't overly concerned with McAllister backing Coe. "You get the sense he [McAllister] was sort of antiestablishment," Caragiulo said.