Porter runs for Charter Review Board

 The Charter Review Board's plan to reduce our rights to actively participate in our Home Rule Sarasota County Charter went before the Board on Tuesday, and the Board unanimously voted to hold a Public Hearing, which is required before they can place their amendment on the ballot - an amendment that will make it harder for citizens to amend the Charter. The Board wasn't even going to discuss the CRB's plan until several citizens spoke up - Vic Rohe, Alexandra Coe, Mike Cosentino and more. 

The CRB has several open seats up for election this November, and a new candidate has declared that he's running. Ray Porter, who ran for CRB in 2016, has entered the race -- here's his statement:

Look Beyond the D

On Friday, June 10, I submitted my official paperwork to run once again for the Sarasota County Charter Review Board. Hopefully, this time the voters will look beyond the D after my last name and realize I support the issues over 60 percent of voters also support in this county.

For example, mandatory recycling (approved by the voters in November 1990); single-member district voting for county commission (approved by the voters in 2018 and reaffirmed in 2020); a vibrant, open and free exchange of ideas during Charter Review Board meetings (preserved so far, but always under attack); and reasonable, prudent controls on sprawling growth that endangers Sarasota County's fragile environment and the future livability and unique character of our special part of Florida (perhaps a lost cause).

The Charter Review Board has always served as the alternative method for citizens to circumvent the Sarasota County Commission when that board acts in lock step against the will of the majority of citizens. That's why the county commission over the past 50 years has repeatedly sought ways to block, undermine, discredit, belittle, devalue and ultimately eliminate the CRB. 

It's unfortunate that the Sarasota County Commission will not embrace the founding principle and stated goal of the CRB contained in the Charter - our county's establishing document - "On behalf of the citizens of Sarasota County, the Charter Review Board shall review and recommend changes to the County Charter for improvement of County government."

In other words - the citizens, all of us, are given the opportunity to make changes we feel will IMPROVE county government. For many on the current board, and previous boards, this concept was threatening, upsetting, annoying, and perhaps represents an affront and challenge to their ultimate power and control over the citizenry.

The preservation of the CRB is my primary goal for running once again, and even in defeat, if I can get this message out there once again - the importance of liberty, freedom and democracy in Sarasota County - then I've done all I can.

Ray is at Ray@Portersrule.com

CRB Questionnaire: Ray Porter

Ray Porter

• Site

Why do you think you’re particularly well suited for the Charter Review Board? 

I have an extensive 30-year background in local journalism, reporting on county, city, school board, police and fire, state government and much more. I consider myself a strong advocate for local government involvement, having worked closely with the Democratic party, and run for office in 2008 (CRB) and 2014 (Sarasota County Commission).

Do you think the Charter Review Board should be changed from an elected board to an appointed board? Please explain. 

The CRB has been and should remain an elected board, representing and acting as the voice of the citizens, particularly when their local county commissioners are not listening. An appointed board would simply be a subservient, or irrelevant, arm of the county commissioners.

What are three issues that have been suggested for the CRB’s consideration that you feel are worthy of further inquiry? For each one, please explain why you think it’s important. 

First, we need to strongly consider a charter amendment to change the election process for county commissioners and for charter board members, going from countywide voting to single member district voting. I believe this one change would improve local government immensely, making our elected boards more representative of our population and demographics (currently 57 percent are not Republicans, yet every single county commissioner has been a Republican since 1970). Reducing the cost of campaigning, and allowing for grass roots democracy - door-to-door campaigning - would bring a new wave of participants, ideas and officials.  

Second, I would like to see an ethics requirement in our charter - very specific guidelines to be followed by our elected officials (the exact wording to be reviewed and vetted by the board and legal authorities).  

Third, I want stronger protections for the environment to be embodied in our charter. These could take the form of “no fracking” language, as one example.

What is your position on single-district elections? 

I stated that in my previous response.

Do you believe citizen petition charter amendment drives should be subject to a time limit on gathering signatures? 

I don’t think a time limit is even necessary, or desirable. We should always be open to citizen ideas and perspectives - the people should ultimately guide the ship of government, not their elected servants.

Do you believe advisory boards should be subject to a rule that aims to balance them by geography, areas of expertise, and relevant experience in advocacy? (For example, for the Planning Commission, at least one member with experience in advocating for affordable housing.)​ 

Yes - I think that would be a good idea.

Why the Charter Review Board Race matters

Mike Shlasko is one of 5 Dems running for the Charter Review Board. See the list of CRB candidates below. Schlasko's campaign gets to the key issue in the race:

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! 

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

"Our eastern farmland will be destroyed in short order"

"Rare accord" indeed - not hard when one side treats open forums as not worthy of their attention:

“When I came before this room three months ago, I thought we could find a compromise between the developer community and environmental advocates,” Porter said. “I no longer believe that’s possible, and our eastern farmland will be destroyed in short order.”   

Sarasota County Commission Candidate Ray Porter at the CONA Candidates Meeting at which wo Republican candidates backed by developer interests failed to make an appearance. 

Ray Porter: 2050 Didn't Cause Housing Bust

Re-posted from SRQ

Candidate
RAY PORTER

Born in Jacksonville in 1958, I became familiar at an early age with the strong east coast ocean waves, the vast size and diversity of the big city, and the Southern sensibilities of that enormous old community. It wasn’t until many years later vacationing in Sarasota in the early 1970s that I discovered the quieter, idyllic, peaceful ambiance and culture of the community that became my home after graduating college in 1980. 

The issue that has emerged front and center this election cycle has clearly been growth planning and the process of amending the 2050 Plan—the optional planning document that allows developers to build denser villages and hamlets in the eastern farmland beyond Interstate-75 and the Urban Services Boundary.

Early in my campaign, I pushed for compromise between the development industry and advocates for the environment and existing neighborhoods over the 2050 Plan amendments. I thought there was room for rational negotiation—a reasonable, centrist approach that would slow the rush to rapidly eliminate timing protections and sensible design standards at the heart of the 2050 Plan. Unfortunately, I underestimated the power and influence of those pushing for these changes. I have now concluded our eastern farmlands could be dramatically altered and eventually plowed over and lost in short order unless we are able to place at least one person on the current board who will represent the voices of environmentalists, neighborhood advocacy organizations and those insisting on smart, sensible growth. 

Some have been fooled into believing 2050 Plan rules and regulations were the cause of the virtual lack of development in the eastern region. In fact, the Great Recession and its lingering aftermath, which had no connection to 2050, were clearly responsible for the residential building slowdown. While there are certainly proven difficulties and complexities inherent in the 2050 Plan process, it would not require the massive overhaul now in process to correct these stumbling blocks.

But we live in the recent aftermath of a difficult and tragic time for our nation, and our local economy. The fear of yet another wave of unemployment and the loss of future economic opportunities has driven this current push toward a new building boom out east. It appears justifiable to many on its face. After all, the first big wave of Sarasota growth was seen in the building boom of the early 1920s. But if we are students of history, we should also understand most if not all unsustainable local economic booms have been followed by costly and damaging busts.

In the 2003-2006 period, we saw housing prices and unsustainable real estate building demand skyrocket only to come crashing down under the national recession. We are only now achieving a sense of normalcy in the market.

The final amendments to the 2050 Plan could ironically create yet another false bubble—this time a rush to develop the eastern farmlands in rapid and dramatic fashion. While my opponent in this race has minimized these amendments, they will clearly create a domino effect, which will be difficult if not impossible to slow down.

Focusing on just one damaging change, dropping the requirement for a 15-year gap between village applications would allow developers to line up at county offices with any number of village proposals. One developer even publicly encouraged Sarasota farmers to sell him all their land so he can build thousands of houses stretching to the DeSoto County line. This scenario is a far cry from the goals and desires of the community that created the 2050 Plan compromise in the first place.

It has been six long years since I dipped my toe into local politics and ran a shoestring campaign in 2008 for a seat on the county’s Charter Review Board. That unsuccessful experience, coupled with six failed attempts to gain appointment to the Sarasota County Planning Commission, sent me into the background of local politics.

I was almost convinced that those in power were right when they said Democrats could not get elected to higher county offices.

Now that I have spent over four months on the campaign trail, talking with hundreds of citizens and dozens of community leaders, I believe those in power are mistaken. Democrats with the courage to stand up to the Republican machine and talk truth to power can and will win. It could be this year, but I’m certain it’s only a matter of time.   

Ray Porter is the Democratic candidate for Sarasota County Commission District 4