SARASOTA COUNTY — When incumbent Kathy Dent defeated Sarasota County Commissioner Jon Thaxton for county supervisor of elections in the Aug. 14 Republican primary, it turned out to be the final vote for that office, thanks to the recent withdrawal of Republican write-in candidate Victoria Brill.

Dent, 62, looked to be headed for her fourth term in the office with no opposition until Thaxton announced he would be running for the seat in June. A state Supreme Court ruling on term limits in May thwarted Thaxton’s bid for re-election to the County Commission District 5 seat he’s held since 2000. Soon after, he withdrew from the commission race and filed to run against fellow Republican Dent.