As Libertarians from around the country gathered in Orlando this weekend to nominate their presidential nominee, Char-Lez Braden had a front row seat. The Bradenton Libertarian, who stepped into the role of state chairman for the Libertarian Party of Florida in October, led state delegation as delegates sat in the front of a crowded ballroom and nominated Gary Johnson to carry the liberty message to the broader public. Braden, like many party leaders, feels this year could mark a watershed moment for the party, and says it’s especially exciting that history could be made the year the convention happens in the Sunshine State. 

“Trump is making a lot of angry Republicans,” Braden said. “We are very aggressively reaching out to tell Republicans that there is another way, but we also finding a lot of Democrats who say Hillary’s nomination has pissed them off.” With Johnson polling at 10 or 11 percent in the only polls thus far to include his name on the ballot, party leaders see a chance to get the candidate on the debate stage—and maybe into the White House. If things go half as well as Libertarian members dream, it would be the biggest year ever for America’s largest third party.

With the convention in Florida this year, many Gulf Coast Libertarians made the drive to Orlando to convene with the party. The locals represented a wide array of the causes celebrated by Libertarians: gun rights, civil rights, deregulation and pretty much any position that involves letting individuals life life by their own choosing 

Chris Gallagher, a prominent business leader in Sarasota, came to the convention on Sunday just as the ballots nominating Johnson started to come in. Alexandra Coe, who until last year co-chaired a local Libertarian club, could be spotted Sunday rallying votes for her favored vice presidential candidate. Coe said she holds many of the ideals of liberal Democrtas in terms of civil rights and stopping discrimination, but favors the Libertarian approach to reaching those goals. "Democrats believe that somehow government should set up the laws and systems to protect and establish these things,” Coe said. “As libertarians we believe the government should have nothing to do with these things. As libertarians we have much more confidence in peoples ability to make decisions for themselves. People solve their own problems when given the chance and the tools to be successful. People naturally form communities that support ethical codes of behavior."

Curt Schultz spent much of Saturday acting as host for the Florida Libertarian Party’s hospitality lounge at the Rosen Centre Hotel. The Sarasota Libertarian was drawn to the liberty-centered philosophy by politicians like former Texas Rep. Ron Paul and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul. He briefly followed those two into the Republican Party to try and get them elected as presidential nominees there, but after the younger Paul folded up his campaign early this year, Schultz came back to this prickly third party. “I think our message of less government, less taxes and less spending will resonate with Republicans,” he said. Certainly, those positions won’t lead to a Democrat like Hillary Clinton, but its doesn’t just point toward the Republican nominee either, he said. “People feel like Republican leadership doesn’t really represent those values, and Donald Trump is the representation of this frustration, but it’s hard to take him seriously. He has declared bankruptcy how many times?” 

Photos by Jacob Ogles: (top) Char-Lez Braden stands by the Florida delegation on the Libertarian National Convention floor. (above) Curt Schultz greets guests at the Florida lounge at the Rosen Centre.

Social network marketing is it worth the money? Marketing online can bring value to any marketing campaign. One reason is you’d be able to target your customers pretty precisely right down to demographic, geo target, interests or religion. Simply by setting up an account on any one of the social network platforms and using that social network to publish your photos, comments or your family gatherings. Over time, you gather enough content to make you a viable marketing opportunity for a potential business or individual thinking of marketing a product or service through any one of the online platforms.

Most of us do this without even noticing or batting an eye. Have you picked up your phone simply see what your friends are doing online, to see what events are happening this weekend? Have you clicked on links of interest? All of these things add to your value as a potential advertisement consumer. Have you ever re-posted an item you found on a friends newsfeed? Do you play games that are in theory free on Facebook? All of these things come at a price. By clicking on the links and then accepting the terms you have now shared your contact list, usage patterns, likes and dislikes. All of these things are used not to pinpoint you per se but you as a demographic, which lets advertisers more precisely target you in their advertisement messaging creative and how they deliver the message to you.

This is all called Microdata, a larger subject that I’m going to discuss in more detail in a later blog post. Suffice it to say that Microdata is all of the little things you’re doing while you’re online browsing the Internet. It doesn’t matter whether you’re on a social network platform or not; we’re simply using one of the major search engines to try to find something you’re looking for. Microdata is how advertisers and marketers get a rich understanding of you as a consumer demographic. Be aware that this Microdata is being gathered anytime you’re online using your computer or mobile device to access or seek out information online.

The point I’m trying to make is nothing on the internet is free and nothing is by accident. The effort here is to make your experience online and enjoyable one at the same time creating a system or a mechanism in which messaging can be delivered and received in a favorable way.

Pedro Pérez is a founding partner of Nuevo Advertising Group and an adjunct professor of Global Brand Strategies at Ringling College of Art and Design. For over 17 years Pedro has offered clients his knowledge and expertise. Pedro has always demonstrated a keen analytical sense combined with a good dose of common sense in crafting digital and online marketing strategies as part of an integrated marketing plan. 

Bayfront Yacht Works & Marina (formerly Turtle Beach Marina) has successfully completed construction on a brand-new haul-out basin following eight months of extensive renovations and improvements. The South Siesta Key facility is now capable of hauling out vessels up to 65 feet in length using a 70-ton Marine Travel Lift, in addition to the facility's existing 10-ton Wiggins Marina Bull Forklift for vessels under 32 feet in length. 

Bayfront Yacht Works & Marina

ArtisTree Landscape Maintenance & Design announced the promotion of Jeremy Lepper and the hire of Matthew Stewart to accommodate new growth in Manatee County. Lepper has been promoted from account executive to North Branch Manager to oversee daily operations. He joined ArtisTree in 2006. Stewart will be the new account executive for ArtisTree’s North Branch and will oversee foremen and crews serving homeowner associations in University Park.  Stewart earned an associate of science degree in architecture/interior design at St. Louis Community College – Meremac. 

ArtisTree Landscape Maintenance & Design

Shannon Adkins has joined Keller Williams Realty Select as a real estate agent. Adkins started her real estate career at Keller Williams. She has a strong background in sales and customer service. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, her family relocated to Sarasota County in July 2014. 

Keller Williams

I just saw (Jacob Ogles') article regarding the roofing company. We relocated here without any special incentives program and I fail to see why some roofing company would receive any incentive. Totally unnecessary. There are enough positive economic factors here already that make this a waste of taxpayer money. The main problem in sustained and smart building and development is the county bureaucracy in Sarasota County. Impact fees are too high and there are too many unnecessary inspections especially for non-critical infrastructure items like the slope of a berm on a septic tank. Bureaucratic red tape needs to be streamlined and approvals have to be expedited for core housing development. On the commercial side, Sarasota has to lure young entrepreneurs with offers to take over abandoned industrial space and convert it to up value manufacturing in the city core. The city needs to cultivate a hip urban environment with more separated bicycle paths leading to downtown to reduce vehicle traffic. It needs to promote and reward green development like we are doing with Eco Houses and inner Sarasota development. Sun and photovoltaic energy and smaller electric cars need to be incentivized like we do with our business here with 15KW solar and an electric car and bike. We use only one all-electric car that uses a photovoltaic charger and a Smart Max mower with no power. Popular Science Green product of the year. Sarasota still is stuck on pick-ups, guns and big SUV's. Not very progressive and this is what Millenials want—innovative approaches like in Santa Cruz, California or Boulder, not red neck lag hardness. We need to get hip and green. We have Sun, Biomass, culture beaches and a vibrant urban core. But it has to be built on like even Chi-Raq or Chicago has done or SF for that matter!

Jim Donovan, CEO of NuTru in Sarasota, responding to the "Failed Incentives a First" column in the May 28 edition of SRQ Daily.