UPDATE: Who's funding your candidate?

Voters will make key decisions on August 18, when Republican voters in Sarasota cast ballots to decide which Republican candidate they want to run in the November 3 election for the County Commission seats in District 1 (northeast Sarasota) and District 5 (North Port/Englewood).

Among other factors in choosing, it's good to know who stands behind the candidate, who is funding him or her? No endorsements, but some facts:

DISTRICT 1

This information is very easy to find. Go to this page of the Supervisor of Elections site, click on a candidate's name, and you'll find the reports of each candidate on who gave them money. For example, here's a report from Mike Moran.

Moran's received over $47,000 so far for his 2020 campaign, and the developers have given a substantial share of that:

To compare, click on Mike Hutchinson's list of contributors. He has taken in $6,294.71 so far. He's loaned himself $30,000 to stay in the race.

DISTRICT 5

You can do the same in District 5.

Ron Cutsinger, a former board-appointee on the Planning Commission, has $55,000 so far. His list of contributors starts here. In addition to his own money, he's received backing from a number of builders and developers:

Recently Cutsinger has also received support from the Boone family, whose Venice law firm does a good deal of legal work for developers. Here's part of July 2020's list:

His Republican Primary opponent Christopher Hanks has $17,605. Along with land owners and Realtors show up the Benderson name also appears in his list. In August 2019, the West Villages and related developer contributors show up:

Randy Benderson

And in January 2020, the Benderson family came aboard the Hanks campaign with donations totaling $800:

Chris Hanks January 2020 donors - partial list

You can do the same research for the Democratic candidates, but they're not running in this Republican Primary for the BCC.

The winners of the Republican BCC Primary will face Democrats in the fall: Mark Pienkos in District 1, and Alice White in District 5.

Broader perspective

A broader look at developer influence over the last four years would include these contributors to our County Commissioners:

As well as these developer-donors to our School Board members:

One more thing about the upcoming elections . . .

The "Primary" for Sheriff and School Board is not in fact a Primary, but a final election. More about that here.

It's very important to vote on Aug. 18 - to do that, you need to register by July 20, which is coming right up. All the information you need to learn how to register, to change party affiliation, voting districts and more can be found at the nonpartisan Citizens for District Power site.

Recent election news: Sarasota County

Some late breaking news stories and commentary ahead of the August Primaries (tomorrow):

Carlos Beruff says he's in Senate race to win
     More about Beruff

Charter Review Board Races
     More about the Charter Review Board

Sarasota School Board for Sale
     Connecting Cash - Cathy Antunes
     More about the Sarasota School Board

Eric Robinson: Beyond Dark Money
     (Robinson is Carlos Beruff's campaign manager)
     More about Eric Robinson

Robinson behind books, not message

More about Developer/Builder Pat Neal

Sarasota's Election Day is in August, not November - here's why

Dan Lobeck: Register. Vote. Deadline Monday

Deadline Monday

Register to Vote or Change Parties

For August 30 Primary

Monday, August 1 is the deadline to register to vote or to change parties, to vote in the August 30 primary election.

Democrats, Independents and minor party members may want to consider temporarily changing their party affiliation to Republican in order to vote in the very important primary election for Sarasota County Commission between Mike Moran, the hand-picked tool of the big developers, and principled neighborhood leader and mediator Frank DiCicco.  If you want, you can change your registration back after the primary.

Citizens may register to vote or change parties at the Supervisor of Elections office in Sarasota, Venice or North Port, Thursday, Friday or Monday, 8:30 to 5 (North Port closed noon to 1):  Find Your Elections Office Here.   

If you want to print and fill out the registration form (with a black ballpoint pen) in advance, The Registration Form is Here. (Filling out the form is also used to change parties or otherwise change your information, such as the address).  Alternatively, you can mail that completed form with a postmark dated no later than Monday, August 1, to Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections, P.O. Box 4194, Sarasota, FL 34230.

Please do your part to protect your interests and those of the rest of the citizenry from those special interests which would hijack democracy for their personal gain.

Register.

Vote.

Make a Difference.

 -- Dan Lobeck
    Join Control Growth Now Today