In our area right now, we are fortunate to have several candidates who are knowledgeable and articulate on a broad range of environmental issues.
Unfortunately, the current state of local media is such that it's likely very little broad public attention will be given to our area's local candidates or issues in the 2020 General Election. More on this below.
Here's a brief intro to five of these challengers, all of whom have made the environment a key plank in their respective platforms:
Andy Mele has a long and strong history of advocacy in both New York and Florida, where he's led Suncoast Waterkeeper as well as taking a lead role in opposing the huge gypsum mining firm Mosaic. Andy is running for Florida House District 71.
Mark Pienkosis running against incumbent Mike Moran in District 1, where large-scale developments are getting approved and moving eastward at an accelerated rate. Pienkos sees serious custodianship of the environment as integral to maintaining Sarasota's highly regarded quality of life.
Cory Hutchinson is running for the County Commission against Nancy Detert in District 3 - the Venice area. One key element of his platform is renewable energy. Hutchinson also wants to prioritize infrastructure repairs, to stop sewage spills into our water.
"Our environment is everything," says Alice White, "it's why we chose to live here." White, who's running for the District 5 County Commission seat, has been a longtime North Port voice for good planning and good planting -- In fact she's known as "The Tree Lady."
Brian Kelly is a candidate for Venice City Council and a lifelong resident of Sarasota. A co-founder of Hands Along the Water, his focus is to preserve our lands from over-development, to protect our water quality and the environment as a whole, and to extend the reach of public health. "We must protect our natural resources," he says, adding, "our state's fragile environment is at risk from powerful interests. I am frustrated by developers' destruction for short-term gains. Our kids will pay the ultimate price if we don't act now."
From the sudden spate of super hotels planned for Siesta Key to the efforts of the Old Miakka Community in the most rural eastern portion of Northeast Sarasota, some of the most significant local issues have to do with the impacts of planning and intense development upon the environment.
Each candidate is following his or her individual conscience and commitment, but behind their concerns looms a larger common question, lurking in Red Tide, in storm surges, in ever-stronger hurricanes, in polluted aquifers, in the disappearance of rural life: Is our way of living reaching a breaking point?
Where are the public debates?
None of these challengers is accepting developer handouts. All deserve to be better known. Voters deserve sustained, illuminating, in-depth discussion at this critical time.
No public debates were organized by the corporate media in Sarasota during the August Primaries. The Herald Tribune is not staging any forums or debates for the General Election. And here's no word as of yet from WWSB-Ch 7, or the Observer, or any or our corporate media as to how they will cover the election.
Two local groups are holding online forums: - click the links to obtain their schedules:
Are our media trying to socially distance themselves from these issues? Some residents think so. If you feel that candidates running without large funding from developers deserve more media attention, please sign this Petition:
WITH JUST 4 DAYS TO GO, Mike Hutchinson MADE IT OVER THE TOP! In fact, WELL over the top! Now he and all the other NEWEST candidates for County Commission have qualified to be on the ballot in 2020.
CONGRATULATIONS to ALL Candidates! And THANKS to all who signed their petitions!!
Now we can have some competition for a change!
Mike Hutchinson
Mike Hutchinson R - District 1 has qualified! Meet Mike
Now the School Board candidates must shift to raising money to qualify, because they realize it is IMPOSSIBLE to gather the rest of the 3,184 petitions needed by May 11 during the coronavirus shutdown of group meetings! Why do they have such a large petition requirement? Because their races are still AT-LARGE! (School Board races should be single-member district as well!!)
So, CHIP IN if you will, to help them raise the $1,650 qualifying fee!!
School Board elections are non-partisan, and are still conducted at-large. That means any School Board candidate must submit over 3,000 verified petitions before May 11.
Tom Edwards
Tom Edwardshas stepped up to oppose Eric Robinson for a critical District 3 seat on the School Board. Find out more about him and download his petition, sign, send: electtomedwards@gmail.com or, Electronically sign this Online petition for Tom Edwards—make sure your signature matches that on file with the Supervisor of Elections.
Printed, signed petitions can be mailed to Elect Tom Edwards, P.O. Box 1947, Nokomis, FL 34274.
David Graham
David Graham is gathering petitions to run in School Board District 2 against Karen Rose.
Three candidates for the District 5 seat on the Sarasota County Commission address questions from the Argus Foundation on a variety of issues.
District 5 is generally the southernmost district, including much of North Port.
The candidates in alphabetical order are Ron Cutsinger (R), Chris Hanks (R) and Alice White (D). Argus executive director Christine Robinson asked the questions.
The zoom session has not been edited in any manner, but simply replays the video posted by Argus to YouTube.
Questions for District 5 Candidates from the Argus Foundation
BOARD of Sarasota County Commissioners POLICY AGENDA 2020:
Top Priorities
Future of County Administration Location j
Medical Examiner / Coroner / Emergency Services Building
Mote Funding: If, When, How
Affordable and Workforce Housing
Solutions to Ensure Wastewater at AWT Standards
Modern Mobility/Transit
High Priorities
• Bay Park Conservancy
• Sports Tourism Development Strategy: Goals, Best Practices, Report with Options, County Role and Direction
• Progress on Design and/or Funding for “Gap” Roads
• Road Resurfacing: Service Level, Direction and Funding Increase Decision
• Stormwater Policy and Management: Direction, Project Priorities and Funding Mechanism
Here [above] is the County Commission board policy agenda for 2020. This was set by the commission at their December 2019 retreat. Do you agree with this list? What do you think is the most important issue for the county and what would you specifically do to tackle that issue? What is the most important issue for your district and what would you do to tackle that issue?
Businesses have been shut down or severely scaled back due to COVID-19. Do you believe county government has a role in jumpstarting the economy when we open back up for business? Why or why not? If you do, what would you do to jumpstart the economy?
What is your opinion of CRAs (Community Redevelopment Agencies), and how well you think they have worked in Sarasota County? Would you expand this program in other areas of the county? If so, how many areas? If so, how would you make up for the loss in tax revenue to the general fund? If not, what can be done to help blighted areas of the county?
What is your opinion of the county property tax rate and what area of the county budget do you think we spend too much on, what area too little on?
Give the county a grade on their relationships with the municipalities? What would you do to further improve the relationships?
Water Quality. There are many aspects to it - Septic to sewer, stormwater run-off, advanced wastewater treatment, agriculture, old infrastructure, fertilizer run-off, sewer spills, red tide, etc. What area of water quality do you think the county should be focusing its attention and funding on and why?
Do you believe the county has kept its promises to North Port with the extension of the Legacy Trail? What would you do as a county commissioner to ensure that the Legacy Trail extension to North Port is completed expeditiously?
What is your opinion on growth? What, if anything, should be done to stop or control it?
According to the county, in fiscal year 2020, Sarasota County will spend $9,011,146 in budgets to Health and Human Services, 12th Judicial Court Administration and the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office for mental health and supportive services. Of the local mental health and supportive services Sarasota County funds, the county's contribution represents approximately 24% of the total $36,984,582 spent. The remaining funding is contributed by multiple partners, including Federal and State grants, local philanthropic organizations, private donors and insurance. What is your position on the proposed mental health care district in Sarasota County- would you create it, what should it look like, and would you increase taxes to provide more money for the district?
Transportation is an important issue in Sarasota County. The county is coming up with a modern mobility plan. What do you think of eliminating SCAT routes in favor of modern mobility?
This past Tuesday evening, Cathy Antunes spoke with Pat Rounds and Bill Zoller, both longtime advocates for sensible planning and for the public good. The topic was Single Member Voting Districts: how the new electoral structure put in place by a citizens' amendment will actually work in the 2020 election.
Alice White District 5
Fredd Atkins
They also talked of pushback: The County immediately redistricted in order to remove potential opponents to sitting Commissioners Mike Moran and Nancy Detert, using a map fashioned by the invisible hand of Bob "Adam Smith" Waechter.
And they noted that the County has also amended the Charter to make citizen amendments so difficult as to be essentially obsolete.
Two candidates for the Board were also present: Alice White (People for Trees) is running in district 5, and Fredd Atkins, currently in district Limbo until a a federal lawsuit against the Board is resolved. This year's election holds the opportunity to change the course of Sarasota's public sector. Citizens for District Power is a new group working on getting out the vote. Have a look:
