Even with primaries a year away, the money race for state House and Senate is already underway in contests along the Gulf Coast. The graph shows fundraising totals for all candidates who have filed to run for the Florida Legislature in districts which include parts of Sarasota and Manatee counties. Political observers expect state Sen. Nancy Detert to vacate her District 28 seat before the 2016 elections, and candidates raising money for that race are included in this graph as candidates to succeed Detert. The graph does not include PACs raising outside support for candidates. 

Opera singers coming to Sarasota to perform at the Sarasota Opera House will soon be staying at designated space within the Rosemary District. The new Rosemary Square mixed-use development, which broke ground Aug.7, will include 30 condominium units for artist housing, all owned by the Sarasota Opera.  

“We will house probably 150 in a season here,” said Richard Russell, Sarasota Opera executive director. “This will make a huge difference for us both financially and logistically, and take a great burden off our staff.” The new housing will be a seven-minute walk to the Opera House. The company has maintained 16 units at Ringling Terrace Apartments for the same purpose in the past, but will be able to house nearly twice as many here, jumping for the ability to house 43 individuals to about 70. The company is selling its old units to contribute to this and fundraising the difference. The price for the 30 units has not been disclosed to date. The units include 16 three-bedroom, eight two-bedroom and six one-bedroom apartments.

Developer Dr. Mark Kauffman said it makes sense to establish artist housing in the Rosemary District, and notes the Rosemary Square development will also have space for The Players Theatre and to Fuzion Dance, and he is also talking to a gallery. “There is a need for apartments,” he said.  

Rendering by Jonathan Parks Architect

Sarasota City Commission: The board meets today to discuss a response to the county regarding a stance on a homeless shelter. A draft repsonse indicates the city does not support putting a shelter and additional social services in neighborhoods being considered in the city, but acknowledge a solution may involve a "triage portal." The meeting begins at 2:30pm at City Hall.

Manatee County Commission: The board meets Tuesday for a morning workshop on solid waste rates and an afternoon workshop on the Evergreen Compensation Study. The morning session begins at 9am at the Manatee County Administrative Center in Bradenton. 

Sarasota City Commission

The Sarasota-based law firm of Williams Parker appointed Ric Gregoria to serve as its president. Gregoria succeeds William M. Seider, who served as the firm’s president for nine years. This transition, with other changes in the firm’s management, is part of the firm’s long-term succession plan. Gregoria is a board-certified expert in wills, trusts and estates specializing in counseling individuals, families and businesses in sophisticated wealth transfers and business succession matters. He also represents fiduciaries in administrating complex estates and trusts and is a frequent lecturer on the legal aspects of estate planning. Prior to joining the firm, Gregoria was with the law firm of Squire Sanders and practiced as an accountant with Pricewaterhouse. The firm also appointed Rose-Anne Frano to its management committee. Prior to being appointed to the management committee, she chaired the firm’s estate planning, business succession, and estate and trust administration practice group. 

Williams Parker

Sarasota-based solar contractor Brilliant Harvest has been named a "Top 500 Solar Contractor" in the U.S. Solar Power World, the industry’s leading source for technology, development and installation news. The list ranks applicants according to their influence in the industry in 2014. Brilliant Harvest ranks No. 20 in the State of Florida (out of 398 contractors) and No. 415 nationwide. Ranks are determined by the number of megawatts a company was involved with installing in 2014. 

Brilliant Harvest

Fitch Ratings announced Sarasota County's Second Guaranteed Entitlement Revenue Bonds will maintain their current AA+ rating. The rating for the $16.9 million guaranteed entitlement revenue bonds is based on several factors, including the county's prudent financial management techniques. According to Fitch Ratings, which is based in New York, Sarasota County's finances are characterized by conservative budgeting practices and healthy reserve levels. Employment opportunities continue to expand in the county, the ratings service said, and an uptick in home prices and sales tax growth also contributed to an affirmed AA+ rating. 

Sarasota County