Party politics seem here to stay, even in the nonpartisan Sarasota City Commission races. A week after Republican leadership offered a sort of truce in advance of elections in a largely Democratic city, no deal is being entertained, and party leaders on both sides say they will work to ensure candidates in their respective parties win the seats. “There is no such thing as a nonpartisan race,” said Christine Jennings, Sarasota Democratic Party chairwoman.

Joe Gruters, chairman of the Republican Party of Sarasota, sent an open letter to Jennings last week offering an agreement neither political party be involved in nonpartisan contests like the Sarasota City Commission races scheduled for Tuesday. That deal was rebuffed, and Gruters said an offer won’t come again. “I’m not going to allow the Democrats to give their candidates an unfair advantage by me sticking by and hoping they don’t play a role,” he said.

Jennings notes the timing of the offer came conveniently before an election in the one jurisdiction in Sarasota County where Democrats hold an advantage, the city of Sarasota. No such truce was entertained in November, she said, when candidates such as School Boardmember Bridget Ziegler won with Republican Party support in nonpartisan races. Gruters said the offer was made now because Jennings just took the reins of the Democratic Party over from past chair Rita Ferrandino. But he suggested the offer was one that actually benefitted Democrats, who are at a disadvantage in countywide races for the school board and judgeships, not to mention municipal seats in Venice, North Port and Longboat Key.

Among candidates, feelings on partisan races ranged across the spectrum. In the District 2 contest, Democrats sent mailers to Democratic voters noting Liz Alpert is the only registered Democrat on the ballot Tuesday. Alpert's core team includes Democratic leaders, mostly because she ran for partisan office before. She won’t tell her party to back off and doubts voters care. “Knocking on more than 1,700 doors, I can tell you not one voter said to me their issue was whether the Democratic Party sent out mailers,” she said. But Eileen Normile, incumbent for District 2, said such party politicking violates the spirit of the city charter, and noted during the last charter review, not one citizen asked that city contests turn into partisan affairs. Normile applauded Gruters for making the truce offer and expressed disappointment Democrats ignored that. “The horse is out of the barn for this election, which is very unfortunate,” she said. She stressed her campaign team includes registered Democrats and independents. David Morgan, District 2 candidate, said party involvement was unfortunate, but not worth bemoaning. “I have more influence over the weather than I do over what the parties can do,” he said.

District 3 candidate Shelli Freeland Eddie took a similar approach, figuring voters were not concerned with party at all. “I’m just not focused on it.” Democrats in District 3 have noted in outreach materials that Eddie and candidate Matthew Wooddall are Democrats. District 3 incumbent Stan Zimmerman has largely tried to stay out of the matter, but said party involvement was unwise in a race about local issues. His greatest concern is losing control of his own messaging. “If indeed the parties decide to come into this race with both boots on, I as a candidate lose control of my campaign,” he said. But Wooddall said it would was difficult to spurn help in a contest. “If someone wants to advocate on your behalf, I don’t know how much choice you have,” he said.