Lies, innuendo, dirty tricks do the job for county GOP
Rick Barry, Pelican Press, 12-November-2008
State Rep. Keith Fitzgerald and Tax Collector Barbara Ford-Coats, both incumbent Democrats, won their races. Registered nurse Teresa Carafelli, a Democratic challenger, joined the Public Hospital Board. For the Democrats, that was it.
The party fielded 18 candidates this year – the highest in decades, by far – and most of them were well-qualified for the posts they sought. But victories were elusive.
The difference, it seems, once again, was money -- especially the party money, PAC money and independent electioneering groups’ money flooding to Republican candidates near the end. Most of those dollars bought attack television commercials, which turned what looked to be a good Democratic year locally into ballot business as usual.
New College Environmental Studies Program founder Jono Miller, a man with an impressive resumé of advanced education and 25 years’ unrivaled community service, had raised three times as much money as his opponent, much of it from Republican business people he said were impressed with his plan to boost the local economy.
And he’d led in some polls going into the last days of his county commission race.
Then came the deluge.
Read entire article
Leading a Party Toward Renewal
Zac Anderson, Sarasota Herald Tribune, 9-November-2008
SARASOTA - Rita Ferrandino has come a long way, from shoveling coal into her family's furnace to owning a private investment company.
Now, the daughter of an Italian immigrant barber has established herself as Sarasota's Democratic leader and an energetic new force in local politics, even if only one of her local candidates made it into office in this election cycle.
Ferrandino was new to politics when she moved to Sarasota County in 2003. By April 2007, the 40-year-old single mother had climbed the Democratic ranks to take control of a party that was in shambles after the chairman resigned because of internal squabbles.
The private equity investment banker, with offices in Sarasota and Denver and a $413,000 house in Palmer Ranch, used her organizational skills and enthusiasm to recruit 18 Democratic candidates compared with 2004 when there was only one Democrat in a contested election.
Read entire article
Tampa McCain rally: Where is everybody?
tampabay.com, 3-November-2008
About 30 minutes before John McCain is scheduled to lead a rally outside Raymond James Stadium, looks like there's maybe 1,000 people here. What's up with that? On the day before the election? Bush drew at least 15,000 people to a rally just across the street on the Sunday before the 2004 election.
See the post
Sarasota Ground Zero for Obama and Local Democrats
DPSC Press Release, 31-October-2008
SARASOTA FL - "Barack Obama’s visit to Sarasota this late in the campaign indicates that Sarasota is ground zero for the Obama campaign in Florida," observed Rita Ferrandino, Chairman of the Sarasota County Democratic Party.
Ferrandino said that she thought if Obama carried Sarasota and the Gulf Coast along with the I-4 corridor that he will win Florida. She predicted that Obama will carry Sarasota and that many of the 19 local candidates would also prevail in their contests.
There are a number of trends supporting Ferrandino’s assessment. The Democratic Party was able to field 19 local candidates this presidential year as opposed to only 2 in 2004. Democrats out-registered Republicans in the period between mid-July to the close of voter registration on October 6 by a margin of 2 to 1 with Independents thrown in the margin is approximately 3 to 1. Through October 25, Democrats were returning absentee ballots and voting at a much higher percentages than their opponents.
Ferrandino stated, "One of the reasons that I believe that we will win is that the Republican Party is not what it once was. Simply put this is not your father’s Republican Party.” She continued, “Moderates who at one time would have considered registering and voting Republicans are now registering and voting as Democrats and Independents. It's now okay not to be a Republican in Sarasota."
She noted that the endorsements of Obama by prominent Republicans such as Susan Eisenhower, the granddaughter of President Dwight Eisenhower, Chris Buckley son of William Buckley, and Colin Powell indicated a ideological schism and narrowing of the party base. To support her hypothesis, Ferrandino quoted noted conservative columnist David Brooks, "...politically the GOP is squeezed at both ends. The party is losing the working class by sins of omission – because it has not developed policies to address economic anxiety. It has lost the educated class by the sins of commission – by telling members of that class to go away."
Ferrandino concluded, "The Republican Party tent has become a tent flap. That bodes well for our candidates and the future of the two party system here in Sarasota County."
See the Photo Gallery including videos of the Obama event
Obama to pay Sarasota a visit
Anna Scott, Sarasota Herald Tribune, 28-October-2008
SARASOTA - Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama plans to rally supporters in Sarasota on Thursday morning, just five days before the election.
The event will take place at Ed Smith Stadium, the baseball park where the Cincinnati Reds practice. Gates will open at 9 a.m., campaign officials said.
The Sarasota stadium is expected to accommodate between 8,000 and 10,000 people for the event.
The night before, on Wednesday, Obama will appear with former President Bill Clinton in Orlando.
Obama's visit is yet another sign that the historically Republican-leaning county has emerged as a battleground this election year.
"It makes a lot of sense for us to make a visit there," said Obama's Florida campaign director, Steve Schale. "I don't think there's any question about whether Sarasota's in play. I consider it very much a part of the I-4 corridor," he said, referring to the state's traditional battleground counties that hug the interstate.
The last time the majority of Sarasotans voted for a Democratic president was in 1944, but polls show McCain and Obama have been in a tight race in Sarasota and statewide, with most recent polls showing Obama pulling ahead.
Read entire article ... including a quote from Rita!
Republican Sheriff Candidate David Gustafson Endorses Democrat Lavarello for Sheriff
Lifelong Republican states it's not about the party line, but the person who is best equipped to keep Sarasota residents safe
DPSC Press Release, 23-October-2008
SARASOTA FL - Former Republican Candidate for Sheriff David Gustafson announced today that he is endorsing Democratic Candidate for Sheriff, Curt Lavarello. Mr. Gustafson announced his endorsement following careful consideration of who would best serve the residents of Sarasota County as their next Sheriff.
"This is not a time for partisan politics, but a time for voters to elect the person that brings the highest level of qualities to do the job. There should be little doubt, Curt Lavarello is that person", stated Gustafson, who has served as a Law Enforcement Executive in Sarasota for the past 34 years.
Curt Lavarello announced his intention to run for sheriff back in August of 2007 and since then has run on the prevention platform. Curt doesn’t feel taxpayers should fund another new jail at a cost of over 120 million dollars, while prevention programs continue to be cut.
"I’m honored to have the support for my race from so many good people from the democratic, republican and no party affiliation, but I am especially honored to receive Mr. Gustafson’s endorsement” stated Curt Lavarello. “Throughout the primary, David was interested in getting control of careless spending in the sheriff’s office, and I applauded that intention then, and vow to make bold changes to prevent that in the future." Continued Lavarello.
David Gustafson's endorsement comes at a time when both nationally and locally we see many voters dropping the party line and instead looking at the person best equipped to handle the job. Last Sunday, Former Republican Secretary of the State Colin Powell endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for President.
"I highly encourage all my supporters, colleagues and fellow republicans to vote for Curt Lavarello as Sarasota’s next Sheriff. In the years I have come to know Curt, he has always impressed me as a dedicated law enforcement executive, who is not afraid of change" stated Gustafson.
Gustafson drew 23% of the Republican vote in a three-way race for Sheriff in August, and in 2004, drew 28% of the vote in a four-way primary for Sheriff.
We’ve Got Him Exactly Where We Want Him
DPSC Press Release, 21-October-2008
SARASOTA FL - "We’ve got him exactly where we want him," said Rita Ferrandino, Chairman of the Sarasota County Democratic Party, upon learning that Republican presidential candidate John McCain will be in Sarasota this Thursday.
Ferrandino continued, "The fact that McCain has to campaign here in supposedly rock solid Republican Sarasota County speaks volumes. It shows how shaky his support is and what dire straits he is in at this late stage in the campaign when he has to rally the base instead of focusing on swing areas in the State."
The Herald Tribune reports that McCain (45%) and Obama (43%) are in a virtual dead heat in the 13th Congressional District and comments "That was a historic development, considering that no Democratic presidential candidate has carried Sarasota County since Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1944." In 2004, George Bush got 53.51% and John Kerry got 45.20% in the County. In 2000, Bush got 51.63% and his opponent Al Gore got 45.27%.
The closeness is not confined to the Obama-McCain battle. It is paralleled in many of the local contests.
Democratic voters are returning absentee ballots and voting early at unprecedented rates and it appears that several of the candidates have a good chance to win here. This too would be a historic electoral development for the County.
Ferrandino concluded, "The Obama-McCain race is a portent of things to come.I believe that we will have the local Republican Party officials feeling blue after the results are in on Election Day."
Keith Olbermann: "Special Comment" on 'Real America,' Palin, Bachmann
Keith Olbermann, MSNBC, 20-October-2008
What's Got McCain Down in Florida
Tim Padgett, Time Magazine, 20-October-2008
No Democratic presidential nominee has won Sarasota County, set on one of the most affluent and conservative strips of Florida's Gulf Coast, since Franklin Roosevelt did in 1944. It's home to loyal Republicans like Katherine Harris, who oversaw Florida's controversial 2000 presidential vote recount. But in 2008, women like Joan Smith Geyer may decide Sarasota's outcome. Geyer, 62, is among a growing number of Sarasota Republicans voting for Barack Obama. A big reason, she says, is that John McCain hasn't proved to be the GOP moderate that Floridians thought their moderate GOP governor, Charlie Crist, was endorsing during the state's primary race in January. "I don't agree with the fear tactics the McCain campaign has been using here," says Geyer, who has even offered one of her empty rental properties as an Obama campaign office. "If McCain had picked Crist as his running mate, he might be having an easier time in Florida."
McCain himself admitted as much last week. And as it is, the outlook in the Sunshine State for his campaign is surprisingly dark. The Arizona Senator may have Crist and a Republican-controlled legislature behind him. But Florida's deepening economic crisis, as well as the fact that McCain passed him over for the vice-presidential slot that many Floridians thought he should get, seems to have made Crist a less than ardent McCain campaigner this fall. By most accounts, McCain's national campaign staff has done a dismal job coordinating with the usually potent GOP machine on the ground in Florida. "This is a Florida campaign being run out of Washington," says a concerned GOP official in Tallahassee, "and it's remarkable how little it has its finger on the pulse of this state."
Lately that pulse has been beating stronger for Obama. In recent weeks McCain has fallen behind his Democratic rival in Florida by as many as 8 points in some polls, though others still show the race a virtual dead heat.
Read entire article ... including a quote from Rita!
Obama Bridge Rally Takes On Atmosphere of a Festival
Anthony Cormier, Sarasota Herald Tribune, 15-October-2008
SARASOTA - A bayfront rally for presidential candidate Barack Obama was expected to draw a crowd of 500 Sunday afternoon, but by noon four times that number had shown up.
There was no candidate, but there were plenty of people -- and dogs -- dressed in Obama T-shirts. There was a campaign speech, signs, waving and chanting for Obama.
But the rally took on a festival-like feel as singing and dancing broke out and marchers crossed the Ringling Bridge in a show of support for a candidate who has contributed to a surge in voter registrations and a groundswell of activism from people who rarely take part in the political process.
Read entire article
See the photo gallery
Elect Barry Sullivan: Restore Trust and Confidence in Sarasota Elections
Rita Ferrandino, Chairman - Democratic Party of Sarasota County, 19-October-2008
Many Sarasotans have lost confidence in our elections.
In part, it’s because of the serious problems we have experienced in recent elections. In part, it’s because of the response to those problems by the Supervisor of Elections Kathy Dent. As the Herald Tribune noted in an editorial "... under the stressful spotlight of controversy, shortcomings were evident in her temperament, judgment and technological acumen."
We need a change. We need an election official who has the necessary aptitude to run problem-free elections and the leadership abilities to manage the Supervisor’s office in a non-confrontational and controversy-free manner.
Barry Sullivan is just that person. He is calm, cool and collected and his distinguished thirty year career in law enforcement makes him highly qualified for this position.
The Supervisor of Election’s office is responsible for administering all elections in accordance with the Florida election code and the federal Help America Vote Act.
Key duties include: ensuring appropriate voter registration; maintaining and safeguarding voting equipment; managing the entire election process to ensure its integrity; and, voter education.
The job of the Supervisor is to ensure that these duties are discharged effectively and efficiently and in full compliance with all procedures. Barry Sullivan has the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities to assume these responsibilities on day one.
Barry is currently a lieutenant in the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office. He has had significant management and administrative responsibilities in the Office and has received numerous awards for his outstanding performance as a law enforcement officer. Barry also has a BA in Management and a MA in Criminal Justice Administration.
Barry complements his professional background with three personal characteristics that are essential to the position of Supervisor of Elections: a take-charge attitude; a commitment to excellence; and a passion for perfection.
Barry warrants your vote on Election Day. He also needs your help in reaching out to other voters because there is a third candidate in this race named Levko Klos. Mr. Klos is running as independent. However, until recently he was a member of the Republican Executive Committee. So, he’s "the other Republican" in this race.
Barry is the Democratic candidate for Supervisor of Elections but because of his law enforcement background he understands the importance of independence and impartiality. He has dedicated his life to doing things right and doing the right things. As Supervisor of Elections, Barry will put "citizens first."
Let your friends and associates know that this is the perspective that Barry will bring to this job. Also, tell them that he is the candidate that is completely committed to restoring the confidence and trust of the voters of Sarasota.
With your support, Barry Sullivan will become our next Supervisor of Elections and Sarasota County will become a national model for how to conduct safe and fair elections.
For a list of reasons why we need Barry as our new Supervisor of Elections click here  .
Also see: Another Sarasota County election blunder; Tom Lyon's Bad ballots followed by bad judgment
Elections Supervisor Bars Party Observers
Rick Barry, Pelican Press, 15-October-2008
Republican Elections Supervisor Kathy Dent has barred outside observers from the Democratic Party from continuing to monitor absentee ballot processing, contrary to instructions from the canvassing board, which oversees the county’s elections.
Dent, a candidate for re-election, said the overwhelming number of absentee ballots still being sent out and returning daily in the mail – she predicts 55,000 Sarasotans will vote by mail this election – had inundated her absentee ballot department; her obligation to keep ballots secure left no room for the observers.
"We have ballots everywhere," she said. "We have no place to put [the observers] now, and we can’t have them just roaming around, and don’t have the staff to assign someone to watch them. They ask questions of my staff and make remarks they find intimidating … and make members of my staff nervous."
The most diligent and persistent of the observers, local computer experts Skip Parrish and Patrick Gannon – both of whom were hired by the Democratic Party – were told last week they would no longer be allowed to watch the processing of absentee ballots. The two have spotted procedural and counting errors and have been reporting their findings directly to the canvassing board, which meets periodically.
Read entire article
Curt Lavarello: The Candidate for Safer Sarasota Streets & Schools
Rita Ferrandino, Chairman - Democratic Party of Sarasota County, 15-October-2008
The Sarasota Herald Tribune began its article profiling Democratic candidate for Sheriff Curt Lavarello by stating, "Curt Lavarello is the other candidate."
In my opinion, Curt Lavarello is not the other candidate. Curt is the candidate for Sheriff. Here’s why.
Curt is the candidate because his leadership at the local level in making streets safer is clearly superior to that of his Republican opponent Tom Knight. Knight spent virtually his entire law enforcement career in the Florida Highway Patrol.
In contrast, Curt has worked as a beat cop, detective and sheriff’s officer. This substantial street experience coupled with his extensive community involvement and emphasis on prevention as well as protection give Curt a distinctive advantage in being able to deal with the day-to-day realities of managing the Sheriff’s office and addressing the typical law enforcement issues that are important to Sarasotans.
Curt is the candidate because of his national leadership in creating safer schools. This is a value-added edge that Curt Lavarello brings to this race for Sheriff.
Curt served as the Executive Director of the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) from 1998 to 2005. During that time, Curt managed a membership of over 17,000 employees and a budget of over $5.5 million dollars. More importantly, Curt built an outstanding record and reputation in the area of school safety.
Because of this Curt Lavarello:
- Was summoned by the Clinton Administration to assist the United States Department of Justice in the formation of the Emergency response protocol for Acts of School Violence developed after the Columbine High School tragedy.
- Was called upon by the Bush Administration to lend his expertise following the Amish school tragedy in Pennsylvania.
- Currently represents School and youth Safety as a Committee Member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
- Serves on the Advisory Board for "Police Magazine."
In conclusion, I urge you to vote for Curt Lavarello because he is the candidate who brings us two for one: safer streets and schools for Sarasota. I also ask you to educate your independent and Republican friends on why Curt is the person to support for the Sheriff’s office.
We need their help to get Curt elected and to prove that the Sheriff’s office belongs not to the Republican candidate nor to the Democratic candidate but to the most qualified candidate. In this case, that’s clearly Curt Lavarello – the candidate.
County's Charter Review Board needs an overhaul
The Pelican Press endorses for the board’s seats Jamie Wilson, Ryan Stanley, Bryan Worthington,
Ray Porter Jr. and Virginia Hoffman-Meketon
Pelican Press, 1-October-2008
When all the watchdog wants to do is sleep, maybe it’s time to get a new one – especially when undesirables keep trying to slip into the house.
So it is with the current Sarasota County Charter Review Board. It’s time to replace the watchdog.
Eight years ago, the incumbents on the charter board embarked on a great public service effort. They proposed amendments to our "constitution" to cleanse its language, knock out its redundancies and bring it into a new century. They deserve our gratitude for a job well done. The voters overwhelmingly embraced the changes they proposed.
Then the incumbents sat down, congratulated themselves, got re-elected and went to sleep. While they napped for four years, monumental changes to the charter were proposed. Some passed. Some failed. But without exception, all of them slipped by the charter board unnoticed.
Read entire article
Cafferty: Palin fit to be president?
Jack Cafferty, CNN, 26-September-2008
Biden brings town hall to Sarasota
Carol E. Lee, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 4-September-2008
About 1,700 voters spent dinnertime Wednesday evening discussing topics that Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden says people across the country are talking about at their kitchen tables.
Health care, jobs, education, wages and taxes were the key issues during Biden's town hall meeting at Booker High School. Not known for soft punches, Biden seized on comments from Republican presidential nominee John McCain's campaign manager that the election is "not about issues" as an entree into his hourlong event.
"In a strange sense, it's not about issues," Biden told the crowd. "It's about the lives of the American people. It's about whether or not you can fill up the gas tank."
The Delaware senator also gave Sarasota voters a flavor of his signature Biden-style leveling, which can have a Dr. Phil feel and often begins with the words "Look, folks."
Read entire article
See photos and video highlights in our Photo Gallery
Sarasota Democrats in the hunt
Zac Anderson, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 31-August-2008
Fresh from a hard-fought primary election that drained her bank account and energy, Republican state Senate hopeful Nancy Detert is confronting something she has never faced during 12 years as an elected official in Sarasota County: A legitimate Democratic contender in the November general election.
"I'm in the most contested Senate race in the state of Florida," Detert said, adding that she was not taking Bentley lightly.
Bentley is not alone in challenging Republicans this year in Sarasota County, where only 2 of the 29 partisan, countywide offices are held by Democrats, along with two state House seats that cover heavily Democratic areas in the city of Sarasota.
Past Sarasota County elections were often decided in the Republican primary because there was no Democratic opponent -- or at least none with much of a chance. But Sarasota Democrats are making their presence felt this year with 19 candidates on general election ballots, the most in recent history.
Read entire article
Rita Ferrandino, DPSC Chair, featured in New York Times
"Meet the Delegates" video
Rita Ferrandino, a Democratic delegate for Congressional District 13 in Florida, is attending the Democratic National Convention in Denver.
See the New York Times video here
Business and Professional Women PAC
Endorses Barack Obama for President
Points to Strong Support for Working Women and their Families
25-August-2008, Washington, DC - Citing Senator Barack Obama’s strong support of working women and their families, BPW/PAC, the political arm of Business and Professional Women/USA (BPW/USA) has endorsed Senator Obama for President of the United States.
“The Trustees of BPW/PAC carefully analyzed the positions of both candidates before deciding to endorse Senator Obama,” said BPW/PAC Board of Trustees Chair Terri Freer of Texas. “The Senator’s commitment to sign the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, increase retirement savings opportunities for women, expand paid sick leave and FMLA, along with his support of workplace flexibility and affordable healthcare made it clear that he was the candidate most supportive of our mission to achieve equity for all women in the workplace.”
“In addition, Senator Obama’s assurance that he will ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and his support of reproductive rights, programs to fight violence against women and passage of the Equal Rights Amendment makes it clear that he is committed to ensuring that women’s voices will be heard in his administration,” concluded Board Chair Freer.
“2008 is a critical election for working women. Our wages, our ability to care for our families, our access to health care and our retirement security are at stake,” said Trish Knight of Michigan, BPW/PAC Board Vice-Chair. “That is why BPW/PAC felt it was essential to let working women know which presidential candidate will best promote and protect the rights of workingwomen.”
Established in 1979, the nonpartisan Business and Professional Women Political Action Committee (BPW/PAC) helps shape the national agenda on workingwomen’s issues. Through education, endorsements and financial contributions, BPW/PAC supports federal candidates who will be strong advocates for equity for all women in the workplace.
For more information on BPW/PAC visit www.bpwusa.org.
Obama Asks Panel to Restore Votes
Katharine Q. Seelye, New York Times, 4-August-2008
Senator Barack Obama has asked the credentials committee of the Democratic Party to give full voting rights to delegates from Florida and Michigan at the national convention in Denver.
The request is likely to be granted because it comes from Mr. Obama, the all-but-certain nominee, who now controls the party apparatus.
Read entire article
Former Assistant Public Defender Adam Tebrugge has been Honored
Venice Gondolier, 30-July-2008
Former Assistant Public Defender Adam Tebrugge has been honored for his diligent defense of indigent criminals in the 12th Judicial Circuit.
The Sarasota, Manatee, DeSoto and Venice-Englewod bar associations, along with the judges of the 12th Judicial Circuit, presented the third annual Jim Slater Award to Tebrugge for professionalism in practicing criminal law.
The award goes to an attorney who personifies commitment, seriousness of purpose and respect, all of which marked Slater’s career. He passed away in 2005.
Tebrugge succeeded Slater in the 12th Judicial Circuit. The Sarasota attorney protects the dignity of his clients even under the most trying circumstances, award presenters said, and has a reputation for extraordinary courtesy to court and respect for his adversaries in the courtroom.
DPSC note: Adam is a Democratic candidate for Public Defender 12th Judicial Circuit in November.
Ford-Coates Named Outstanding County Tax Collector in USA
22-July-2008
The Board of County Commissioners recognized Sarasota County Tax Collector Barbara Ford-Coates who recently received the "Victor E. Martinelli Outstanding Tax Collector Award" at the National Association of County Collectors, Treasurers and Finance Officers (NACCTFO) meeting in Kansas City, Mo, July 12, 2008. The Award is presented to a dedicated individual who has made improvements in cash management, is a professional of the highest caliber in the operation of their own county office, and serves as a leader in their home state.
Read entire article
Obama Rally Report, Tampa 21-May
Sharon Corologos, Sarasota County Democratic Party Volunteer (from Venice), 23-May-2008
On Wednesday, May 21 at 7:30AM, the Obama busses headed north from Sarasota, to the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, to the rally for Barack Obama. Marianne Riley, coordinator of SarasotaForObama, arranged for the three busses to start off from Venice, with pick-ups in Sarasota along the way. There were 155 Sarasota, Charlotte, and Manatee County residents in our caravan, all excited to see history unfold.
At the sports arena, we stood in a long but fast-moving line to pass through security and get seated just at opening time 10:30 AM. Excitement was in the air as the crowd swelled to about 16,000! There were T-shirt and button sellers, plenty of food vendors, and a lot of security! The crowd seemed to all have the same enthusiastic purpose; we were all rooting for the same team!
About 12:30PM we saw network news people rush in. Next, on the Jumbotron we saw the John Legend YouTube video "Yes We Can!". And soon after, the speeches from local Democrats began. Most notably, Tampa's mayor, Pam Iorio, announced her endorsement of Obama in her introduction of him. Obama took the stage then, with his trademark smile and confidence. He was glad to be back in Florida, he said. Then with a smile, he told the standing crowd to "sit down; rest your feet."
He spoke for almost an hour, addressing national issues, again complimenting Clinton's campaign, and he attacked McCain on several fronts. He noted that as of Tuesday, he now had the majority of pledged delegates, and the crowd applauded that milestone. When he left the stage to shake hands in the crowd, we stood at our seats and watched for a long time. Here, today, we saw the next President of the United States...... and we were filled with pride!
Sarasota's own ABC Channel 7 News interviewed some of us as we waited to get back on the buses, If you're interested in those interviews you can see them via the Internet at www.mysuncoast.com and click on NEWS - local. Our group has interviews on May 21 at 5PM, 6PM and 11PM. Look us up. You may see some of your friends!
Democrats pack legislature races in Sarasota
Jeremy Wallace, Political Insider Blog - Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 13-May-2008
There are so many ways to measure how much more competitive Democrats have become in Sarasota. Just look at how state legislature races have changed over the last four years.
As recently as 2004, Democrats failed to produce a candidate for five of the seven state Legislature races that include parts of Sarasota. But this year, Democrats have a candidate in all but one.
The latest candidate in the mix this year is Morgan Bentley, a Sarasota attorney who filed this week to run for the state senate seat that Sen. Lisa Carlton, R-Osprey, leaves this year because of term limits.
Read entire article
Bentley Announces Candidacy Florida Senate District 23
Morgan Bentley Campaign, 12-May-2008
SARASOTA - Sarasota Bar Association President Morgan Bentley, a Democrat who has been recognized for his outstanding pro bono work, declared his candidacy for the Florida Senate today, vowing to return civility and a pursuit of common-sense solutions to Tallahassee.
Bentley aims to fill the District 23 seat being vacated by Sen. Lisa Carlton, who is term-limited. The election is November 4 of this year.
"Too often our legislators are distracted by ideological politics, putting too much focus on conservative versus liberal, right versus left," Bentley said. "I will put partisan politics aside and instead concentrate on common-sense solutions to the challenges facing our State. I will bring a fresh perspective to the Legislature - the perspective of the people."
Read entire announcement
Color Us Blue?
In mainly Republican Sarasota County, Democrats are beginning to have a fighting chance
Kim Cartlidge, Sarasota Magazine, 14-April-2008
For years, election nights for Sarasota County’s Democrats were somber, stay-at-home affairs. There weren’t backs to slap or hands to shake because so few Democrats ran for office. Republican incumbents were reelected without opposition or in Republican-only primaries before the open primary law took effect. The Libertarian Party, with its lively, off-the-wall candidates, generated more opposition and debate in local races.
The pendulum is swinging, says Sarasota Democratic Party Chair Rita Ferrandino. During the presidential election of 2004, local Democrats fielded Jan Schneider for Congress, long-term incumbent Barbara Ford-Coates for tax collector and Frank Peterman for the four-county, gerrymandered state district 55. Ford-Coates and Peterman won as George Bush was reelected.
Read entire article
Sink rallies Democrats in Sarasota
Jeremy Wallace, Political Insider Blog - Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 2-March-2008
Alex Sink knew it was coming.
Just before taking the stage to speak at the Sarasota Democratic Party’s Kennedy-King Dinner tonight, Sink, the states elected Chief Financial Officer, told me she knew as far back as 2002 that Sarasota’s reputation as a Republican stronghold was about to change.
Read entire article
Democrat Tony Sasso wins District 32 special election
Karen L. Thurman, Chair, Florida Democratic Party, 27-February-2008
Last night, your collective efforts on behalf of Democrat Tony Sasso officially made the past two years the most successful cycle in the history of the Florida Democratic Party's State House campaign efforts. Not the best year in 10 years, or even 50 years - you delivered the best ever.
Despite being outspent by the Republicans more than two-to-one, Tony won the District 32 special election yesterday, replacing the disgraced GOP Rep. Bob Allen and becoming the first Democrat to represent Brevard County in the Legislature since 1998.
This is a district that President George W. Bush carried by 18 points and that every single statewide elected Republican campaigned in, including Gov. Charlie Crist and every member of House Republican leadership.
But know what truly makes this victory sweet? Before the polls closed, the Republicans were already popping open the celebratory champagne, claiming their candidate "should win by 55%-60%..." A Republican consultant who helped gerrymander more "guaranteed" wins such as District 32, went on to say, "Part of the reason for the Democrat's failure is the much larger early voter turnout in the Brevard County part of the district..."
Unfortunately for them, a lot of those early Republicans voters cast their ballots for Tony Sasso - not to mention the strong Democratic turnout. And that's due to your hard work, your contributions and the createCHANGE'08 program.
Tony will make an excellent representative for the people of Brevard and Orange Counties, but the GOP is already gunning for him. The Republican Party of Florida, perhaps in shock, responded to Tony's victory not with class, but with another bogus attack, taunting Tony: "...will you revert back to your old ways of voting on nearly every tax increase that crosses your desk?"
The truth is that Tony has never voted for a tax increase. But it's this type of brazen lying that we're up against.
As House Democratic Leader Dan Gelber said yesterday, the Republicans have "presided over a total collapse of their party's dominance. Florida Democrats had not netted a single seat in the Florida House in over two decades. Now, in a single cycle, Democrats have netted nine seats... This may be the worst election cycle for House Republicans in Florida's history."
The future is very bright, and I have no doubt that when we fight to win the White House, the Republicans will no longer underestimate us. But I also know that if we can rally like we did over the last few weeks, we will win in November at all levels of the ballot. No one can do this alone. It takes a team effort to turn enthusiasm into victories.
Two Small Ways To Help Democrats Win
Kathy Faught, Sarasota County Democrat, 16-February-2008
SARASOTA - I am the Democratic Precinct Captain for Sarasota¹s 14th Precinct and I know you¹re a Democrat. And we, the overwhelmed Precinct Captains, need your help preparing other people to vote, especially in the Presidential Election of 2008. Just a little help.
When I attended the Democratic State Convention in October, I found out that it can take over 400 pieces of mail, nearly 200 phone calls, but only 14 face-to-face interactions to bring in one vote. This means that multiple phone calls and outreach mailings can waste time and money.
We didn¹t know that for sure, because the Democratic Party didn¹t have the data. Now the data is in. With more people only having a cell phone, with more people using DVR¹s to avoid commercials, with young people throwing out any mail that isn¹t a letter from their grandparents (containing a check), our outreach efforts have to change. So, I have pledged that I am going to talk to 25 people in my precinct at least three times before November 2008 about issues or candidates. Would you consider doing the same?
Hey. It is a pain in the neck. But it is one of the small things that I can do to try to change policies so that we can bring our troops home from Iraq, have affordable health care, reasonable insurance rates, clean water, combat global warming, insure that women have reproductive freedom and outlaw torture (to name a few issues that we Democrats feel strongly about).
I¹m also going to take voter registration forms with me everywhere: to gas stations, nail salons, the supermarket, and to parties. I recently ran into two wonderful, working women who just "hadn¹t had time to register" to vote. I brought them registration forms. If need be, I¹ll help people fill out the forms and take them to the Supervisor of Elections office. Please consider doing the same. The Democratic Party of Sarasota County has registration forms in our Headquarters at 2245 Ringling Blvd., which is only a few blocks from the S.O.E.'s office (and they have forms, too).
You know the forces aligned against us. We need to work really hard to change the direction in which our country is headed. We live in Sarasota, so you know that our votes haven¹t always been counted. We need to get lots of people registered as Democrats, and get them out to vote, if we are going to win.
Please help in any little way you can; the future of the world depends on us.
Wake Up, America - Here's The Real McCain
Howard Dean, DNC Chairman, 6-February-2008
Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney are done. John McCain will be the Republican nominee -- he's the only one with a reasonable path to the nomination.
So how do we beat him? We stand up -- right now -- start fighting, and show the American people that he's not who they think he is.
John McCain is a media darling, but don't trust his carefully-crafted image - he's worked for years to brand himself. From Iraq to health care, Social Security to special interest tax cuts to ethics, he's promising nothing more than a third Bush term.
After championing campaign finance reform and ethics legislation to score political points, he now has a staggering amount of lobbyists involved in every aspect of his campaign. In fact, two of the top three sources for John McCain's campaign cash are D.C. lobbying firms, and he looked the other way as Jack Abramoff bought and paid for the Republican Party and the Culture of Corruption.
On immigration reform, he's run as far to the right as he can, aligning himself with the most extreme elements of the Republican Party.
On the war, McCain scoffed at Bush's call to leave troops in Iraq for 50 years, saying "Make it a hundred!"
On a woman's right to choose, McCain has vowed to appoint judges who would overturn Roe v. Wade.
On the economy, one of the issues that the American people care most about, McCain has said: "I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need to be educated."
We can't afford four more years with a President who drives the economy into the ground. We can't afford four more years with a President who fights an endless war in Iraq. We can't afford four more years with a President who gives tax cuts to companies who ship jobs overseas; with a President who can't get every American the health care they deserve; with a President we just can't trust.
I don't just want to beat John McCain - I want it to be a landslide.
Why single women must vote
Ruth Rosen, San Francisco Chronicle, 16-February-2004
FORGET THE ANGRY white men of 1994, the soccer moms of 1998 or the NASCAR dads of 2002. This year, Democrats believe that single women -- one- fifth of the nation's population and 42 percent of all registered women voters -- are the demographic-swing group that could decide a close election, oust President Bush and alter the political landscape in Congress.
Who are these unmarried women? They are never-married working women, divorced working mothers raising kids alone and widows who are worried about their economic security.
Read entire article
Amazing Night For Democrats Everywhere
No campaigns? No delegates? No problem. Florida Democrats prove America is ready for change
Florida Democratic Party press release, 29-January-2008
ORLANDO - Florida Democrats today surpassed the total combined vote in the first four "early states", topped the total population of New Hampshire, shattered the previous state record for turnout in a Democratic Presidential Primary, and even broke the previous record for turnout in ANY Democratic primary in Florida.
Incredibly, Democratic turnout has exceeded 1,708,489 voters with 97% of precincts reporting - only 195,074 less than Florida Republicans whose turnout was relatively dismal, considering five multi-million dollar GOP presidential campaigns were working the state for months. Republicans appear to have even failed to meet their own expected turnout, which was rumored to be between 2.2 and 2.5 million.
"Florida Democrats have spoken, and they are being heard loud and clear. More than one and a half million Democratic voters went to the polls and made a powerful collective statement,'" Florida Democratic Party Chair Karen L. Thurman said. "The nation's largest battleground state proved today that America wants change. Democrats clearly have the momentum in Florida and across this country. No matter the challenges we face, Florida Democrats will deliver for this country in November just like they did today. This is an incredible night for the people of Florida!"
Florida Democratic Presidential Preference Primary Turnout: 1,708,489
Population of New Hampshire according to 2007 US Census Projections: 1,315,828
1988 State of Florida record for Democratic Presidential Primary Turnout: 1,273,338
Combined 2008 turnout of the 4 early states (IA, NH, NV, SC) - 1,174,227 voters
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