Election Day was a time of celebration and disappointment in Anna Maria.
Before poll workers at Roser Memorial Community Church could post the official election results at 7 p.m., Nov. 3, cheering and congratulations were offered across the street.
Roser, 512 Pine Ave., is the city’s polling location. From 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Anna Maria voters came and went, making their choices from five candidates hoping to fill three city commission seats.
Across the street, incumbent Carol Carter and newcomer John Damato set up tents, advertising their campaigns and offering snacks to passersby, including potential voters.
Commissioners Dale Woodland and Doug Copeland and newcomer Penny Naylor also ran.
At 7 p.m., Damato, Carter and their supporters were still across the street. They stood in the dark waiting for the results.
Three minutes later, Carter received a congratulatory phone call from Mayor Dan Murphy.
“The incumbents are back!” cheered Dan McCormick, one of Carter’s supporters.
Damato went to the church and waited for the results to be taped to the door.
A few minutes after Carter received her call, the results were posted on the window. The print was difficult to read in the dark, but it listed the results from the poll — not including mail-in ballots — with Woodland the top vote-getter, followed by Copeland, Carter, Damato and Naylor.
The Manatee County Supervisor of Elections office had yet to tabulate the mail-in ballots and certify the results, but McCormick’s cheer rang true.
Carter, Woodland and Copeland were re-elected.
“It was an interesting campaign and the voters of Anna Maria made their choice,” Damato said, as he walked over to congratulate Carter.
They shook hands and Damato went on his way.
Once the absentee votes were tabulated, Damato had 190 votes.
“It’s an honor to be re-elected on behalf of the citizens and I want to thank all my supporters,” Carter said.
Her plan is to “stay the course and continue to work with the residents and the other commissioners.”
Carter gained 393 votes, the second highest number after the mail-in count. This will be her second term as a commissioner.
Woodland kept the evening low-key by having dinner with a few friends at the Rod & Reel Pier in Anna Maria. He also received a congratulatory call from the mayor. “But afterwards I went home and fell asleep,” Woodland said.
Woodland said he wasn’t worried about the race or the results. “I’ve always counted on the people and I’ve come to trust in their input,” he said.
The next day, during Woodland’s work routine, he said people were congratulating him for his victory.
“It’s really exciting to see people involved in the city’s future,” he said. “I’m excited about what’s going to happen next. We’ve seen a lot of change of the last six months and I hope it continues.”
Woodland received 404 votes. He ranked the highest among the candidates. He also has served the longest. When sworn in Nov. 12, he begins his seventh term as a city commissioner.
Copeland also was a victor with 393 votes. He celebrated at home.
“I’m happy the citizens are allowing me to serve again,” he said on earning a second term. “And I want to congratulate my other commissioners for being re-elected, too.”
Copeland said this term he wants to focus on making Pine Avenue more bike and pedestrian friendly.
“We’ve got a lot of tourists and traffic but no real bike paths or crosswalks,” he said. “I want to look into helping to change that.”
It was a quiet evening for Naylor. She had a few friends over to her home and said she was relieved by the results.
“The last few weeks have been stressful and I really think the election results are good, the most capable people won,” Naylor said. “My idea was to bring more ideas and move dialogue to the middle, to find a way to compromise. I think I did that.”
Naylor received 151 total votes.
According to the elections office, there are 1,187 registered voters in Anna Maria. With 622 ballots cast, the turnout was 52.4 percent.
Anna Maria city commissioners earn a $450 monthly stipend.
The commissioners will be sworn into office at the next commission meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, at Anna Maria City Hall, 10005 Gulf Drive.