Joe Gruters is hardly new to the political scene in Southwest Florida, but this election cycle he will be juggling roles both as chairman of the Republican Party of Sarasota County and as a candidate for the Florida House of Representatives in District 73. So far, he is the only candidate filed and expected to qualify for the 2016 contest, but he figures that will change in time. “I fully expect both Republican and Democrat opposition,” Gruters said.

He isn’t so worried about a challenge from across the aisle. District 73, a Manatee-centered district that spans much of northeast Sarasota County, remains one of the most conservative in the state. Incumbent state Rep. Greg Steube, R-Bradenton, hasn’t faced Democratic opposition since 2010 when he took 67.8 percent of the vote against Democrat ZJ Hafeez—before redistricting. With the current district make-up, no Democrat has ever run, and Steube took more than 76 percent of the vote against an independent challenge in 2012. But this year, Steube plans to run for Florida Senate, presuming state Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Sarasota, vacates the seat as expected to run for Sarasota County Commission.

Some have openly expressed concern about how Gruters will manage his time this election cycle, but he did note that the most demanding contest in this deep red district will be in the primary, and he should be fine managing party resources for the presidential election next November. And his role in party leadership, both as the county chairman and as vice chairman for the Republican Party of Florida, has led to tremendous fundraising success for the state House contest. Through June, he reported $87,394 in donations, and he hopes to pass the $100,000 mark in the next two months.

He acknowledges there are some that want a Manatee County resident to represent the district, but none have surfaced to date. And he has stressed that he will work the district hard and represent all voters if elected. His day job is at Bradenton-based Shinn and Company, and he has actually organized plenty of regional political events at such Manatee venues as Dolphin Aviation. “This is my home. It’s where I live and I fully expect to do everything I can to benefit the district,” he said.

The primary election for House District 73 is scheduled for Aug. 30, 2016, with the general election scheduled Nov. 8, 2016. 

The Hermitage Artist Retreat announced multi-award-winning director and playwright Emily Mann will head its National Artist Advisory Committee, replacing Brooklyn Academy of Music Executive Producer Joseph V. Melillo, who has held the position since its inception in 2005. The group is responsible for recommending mid-career artists who are invited to receive six-week residencies at the Hermitage Artist Retreat on Manasota Key.  Mann is in her 25th season as artistic director and resident playwright of McCarter Theatre, where she has overseen 200 productions, received a Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theater and celebrated the Best Play Tony Award win for Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike by Christopher Durang, which was commissioned, developed and premiered at McCarter.  

Hermitage Artist Retreat

Amanda R. Kison joined the law firm of Bentley and Burning. She will concentrate her practice in the area of commercial litigation involving business and real estate disputes and handles both trials and civil proceedings. Additionally, she will do pro bono work for Legal Aid of Manasota. Kison previously spent several years as a litigation associate, where she focused primarily on commercial and business litigation, family law and appellate practice. Kison received her Juris Doctor from the Charleston School of Law in 2008, during which time she volunteered for the Center for Heirs Property.  

Richard R. Gans, a shareholder in the law firm of Fergeson, Skipper, Shaw, Keyser, Baron and Tirabassi has been named a 2015 Florida Legal Elite. This is the eighth consecutive year he has been selected as a Florida Legal Elite by his peers. Published in the July issue of Florida Trend magazine, the attorneys chosen represent less than 2 percent of the active Florida Bar members who practice in Florida. 

Fergeson Skipper