When a Sarasota city election this week resulted in upsets for two incumbents appointed in November, there was speculation immediately about the long-term impacts at Sarasota City Hall. But while people had different thoughts on what forces led to the change election, all agreed it was a bit early to guess how Commissioners-elect Liz Alpert and Shelli Freeland Eddie would govern.

The newly-elected officials themselves seemed to suggest it was early to speculate. Eddie stressed she won't be sworn in until Friday and has not even recieved her first agenda book detailing isses for the board to handle. "One of the things I said at the beginning was that I wanted to repair relations with county commissioners as best as I can," she said. "I'm anxious to get in there and speak with people."

Casey Colburn, chairman of the Downtown Sarasota Alliance, viewed the election as a critical moment when the “political bosses” who rose to prominence in a similar ouster of incumbents in 2007 came into power. But he did not consider the new commissioners’ victory to be a win for other forces such as business or development. “It’s not about the traditional stuff,” he said. He hopes a change means certain topics, like moving elections to November, will be entertained. But he noted neither Alpert nor Eddie comes into their positions with huge loyalties to any camp in city politics.

Neighborhood activist Gretchen Serrie, who had supported incumbents Eileen Normile and Stan Zimmerman in the race, said the biggest issue moving forward may be regaining collegiality after a bruising election. “There are a lot of raw and hurt feelings,” she said, “and they will have to work hard not to continue animosity.” She said she was unsure what direction commissioners will go in terms of city policy from here, but was most concerned that the commission work together on policy matters. “I don’t want a dysfunctional commission.”

The new commissioners will be sworn in during a special meeting on Friday at noon at City Hall. Mayor Willie Shaw will make a State of the City address, and Normile and Zimmerman are expected to make remarks before Alpert and Eddie are sworn in. A new mayor and vice mayor will be selected at the meeting after new commissioners take office.