The maps may have been redrawn, but voters in the county's 11th distinct will find a familiar name on the ballot. Mike Sullivan was elected to the old 11th in 2006, but had to step down earlier this year when he moved. Now that the new map has his new home in his old district, Sullivan is looking forward to returning to the board. Sullivan, a former Marine and manager at Brandt.
Both candidates want to increase funding to the sheriff's office to replace lost staff and programs. Democrat Michael Ziri believes the county can find the funds by reducing board member's pay and eliminating raises to elected county officials. Sullivan says they are doing everything they can with the money they have, and only sees hope if the economy improves.
Ziri is a legislative liaison for the Department of Natural Resources and a board member of the Convention Center Board. He says he got into the race to be a voice for a district that wasn't being informed of what the board was doing. He feels Sullivan didn't do good job of connecting with the community when he was on the board and keeping his constituents informed.
Both candidates agree that the county should look to the Citizen's Efficiency Commission's recommendations to find savings and streamline government.
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WTAX's Christian Spain reports on the 11th District race.