Newly-elected commissioners reflect on election
HOLMES BEACH – Incumbent Commissioner Steve Oelfke, first-time candidate Jessica Patel and incumbent Commissioner Terry Schaefer won the three city commission seats decided in the city election that concluded with in-person voting at the Island Branch Library on Nov. 4.
Longtime incumbent Commissioner Carol Soustek was not reelected and her final term in office will soon end.
Soustek was appointed to the commission in 2014 and she was elected to serve additional two-year terms in 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2023.
Voters were allowed to vote for up to three candidates and the top three vote-getters earned two-year terms in office. Oelfke, Patel and Schaefer will be sworn in by City Clerk Stacey Johnston when the commission meets on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 2 p.m.
Vote totals
According to the official election results posted at the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office website on Nov. 7, Oelfke received 753 votes (32.39%), Patel received 635 votes (27.31%), Schaefer received 499 votes (21.46%) and Soustek received 438 votes (18.84%).
Voter turnout was 42.9% and 948 ballots were cast, with 601 ballots cast in person on Election Day and 347 vote-by-mail ballots cast. According to Assistant Supervisor of Elections Sharon Stief, there are currently 2,210 registered voters in Holmes Beach and 496 voters requested vote-by-mail ballots for the city election that was the only election in Manatee County this fall.
Candidate comments
When contacted on Nov. 6, Soustek said, “I was very disappointed because I didn’t expect that result. Maybe they wanted change.”
She noted Oelfke and Patel received significantly more votes than she and Schaefer did, and to her that suggests many voters may have only voted for one or two candidates, rather than three.
Soustek said she was glad Schaefer got reelected.
When asked if she might run again in 2026, Soustek said, “No. Things have changed. I’m not sure where people are going anymore. Right now, I’m adjusting to getting fired.”
Soustek said she’ll miss helping guide the city and she’ll miss working with the city staff for whom she has great respect. She said she won’t miss “people telling lies” about what the commission and the city are doing.
Soustek said she’ll remain involved in community affairs and she’ll continue supporting the city’s efforts to purchase the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church property. She said she’d consider serving on a city advisory board or advisory committee if a seat opens up.
Oelfke first sought election in 2024 but he was not elected at that time.
When asked if he was surprised to be the leading vote-getter, Oelfke, who was appointed to the commission in February, said, “Somewhat. I knew I had a good chance because I’m seen as someone fresh who’s also an incumbent. I felt I could get a good cross section of voters. I’m thrilled and I’m encouraged. I really wanted to continue being a commissioner and not have to run three years in a row.”
Oelfke praised Patel for running a strong campaign and said, “I hate that Carol isn’t on the commission anymore but I’m excited for Jessica. When I was a planning commissioner, Carol was the city commission liaison and she provided us with a lot of good insight, feedback and support. She’ll definitely be missed.”
When asked about his to-do list, Oelfke mentioned the annual stormwater assessment fees and said, “I want to tackle the stormwater and drainage initiatives next year and make a good plan to raise the funds in a more fair manner than going strictly by the square footage of a person’s property.”
Schaefer said he was pleased and somewhat surprised by the voter turnout percentage, even though the number of registered Holmes Beach voters has dropped from approximately 3,500 to 2,200 registered voters since he was first elected in 2019.
“I’m grateful for the support and trust of our city and I’m happy to return for the next two years,” he said.
“I was certainly disappointed not to see Carol get re-elected. I personally feel she deserved it, but the voters have spoken,” he said.
Schaefer also mentioned vote totals that appeared to be impacted by some voters not casting all three of their allotted votes.
“It really skewed the numbers, but that’s the voters’ right,” he said.
“I’m glad it’s over and we can roll up our sleeves,” he said of the work that lies ahead.
When asked about her first election victory, Patel said, “I’m very excited and I’m thankful for our community.”
By a wide margin, Patel sought and received the most campaign contributions.
“I think that says people supported me and wanted to support someone they know. I also think it shows the people in the community wanted change. If I had lost, that would’ve showed me they were happy with everything as it is, but that wasn’t the case. They want change.”
Patel also offered her sympathies and appreciation for Soustek.
“I think Carol is a wonderful person for giving so much of her time and providing our community with as much as she did for as long as she did. I commend her for that and I thank her for her service to the community.”
Campaign finances
The most recent campaign treasurer reports the candidates filed covered the Oct. 18-30 reporting period, with one more report due.
As of Oct. 30, Oelfke reported $350 in campaign contributions received and he loaned his campaign an additional $300. His reported campaign expenditures totaled $423, including the $80.80 qualifying fee. He also reported $1,613 in self-funded in-kind contributions to himself for expenditures that included campaign mailers, flyers, signs and newspaper ads.
Patel received 24 campaign contributions that totaled $4,510 and ranged from a $10 contribution to a $1,000 contribution. She also loaned her campaign $150 during the first reporting period. As of Oct. 30, Patel’s reported campaign expenditures totaled $4,531 and her expenditures included the qualifying fee, signs, flyers, promotional materials and newspaper ads.
Schaefer self-funded his campaign with the $2,500 he loaned to his campaign. His reported campaign expenditures totaled $1,876 as of Oct. 30 and his two reported expenditures were the qualifying fee and $1,795 for campaign mailers. On Nov. 10, Schaefer filed his final TR-E report in which he reported the additional $1,400 he loaned his campaign and the $2,005 he spent on newspaper ads for his campaign.
Soustek self-funded her campaign with the $4,000 she loaned her campaign. Her reported campaign expenditures totaled $3,338 and included campaign mailers and newspaper ads.
“The candidates now have 90 days to disperse of their remaining funds in their campaign accounts, pay invoices, repay themselves the money they loaned themselves, etc. The final report is due on Feb. 2,” Stief said.
Diggins was first elected to the city commission in 2022 and is seeking his second term on the dais. A Holmes Beach resident since 2011, Diggins previously worked as a commercial pilot, air traffic controller, airport/airspace designer and a worldwide aircraft accident investigator. Now Diggins says he enjoys working with his fellow commissioners and playing golf at least twice a week.
Oelfke is ready to take a leap in local politics and move to the city commission. Currently, he serves Holmes Beach on the city’s planning commission with a term expiring July 1, 2026. He and his wife, Jennifer, have been Holmes Beach residents since 2011.
Romberger is a newcomer to the Holmes Beach political scene but has been an active community member as both a Realtor and member of the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce. He and his family owned and operated the Tropic Isle Inn in Bradenton Beach for over 12 years. Now he works as a Realtor and is seeking a first term in political office.
