Photo: Teresa Mast, Ray Pilon.

The year has barely begun but the players in a major Sarasota County Commission race in 2024 may already have thrown their hats in the ring.

Republicans Teresa Mast and Ray Pilon both filed to succeed County Commissioner Mike Moran in District 1. Moran cannot seek a second term because of term limits.

Mast, a former School Board candidate, filed her paperwork on Jan. 2. The Sarasota County Planning Commissioner brings close ties to the business community as a board member of the Building Industry Association and the founding chair of the Professional Women in Building Council.

“Our county needs a Commissioner with the business experience and relationships that will allow us to grow smarter and catch up on investing in the things we need instead of wasting people’s hard-earned money on whims and wants,” Mast said. “By relying on the same core conservative principles Gov. (Ron) DeSantis has used to govern, we can deliver the services our neighborhoods rely on, without raising taxes.”

Pilon filed for the district seat on Jan. 6. He previously served on the county commission from 1996 to 2000, and later served three terms in the Florida House of Representatives. He promised to bring a change in philosophy away from pursuit of growth. He publicly announced his candidacy at a Sarasota Republican Women’s Club meeting. He will bring back a frequent campaign motto with his return to the ballot.

“It’s time for a change. We can’t change the past but we can plan for a better future,” Pilon announced on Twitter. “Hey Hey Vote For Ray! This time for Sarasota County Commission Dist 1.  Time for a change. Time to reign in our growth mania.”

Both candidates bring proven ability to raise funds and a level of experience on the ballot.

With a switch to single-member voting approved before 2020 and affirmed in a special election last year, only voters in District 1 will vote in the election. The district covers most of northeast Sarasota County north of State Road 72, including the Sarasota County portion of Lakewood Ranch and unincorported areas east of the city of Sarasota.

Photo: Teresa Mast, Ray Pilon.