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SRQ DAILY Nov 9, 2016

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"We will double our growth and have the strongest economy anywhere in the world. At the same time, we will get along with all other nations willing to get along with us."

- President-elect Donald Trump
 

[Politics]  Gruters Believed in Trump From Start
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

Most polls showed only a narrow path for Donald Trump to win the presidency, but Joe Gruters believed. The Sarasota accountant who served as co-chair for Trump’s Florida campaign says he could tell from the energy at rallies around the state that enthusiasm for the GOP nominee simply was stronger than Democrat Hillary Clinton could inspire. “It’s a populist message,” says Gruters. “People want to be part of a winning team, and they are so sick of the tired political elitists we have in DC.” In the end, Trump won Florida, and early Wednesday, Democrat Hillary Clinton reportedly conceded the election and Trump was poised to move in to the White House.

Gruters, chairman of the Republican Party of Sarasota, saw a winning message before many leaders of his own party did. He drew hefty criticism in 2012 for inviting Trump to Sarasota as “Statesman of the Year” after the Republican National Committee discouraged Trump from attending the Republican National Convention in Tampa days later. It was an interesting move for Gruters, but one not completely out of step with history. Gruters in 2010 was among few Republican Party leaders in Florida to embrace Rick Scott during his upset win in the GOP primary over Attorney General Bill McCollum and later over Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink.

This election cycle, Gruters went a different direction than GOP leaders again. While most Republican higher-ups threw in early with former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush or US Sen. Marco Rubio, Gruters broke his own tradition of not endorsing in a primary and signed on as co-chair for Trump’s campaign operations in the Sunshine State. For most of the year, Trump’s state headquarters was in Sarasota. Indeed, Trump's last rally in Florida was held Monday at Robarts Arena in Sarasota.

And on Tuesday, Trump surprised most analysts, riding a wave of anti-establishment resentment to win Florida’s 29 electoral votes and, most stunningly, a string of Rust Belt states. What does that mean for Gruters? If offered a place in a Trump administration, would he leave the Gulf Coast?

The Sarasota politician won his own election Tuesday, to the state House representing parts of Sarasota and Manatee counties in District 73. A father with small children still at home, Gruters notes he also just opened his own accounting firm. “I want to help Donald Trump to be as successful as he possibly can be,” Gruters says. “You never know what can happen in life. Who knows if anything would even be offered. But my bags are packed for Tallahassee.” 

[Politics]  GOP Dominates Gulf Coast on Election Night
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

Republicans enjoyed a huge night Tuesday on the Gulf Coast. In addition to coming out strong and helping deliver Florida for both presidential nominee Donald Trump and incumbent Sen. Marco Rubio, Sarasota and Manatee county voters delivered big wins to GOP candidates in nearly every contest on the ballot.

State Rep. Greg Steube will soon move into the state Senate, after winning 58.75 percent of the vote in District 23 over Democrat Frank Alcock. Steube believes the results of the election, as well as the primary in August, show the region has grown more conservative. "It’s very telling that I won the primary by 5 points and now the general election by 14 points,” he says. “Certainly, Sarasota and Charlotte counties will support a conservative Republican candidate…This enables me to keep true to my principles.” 

Joe Gruters, chairman of the Republican Party of Sarasota, boasted his party “crushed it.” "I can’t tell you how excited and happy we are,” he says. Gruters himself won a state House seat for District 73 with 65.07 percent of the vote over Democrat James Golden. Other state House victories included Republican Alex Miller winning District 72 with 58.08 percent over Democrat Ed James III and incumbent Julio Gonzalez winning re-election in District 74 over Democrat Manny Lopez. Democrats did take left-leaning District 70, where former St. Petersburg City Councilman Newt Newton took 76.27 percent of the vote over Manatee County Republican Cori Fournier.

Sarasota incumbents Tax Collector Barbara Ford-Coates, a Democrat, and Sarasota Clerk of Circuit Court Karen Rushing, a Republican, both coasted to re-election. In Manatee County, incumbent County Commissioners Betsy Benac will be joined by Steve Jonsson after Republicans ran the boards in that county.

Republican Mike Moran won an open Sarasota County Commission seat over Democrat Fredd Atkins, and says he hopes this shows a mandate for creating affordable housing options and seeking ways to keep young professionals in town. “And local Democrats should be extremely disappointed with leadership in Sarasota,” Moran says, critiquing mailers attacking his Planning Commission voting record.

Christine Jennings, chairman of the Sarasota Democratic Party, says the mailers just highlighted Moran’s votes and stood by them. As for the party’s future after a disappointing evening, Jennings says Democrats simply remain outnumbered in Sarasota, but that can change in coming years. “All we did was we planted seeds,” she says. “We had some outstanding candidates who worked hard, were intelligent and motivated. This is just beginning.”

In the closest race of the night locally, Manatee County School Board, incumbent Dave Miner narrowly defeated challenger Misty Servia with just 50.6 percent of the vote. Meanwhile, Gina Messenger won an open School Board seat with 67.6 percent over Edward Viltz. 

[Innovation]  EDCs Highlight Medical Innovation
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

From tests for pink eye to cutting-edge medical therapies, the Gulf Coast produces plenty in the world of health products. The Economic Development Corporation leaders all this week hope to shine additional attention on the sector and showcase the region as a hotbed for medical invention. The second annual Health Innovation Week, sponsored by the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County and the Bradenton Area EDC, highlights more than 50 companies headquartered in Sarasota and Manatee counties. 

“Letting our own companies, CEOs and entrepreneurs do the talking is an effective approach,” says Mark Huey, president and CEO of the EDC of Sarasota County, “and the rapid momentum we are seeing for the Health Innovation Week proves it." 

Dana Gourley, chief operating officer of WIT International, says the inaugural event last year excited officials at her company. WIT will host an open house along with the Florida Integrative Medical Center today from 5:30-7:30pm. Her company produces Watt-Ahh, a polarized water that proves to be a vital base ingredient for everything from energy drinks to wound care products. The pharmaceutical-grade water is used for food production to building up the immune system thanks to its low toxin levels. It was developed by Rob Gourley, WIT’s CEO. “We are just working with great companies to bring forward this technology,” Gourley says. WIT will host its open hosue today along with Florida Integrative Medical Center, where Dr. John Mongolian has been integrating modern medicine with intravenous infusion therapies. “People fly in from all over the world to receive these therapies,” says Gourley. “I don’t know how many people here realize we have a world-renowned facility here.”

The Health Innovation Week events also include an event at RPS Diagnostics, a Sarasota-based developer of rapid point-of-care diagnostic tools like the conjunctivitis test AdenoPlus or the InflammaDry test for dry eye disease. Events have also been hosted this week at State College of Florida and at LECOM. Later this week, events will be hosted at the Roskamp Institute and Enzymedica, and the third annual BioFlorida BioTech Expo will be hosted at Ringling College of Art and Design on Thursday from 5:30pm-8pm. 

[Good Bite]  Scandinavian Seas
Aviel Kanter, aviel.kanter@srqme.com

How to create the perfect salad: start from the bottom and work your way up. Step one: lettuce—choose the most crisp, market-fresh mixed greens for your base. Step two: veggies—stick with the classic cherry tomatoes and add a worldwide favorite—mega avocado slices. Step three: proteins—forget boring chicken or steak and go for the bounty of the sea. Grab a few slices of slightly oily (the good kind), tangerine-hued Nova salmon and extra-large juicy pink shrimp, chilled. Step four: dressing—tried and true balsamic with an unexpectedly creamy consistency, like the classic found at Main Street staple C'est La Vie. And finally—give yourself a break and have a real chef make it for you: aka the French culinary wizards at Lolita Tartine. It's called the Scandinave and it is perfect.  

Lolita Tartine , 1419 5th St., Sarasota, 941-952-3172.

[SRQ Story Project Partner Spotlight ]  Finding Gratitude and Meaning in Family Caregiving

On Friday December 2, JFCS of the Suncoast will host a free seminar featuring Dr. Barry Jacobs and Dr. Julia Mayer, authors of the book AARP Meditations for Caregivers at 9:30am. Over 40 million Americans are providing unpaid care to their family members and friends each year, often without hesitation or complaint. However, caregiving does pose formidable emotional and logistical challenges.

Sharing their experiences as both seasoned caregivers and clinical psychologists, Dr. Barry Jacobs and Dr. Julia Mayer will discuss solutions to the difficult challenges associated with caregiving. Through the power of personal caregiving stories, they will discuss techniques for stress management as well as acknowledge your limitations, seeking encouragement and learning to look at the big picture—providing a myriad of tips to make caregiving easier.

Space is limited! RSVP to Caregiving Helpline at  941-364-7560. 

JFCS Suncoast

[Recognition]  Sheriff Knight Promotes Two Deputies to Sergeant

Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight has announced the promotion of two Sarasota County Sheriff's Office deputies to the rank of Sergeant. Corrections Deputy Lewis Hirtzel is promoted to the rank of sergeant assigned to the Courts/Corrections Division. Hirtzel began his career at the sheriff's office in 2010 as a corrections deputy. A valued and respected member of the Corrections Emergency Response Team (CERT), Lewis has received multiple nominations for Deputy of the Month while serving as officer in command of the west wing. Deputy Robert Nichols is promoted to the rank of sergeant assigned to the Law Enforcement Division. Nichols began his career at the sheriff's office in 2004 as a patrol deputy. He served in the Criminal Investigations Section as well as the Tactical Unit, receiving a Unit Citation in 2013 for exemplary work. Nichols has been recognized by numerous agencies and offices, including the Secret Service, Sarasota/Manatee Airport Authority and the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office. 

Sarasota County Sheriff's Office

[Philanthropy ]  Venice Theatre Receives $50,000 Arts Appreciation Grant

The Gulf Coast Community Foundation has awarded Venice Theatre a $50,000 Arts Appreciation Grant to continue its musical theatre internship program. The program was initiated in 2014 and has been able to continue due to the ongoing support from Gulf Coast. Aspiring actors, singers and dancers receive valuable hands-on experience and mentoring while helping the theatre cast its diverse line up of shows. 

Gulf Coast Community Foundation

[Recognition]  CareerEdge Collaborative Profiled in National Report

The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) released a report about the changing landscape of workforce “learning systems." CareerEdge is one of five national workforce development organizations profiled in the document. The council highlighted CareerEdge’s reliance on data to drive its workforce investments. The CareerEdge case study also highlighted the history and the impact the organization has had over the last five years. In the Sarasota-Manatee region alone, CareerEdge has helped local workers to receive over 2,000 raises, an increase of $2.42 in hourly pay, 540 promotions and $15,200 in bonuses, while funding more than 3,100 trainings and increasing total wages in the region by $23 million. 

CareerEdge



[Inside the Issue]  Period Piece

This month in, Period Piece, we take a tour through the iconic Umbrella House built by Paul Rudolph in 1953. Its new owners have now restored the “umbrella” to its original glory, and have focused on reviving the home in the style of its ‘50s stylistic iteration. Relish in the revitalized Umbrella House and get a taste for what the home felt like in its “naked party” heyday. 

Read More

[TODAY]  THEATER: Million Dollar Quartet , November 9 – January 1

A smash-hit musical, Million Dollar Quartet, tells the story of legendary music icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins. This musical gives audiences a unique behind the scenes look at these musicians before they were icons. Single tickets and subscriptions are available online or by calling the FST box office. 

Gompertz Theatre, 1241 N Palm Ave Sarasota, 34236

SRQ Media Group

SRQ DAILY is produced by SRQ | The Magazine. Note: The views and opinions expressed in the Saturday Perspectives Edition and in the Letters department of SRQ DAILY are those of the author(s) and do not imply endorsement by SRQ Media. Senior Editor Jacob Ogles edits the Saturday Perspective Edition, Letters and Guest Contributor columns.In the CocoTele department, SRQ DAILY is providing excerpts from news releases as a public service. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SRQ DAILY. The views expressed by individuals are their own and their appearance in this section does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. For rates on SRQ DAILY banner advertising and sponsored content opportunities, please contact Ashley Ryan Cannon at 941-365-7702 x211 or via email

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