Sarasota’s City Commission races are nonpartisan, but in each of the three districts, candidates can be easily distinguished by those whose donations are overwhelmingly from pro-development sources and those whose donors are primarily residents fighting to have a say in how the city develops. But in addition to that age-old issue, I implore our city voters to consider their candidate’s record of accomplishment and civic engagement before they mark their ballots. Perhaps more than ever before, intelligence, experience, ethics and ability matter this November.

Ask yourself the following simple — yet telling — questions: Does my candidate have an actual stake in the community? Has my candidate contributed to the city in any notable way? Has my candidate been a member of at least one city or county advisory board? Does my candidate vote regularly? Does my candidate attend any neighborhood association meetings?

Did my candidate perform well at all the candidate debates? Does my candidate have the financial skill to handle decisions affecting the City’s $225 million budget? On a personal level, does my candidate have a stable employment record and has he/she conducted his/her personal finances responsibly? If you are voting for someone simply because of one issue of importance to you, please remember that your district commissioner will need the wisdom to vote on all city issues for the next four years. And the next four years promise to be challenging.

I have asked and answered these questions myself and the result is that I am supporting: Willie Shaw in District 1; Terry Turner in District 2; and Eric Arroyo in District 3.

Eileen Walsh Normile is a former Sarasota City Commissioner and former chair of the Sarasota City Planning Board.