Who will win the special election in state House District 72? Answering that with confidence requires an elusive level of arrogance, but data indicates nobody’s running away with this contest quite yet. A survey from StPetePolls.org this week offered the most recent indication this contest will be a dead heat until the last voters cast ballots Feb. 13.

The bottom line from StPetePolls is that Republican James Buchanan is winning—barely. The phone poll of 714 likely voters (including 330 Republicans and 244 Democrats) calculated 49.1 percent support for Buchanan, 46.1 percent for Democrat Margaret Good, 3.2 percent for Libertarian Alison Foxall and 1.6 percent undecided. That 3-percent break between Buchanan and Good falls within the margin of error.

But Democrats say the more important result in the poll may be isolated data on respondents claiming they already voted by absentee ballot. Among these early bird voters, 56.6 percent supported Good while just 39.5 percent backed Buchanan. By that measure, even if Buchanan has an edge with the public at large, he’ll only win if his supporters can find the motivation to fill in his name on a ballot sometime in the next few weeks.

That’s what makes special elections so dicey. Ballots have one contest on them. Nobody who’s already at the polls to support Donald Trump or Rick Scott or Bill Nelson or Hillary Clinton will look down and say “I may as well vote for somebody in that House race.” If people don’t have strong emotions who should hold this seat, they’re more likely to binge a new Netflix series than to dig up that ballot that came in the mail with all those nauseating attack ads.

And Democrats talk a good game all around. Good, after a few stumbles like declining a televised debate with her primary opponent, has canvassed hard. Pulling in 72,4 percent of the Democratic vote in the December primary showed she had the support of the left-leaning electorate, and donors from across the state noticed. That led to a rather shocking $106,831 haul in donations to her House campaign in the December fundraising period. And as of Jan. 4, Good was the candidate with the most cash on hand.

Buchanan, meanwhile, has lacked a little in public presence. Part of that is he had no primary at all, though missing the chance to divide his base into warring factions is hardly a bad thing. His campaign initially announced he would skip debates and forums with opponents, though he’s recently backpedaled on that. But don't write the Republican off just yet. He still raised the most money overall. While his December haul of $55,500 in donations was just over half that of Good’s, that’s partly because he tapped donors much earlier. He’s still raised the most money, $282,630 in donations as of Jan. 4, compared to Good’s grand total of $227,314.

Incidentally, Foxall’s strident third party bid shouldn’t be ignored. She’s pulled in $14,577, more than any Libertarian state House candidate in Florida history. It would take a lot of major party distaste for her to convert that into a victory, but she’s got better resources than anyone before her.

At the end of the day, the election won’t come down to dollars or a sample of voters who picked up the phone for an automated survey. As of mid-day Friday, the Sarasota Supervisor of Elections had already collected 16,222 mail-in ballots, likely a majority of the votes that will be cast. We don't know yet who anyone voted for, though we know those ballots include 7,368 from registered Republicans, 7,008 from Democrats and 16 from Libertarians. This one will be a photo finish.

Jacob Ogles is contributing senior editor for SRQ Media Group. 

Faculty are what constitutes the core strength of a college. Student success is largely due to the efforts of faculty who teach complex material in a relatable way and inspire learning and participation in the classroom. Ask a graduate who had the most impact on their college experience and the answer is almost always a faculty member.

At the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota, our 126 full-time faculty members and 292 adjunct faculty consistently educate and shape graduates who are well-prepared to transfer to a state university or immediately contribute to our local economy. The fact that our transfer students routinely out-perform the native students at our state universities in grade point average is testament to the work of our faculty. 

SCF faculty could work at any public or private university in the state, combining research and publishing with teaching responsibilities. Forty percent of our instructors have a doctoral degree and all are regarded as experts in their field of study. Many publish and conduct research, but what is truly impressive about our faculty is their passion for teaching. When we talk about a 24:1 student-to-teacher ratio in our classrooms, that is with the professor providing the instruction and interacting directly with our students.

Thanks to Florida’s two-plus-two articulation system, our students are receiving the same course curriculum in their first two years as their university counterparts, taught by our faculty in a smaller, more interactive learning environment. Feedback from our graduates who transfer to a university consistently shows that this personalized experience prepared them quite well to be successful. Our transfer students’ 3.12 university GPAs are further evidence of the excellent preparation students receive from SCF faculty.

When SCF’s Brain Bowl team qualifies for the National Academic Quiz Team Community College Championship Tournament this spring for the second time in three years, I see the impact of our faculty in the depth of knowledge and the quick recall of information our team possesses. When the college’s Model United Nations team wins best position paper for nine straight semesters, competing against colleges and universities in the U.S. Southern Region, I know that our faculty developed each team member’s research, writing and presentation skills. It goes beyond the outstanding advisors who guide these teams of scholars – every engagement in the classroom shapes the knowledge and talents of our students.

Our faculty members are not just committed to teaching, but to making the college experience more available and more affordable to our students. One professor recently created a collective $8,500 savings for his students by putting chemistry course experiments on the college’s on-line learning system. This is just one example of how our faculty reduces costs for our students, making a huge difference in whether or not students can afford to complete their program of study.

SCF’s faculty are frequently seen in the media, serving as subject matter experts on newsworthy topics such as the recent solar eclipse, cyber security, nursing shortages and the breakdown of public discourse. In the last year, SCF faculty members consistently appeared in the local news to help inform our community.

A recent Gallup study found that college graduates who “had a professor who cared about them as a person, one who made them excited about learning” were twice as likely to be successfully engaged in the workplace. Our faculty are committed to creating that kind of experience. At SCF, our strength is a faculty committed to the success of our students and our community.

Dr. Carol Probstfeld is president of State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota. 

While there are many ways to measure the success of a college institution, one surefire way is through the achievement of its alumni. At Ringling College of Art and Design, we certainly have a great deal to be proud of and one of the pinnacles of our triumph is our amazing graduates.

At Ringling College, we fully know and celebrate the fact our alumni are a very bright, shiny thread in the fabric of our institution. In recognition of this, we recently unveiled a brand new installation in our Keating Center called the Alumni Wall of Honor. Last Friday afternoon, an eclectic and lively group gathered to celebrate the ten chosen alums featured on the honor wall for this year—a collective ranging from the class of 1995-2014 who represent our diverse majors and who are out there changing the world doing some incredible and inspiring things in their respective fields. There is also an area dedicated to recognizing our Alumni Leaders—the many graduates who give back to the College either financially or through volunteer efforts. We are so very grateful for their steadfast support and dedication to their alma mater.

This wonderful tribute is especially meaningful to me as president because I am ever proud of who our students “grow up to be.” And this installation, designed by Jeff Bleitz, head of the Graphic Design Department, and facilitated by Susan Borozan, director of Alumni Relations, is a lasting testament to our mission of educating our students to be the creative leaders of tomorrow. This rings even more true with me as both the proud father and husband of two Ringling alums. (Please note: I am also the proud father of two New College graduates as well.)

To the point, the awards and accolades Ringling College students collect during their time on campus is always impressive. But wow, the things they do upon graduation are just as incredible, if not more so in some cases. As students, they win Student Academy Awards and Addy Awards, E3 Game Awards and Telly Awards; as alumni they win actual Oscars, Emmys, prestigious fellowships and innovation awards to name a few. The list goes on and on—and believe me, it is extraordinary. This is because our students and alums are just that: extraordinary. This is why our graduates get great jobs leading to great careers. After all, more than 100 recruiters from across the country come to our campus each year to seek and hire our soon-to-be-alumni.

At Ringling, we greatly pride ourselves on our rigorous curriculum and pedagogical approach to art and design, as well as our tremendous capacity and tenacity for preparing our students to attain the creative careers of their dreams. We owe this success primarily to our esteemed faculty who teach these students and the dedicated staff who help guide them through their academic journey. As a result, when they graduate, they are ready—ready to take on whatever comes their way with creative spirit and confidence.

On a local level, there is one issue that bothers me. Too few of our alumni remain in Sarasota. Too many of our graduates leave. Between 80 to 90 percent of our graduates depart for other areas in pursuit of jobs rather than staying near. Why? Because job opportunities in the disciplines we teach are too few in this region. The community and the College have been working with all the institutions of higher education in this area to establish greater options for all of our talented students. While we have grown and improved job prospects in recent years, I know there are opportunities for further potential at our fingertips.

Without a doubt, retaining and attracting a greater number of our inspiring alumni would benefit our region in tremendous ways, for it would take that bright, shiny thread that’s enriched our Ringling College community for four years and weave it deeper into the vibrant fabric of our greater Sarasota community for years to come. This would be a true measure of success and a win-win for all. 

“Women’s Exchange has an amazing selection of furniture, jewelry, women’s clothing and decorative items.” — Lorraine Wolfinger. Stay mondo cool with your moolah and shop for gently used fashions at last year’s Best Resale Store: The Women’s Exchange (“They have EVERYTHING!” says Nancy Sheridan). Goodwill looked to be number one until the last minute when they eased into first finalist, closely followed by ReFreshed. Who will take first place in this year’s Best of SRQ Local Competition? 

Vote Here!

Designing Daughters of Sarasota has awarded over $70,000 to local nonprofits during their annual grant ceremony where roughly 100 people witnessed 19 not-for-profit organizations receive grants, ranging from $1,800 to $5,000. Attendees, including representatives of the nonprofits, dignitaries, members and community leaders, enjoyed light bites provided by Zoe’s Kitchen and Rebekah Peranio of The Pantry. This year’s grant recipients included Mothers Helping Mothers, Everyday Blessings, Meals on Wheels, Safe Children’s Coalition, Children First, Defense of Animals, Take Stock in Children, Roskamp Institute, The Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center, Mote Marine, The Boys and Girls Club, Community Haven for Adults and Children with Disabilities, Instride Therapy, UnidosNOW, More to Life, Harvest House, The Florida Rescue Farm, Every Child and Booker Middle School Performing Arts.  

Designing Daughters of Sarasota

Pines of Sarasota Foundation President Janet K. Ginn and Pines of Sarasota President/CEO Mike Ward announced a reimagining and renovation of Pines’ Assisted Living Facility and a partnership with the Esther & Harold Mertz Foundation. The renovation is the first step in the transformation of Pines of Sarasota’s campus and the beginning of the next phase in the life of the nearly 70 year-old senior care community. The Assisted Living building, the first facility of its kind in Sarasota, was built in 1989 to provide seniors with independence within a supportive environment. The renovation will modernize the facility offering residents more privacy and a broader variety of room configurations while maintaining the high quality of service and care for which Pines of Sarasota is known. In addition to the changes to resident rooms, Pines’ signature porte cochere will be added to a newly configured entrance that will welcome visitors and residents and shield them from inclement weather. Funding for the $3.9 million project will be supported by the Esther & Harold Mertz Foundation, which will match all donations on a 2:1 basis. In a show of faith in Pines of Sarasota Foundation and the generosity of the community, the Mertz Foundation has already contributed $2.6 million in matching funds. 

Pines of Sarasota

In order to help area businesses and nonprofits better manage issues related to harassment and discrimination, Goodwill Manasota is bringing in speakers from the U.S. Department of Labor and the Hultman Sensenig + Joshi law firm for Time’s Up – Sexual Harassment and Employment Law in 2018. The workshop will help organizations to learn how to identify and address harassment and discrimination in the workplace and discuss the DOL’s enforcement priorities. Lourdes Bahr and Al Hernandez of the U.S. Department of Labor will discuss company culture issues and compliance in relation to proper categorizing of employees as exempt and non-exempt, proper payment of wages – including overtime, and misclassification of independent contractors. Christine R. Sensenig, Esquire, of Hultman Sensenig + Joshi, will discuss the risks that sexual harassment claims pose. This program will take place on Wednesday January 31 from 9-11 am at Goodwill’s Cortez Community Room (3465 Cortez Road W., Bradenton). This workshop is free but reservations are required. Go to experiencegoodwill.org/events to reserve your spot.  

Goodwill Manasota

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System recently welcomed Dr. Paul Chomiak, MD, to its surgical oncology team. A board-certified and fellowship-trained thoracic surgeon, Dr. Chomiak joined Sarasota Memorial’s First Physicians Group network as Director of Thoracic Surgical Oncology on January 15. With more than 20 years experience providing specialized treatment to patients with lung cancer and thoracic disease, Dr. Chomiak’s expertise includes robotic-assisted surgery and minimally invasive techniques for malignant and benign cancers and disorders of the lungs and chest. Prior to relocating to Sarasota, Dr. Chomiak practiced for three years at Sacred Heart Healthcare System in Pensacola, Fla., where he served as medical director of its Lung Nodule Screening Program and on its cancer and robotic steering committees. In April 2017, he was the first thoracic surgeon in Florida to earn certification as a participating physician in the MD Anderson Cancer Network, a program of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center that provides members access to leading-edge technologies, patient treatment protocols, education, research and multidisciplinary approach to patient care.   

Sarasota Memorial Healthcare

TIFF’s (To Inform Families First) Initiative will host their first annual Breakfast with TIFFany’s fundraiser at Diamond Vault in Sarasota on February 6 at 10am on at Diamond Vault’s South Tamiami Trail location. Christine Olson founded TIFF’s Initiative after her daughter Tiffiany, for whom the organization is named, was killed in a traffic accident in 2005. The voluntary emergency contact database system was then launched in 2006 in the state of Florida and to date, nearly 14 million Florida residents have registered. TIFF’s Initiative is currently active in 6 states. Tickets are available online for $20. To register online for the voluntary emergency contact database for Florida residents, visit https://services.flhsmv.gov/eci/. 

To Inform Families First