Recently the Sarasota County Charter Review Board has voted to study a proposal by former GOP Party Chair Bob Waechter to turn the Board from an Elected Body meeting several times/year to an Appointed body meeting infrequently. This proposal is supported by several County Commissioners. This is a blatant attempt to turn our Charter Review Board from a Citizens Watchdog into the Commission's Lapdog!
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| Bob Waechter More about Bob Waechter |
In 2013 the Charter Review Board also rejected a request to study a Charter Amendment that would elect County Commissioners by vote of their District Constituents rather than by vote of the electorate in the entire county which makes it extremely difficult for candidates not backed by wealthy real estate developers to fund campaigns targeting our now almost 300,000 county voters.
There have even been recent attempts to require 60% voter approval rather than the 50% to pass Charter Amendments as well as attempts to limit the time to collect signatures for charter change via Citizens Petition.
All of these actions speak to an attempt to limit the ability of our citizens to have direct and local input into our County Government.
The new candidates
The five new candidates for the Charter Review Board have strong roots in Southwest Florida and a wide range of active community experience. More about them here:
All Charter Review Candidates:
| Charter Review Board, Dist. 1 | Arlene Sweeting (DEM) | Qualified |
| Charter Review Board, Dist. 1 | Joseph Anthony (Tony) Sawyer (REP) | Qualified |
| Charter Review Board, Dist. 2 | Karen Collins-Fleming(DEM) | Qualified |
| Charter Review Board, Dist. 2 | Donna Barcomb (REP) | Qualified |
| Charter Review Board, Dist. 2 | Vic Rohe (REP) | Qualified |
| Charter Review Board, Dist. 2 | Robert Neff (GRE) | Qualified |
| Charter Review Board, Dist. 3 | Tom Patalano (DEM) | Qualified |
| Charter Review Board, Dist. 3 | Pat Wayman (REP) | Qualified |
| Charter Review Board, Dist. 4 | Ray Porter (DEM) | Qualified |
| Charter Review Board, Dist. 4 | Jody Hudgins (REP) | Qualified |
| Charter Review Board, Dist. 5 | Mike Shlasko (DEM) | Qualified |
| Charter Review Board, Dist. 5 | Walt Augustinowicz (REP) | Qualified |
| Charter Review Board, Dist. 5 | David Samuel (REP) | Qualified |
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