Are you in?

It might come as news that Sarasota County's August 18 "Primary" is not a Primary. For both Sheriff and School Board, it's the entire election. Voting is open to all registered voters. Learn why here.

To vote on Aug. 18, you must be registered with the Supervisor of Elections. If you've not already done so, the deadline is July 20. Where to begin? Citizens for District Power can help you register, apply to vote by mail, even change party affiliation. It clarifies which districts are where, who's running in each, and why candidates unburdened by piles of developer cash have for once a real chance. Do have a look.

On the other hand, for the Board of County Commissioners, August 18 is a real Primary, for Republican voters in districts 1 & 5 only. A bit of an update on who's backing whom in these races here.

Single member districts can be a game changer - if enough of us are in the game.

Citizens for District Power

Tiger Bay: Sarasota City District 2 Forum available for viewing

City of Sarasota 2020 Election Districts

It is going to be difficult for candidates running in Sarasota's local races this year -- given the pandemic and the lack of venues for voters to get to know them. 

If you missed this June 4 Tiger Bay forum for the candidates running in the city district 2 election race. Morgan Bentley moderated:

The candidates are:

Terry Turner
Jerry Wells
Liz Albert (incumbent)
Martin Hyde

Watch it at this link  Password to view:  8N$59DO^


The mission of The Sarasota Tiger Bay Club is: To promote community understanding of current political and social issues, through public discourse and the free exchange of ideas.  The Sarasota Tiger Bay Club is a non-partisan political organization.

Ready to step up?

Sarasota County Charter Review Board

Are you ready to step up?  You can file to be a Precinct Captain in your neighborhood.You need to file this FORM with the Supervisor of Elections by NOON on June 12th to qualify.

Remember, there is still time to qualify to run for local office.  

Charter Review Board - Free Running Seats

The Charter Review Board (CRB) is an elected body of 10 members, two members from each of the five county commission districts, who serve staggered terms of four years.The Charter Review Board reviews and proposes changes to the Sarasota County Charter which are submitted to referendum in accordance with the provisions of Article VI of the Charter. They serve without compensation.

The CRB meets two or three times a year. Here's the agenda for that meeting. The main business is a proposed change to citizen amendments to the Charter, requiring citizens to come before the CRB before it goes to the County. This proposal has been under the management of CRB member James Gabbert. Below is their last meeting from Jan. 15, 2020.

There is no fee to file to run for this seat. You can learn more here: 

Hospital Board  $25 filing fee

There are 10 seats on the Hospital Board and they are all held by Republicans. There are 4 positions up for election on the Sarasota County Hospital Board. Hospital districts are different than County Commission Districts. See map of districts here. 

Learn more about the Hospital Board here. If you have a business background, experience managing large budgets, or health care experience, please consider running for the Hospital Board. There is a $25 filing fee for this seat.

You can request a candidate packet from the Supervisor of Elections office if you are interested in learning more - 941-861-8600.

Turner gains Sierra endorsement

Terry Turner has gained the endorsement of the Manatee Sarasota Group of the Sierra Club.

Here's a recent editorial by Turner in the Herald Tribune, and the Sierra Press release below:

Argus District 5 Sarasota Candidate Forum 4.9.20

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 

1. 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?

2. 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?

3. 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?

4. 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? 

5. Give the county a grade on their relationships with the municipalities?  What would you do to further improve the relationships?

6. 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?

7. 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?

8. What is your opinion on growth?  What, if anything, should be done to stop or control it?

9. 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?

10. 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?

in retrospect: Primary 2018

 From CONA: 

   The 2018 primary election that will conclude on August 28 will determine who will represent two political parties in the general election that will be held in November and it also will be the final election of many nonpartisan races. The primary may eliminate candidates you support unless they prevail, so this is a crucial election in which voters need to make their selections carefully and be sure that they exercise their opportunity wisely to participate in the selection among candidates. 

                                             

    Many are expressing concern about candidates who are shunning forums and failing to submit to dialogue with the voters. This marketing strategy has been used deliberately in the last two cycles now--by candidates who seek election without having to address issues raised in public dialogue. A one-way commercial marketing strategy may be fine for the sale of detergents, but it is not how our election process is intended to work. One readily may discard a detergent found to be undesirable and replace it rather quickly, it's not so easy with elected officials. Our election process is designed for candidates to submit to public dialogue and to address questions raised that might reveal the natures of the those competing for election.  

       

   Voters must resist efforts to corrupt that process and the surest way is to refuse to elect those adopting a strategy of avoiding the public process. The alternative is giving us public officials who then cater to those who enable the expensive one-way commercial marketing strategy that puts them into office for the benefit of their financiers initially, and eventually, to the personal financial rewards that await their selected officeholders down the road.

         

   It takes engaged voters to make informed decisions now that we do not live in small, close communities with lifetime exposure to the character of those seeking to be our leaders. Granted, the process available to us now, is not easy, but without that effort-look at what happens!

     

   We have posted links on our website to videos of our two primary forums featuring the county commission candidates who accepted our invitations and submitted to the public scrutiny our members expect. See the calendar on our meetings page. We represent the voters who live in all of the neighborhoods throughout the county, both municipal and unincorporated, and we are encouraged by our members to ask tough questions that provide insight into the character of the candidates seeking elected office. As noted by one of the candidates participating in our August forum, the voters recognize the disdain inherent in the behavior of candidates seeking election or reelection without having to engage in public dialogue--and they are angry. 

 

   Please review the videos and vote for those most likely to represent your interests on the county commission:

             

Wesley Anne Beggs, Mike Cosentino, and Lourdes Ramirez
showed up to submit to our questions on August 13 

 

Alexandra Coe and Ruta Maria Jouniari 
showed up to submit to our questions on July 9, 2018       

             

neighbors helping neighborhoods since 1961

                      

save the date  -  our anniversary party  -  November 5, 2018

Cona District 4 County Candidates Forum

Three of the four candidates for Sarasota Board of County Commissioners Dist. 4 answered questions about climate change, development, priorities for parks, and more. Wesley Ann Beggs, Mike Cosentino, Lourdes Ramirez were present, with moderator Kafi Benz, president of CONA. Incumbent Al Maio did not appear.



All four videos from 8.13.18 candidate forum at CONA Sarasota.

Candidates for county commission invited to CONA forums

All candidates who qualified to run for county commission have been invited by CONA to participate in a candidate forum scheduled for their race. The forums are free and open to the public.

• The forum for district two candidates for county commission will be held by CONA on July 9, 2018. 

• The forum for district four candidates for county commission will be held by CONA on August 13, 2018.

The location for both forums is the Sarasota Garden Club at 1131 Boulevard of the Arts in Sarasota, which is at the intersection of Tamiami Trail, south of the Municipal Auditorium. Parking and the entrance are reached from Van Wezel Way. A social at 6:30 p.m. precedes the forum that begins at 7:00 p.m. 

Our forums are open to the public and free. Details and more information are posted to the web site,www.conasarasota.org and will be distributed in regularly scheduled meeting announcements. 

Qualified candidates for any scheduled local race and those proposing ballot initiatives are welcome to attend the social before each of the forums in order to make contact with voters and to distribute literature and yard signs -- even if not scheduled as a member of the panel for that forum. 

Kafi Benz, president

Candidate Forum at CONA: Monday April 11 at 7 pm

Monday, April 11, 2016 at 7 p.m.

- candidate forum -

State House of Representatives

district 72 and district 73

On Monday, April 11, CONA will hold a forum for the candidates campaigning for two seats among our state house of representatives in Tallahassee.

Candidates Edward Elliot James III and Alexandra Cynthia Miller, who are seeking the seat for district 72, and James T. Golden, Joe Gruters, and Steve Vernon, who are seeking the seat for district 73, have been invited to attend.

Using atypical question formats and timing, CONA makes an effort to provide its members and the public with a more thorough understanding of the positions of each candidate than usually achieved at candidate forums. Dan Lobeck will be the moderator of this forum.

Join CONA as we hold the first of our candidate forums for the state and local 2016 elections. Because we and many of our members take vacations in the summer, we are starting early to reach the greatest number of voters. There is much to cover before the primary in August. Our monthly meetings for April, May, and June will be devoted to forums. We video and post our meetings to our site, so our forums will be available through the election in November.

See www.conasarasota.org/meetings for more about CONA. 

social 6:30 p.m. - forum 7:00 p.m.

at the Sarasota Garden Club

neighbors helping neighbors since 1961

MEET the CANDIDATES - Tues OCT 14th 6:30pm

MEET THE Sarasota County Commissioner CANDIDATES

Tues. OCTOBER 14th at 6:30-7:45 pm

Fruitville 210 Community Alliance - Meeting
Held at Sabal Palm Bank at 5101 Fruitville Road
- a MAP is on our F210 website: www.Fruitville210.org
7 of the Sarasota County Commissioner Candidates will be present.
This will be a highly attended meeting!

MEET THE Sarasota County Commissioner CANDIDATES

Tues. OCTOBER 14th at 6:30-7:45 pm 

Sarasota County District 2: Paul Caragiulo, Alexandra Coe, Steve McAllister, Pete Theisen

Sarasota County District 4: Alan Maio, John C. Minder, Ray Porter

This will not be a Debate ...but a civil & respectful gathering where Candidates can give their answers to Sarasota County issues.... specific questions will be asked of each Candidate (not the same question to every candidate).

We have presented all the candidates with a list of Questions they "may be asked". Our goal is not to play "gotcha" at our F210 Meetings but to have a "civil discussion in the public square"

WHEN you enter the meeting room . . . Please see get an F210 Candidate index card to write your question on.

Meet the Candidates Monday at CONA

Sarasota Council of Neighborhood Associations CONA    CONA  October Meeting Candidates Forum Meet candidates for County Commission Districts 2 & 4 &  Charter Review Board Monday October 13 6:30 social, 7 PM forum Location:  Sarasota Garden Club 1131 Blvd of the Arts CONA's October meeting is a great opportunity to meet candidates for Sarasota County Charter Review Board and County Commission.   The role of the Charter Review Board is to review and recommend changes to Sarasota County Charter (our local constitution).  Our County Charter's provisions include limits on how much our county government can borrow and protections of our Urban Service Boundary (USB). County Commissioners' responsibilities include approving the county's $1.1 billion budget and making decisions on land use changes such as rezoning and special exceptions.   The upcoming election on November 4th is extremely important for the future of Sarasota County.  We urge you to attend our candidate forum and be informed on the positions of the various candidates.

Sarasota County Council of Neighborhood Associations CONA