A Manatee County district race will produce a new County Commissioner Tuesday regardless who wins. James Satcher already defeated Commissioner Priscilla Trace in an August Republican primary, but faces Democrat Dominque Shauntel Brown on Nov.3.

Satcher believes the race should be focused on police protection. He promised to fully fund the budget request from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office that comes to the board. “We are going to fund the sheriff and his priorities to keep everyone safe,” he said, ”and then we are going to bring a conservative voice to the commission and to the people.”

Brown, who served in the Air Force before establishing The Dream Law Firm in Manatee, said she’d like to see change in the overall direction of county decisions. “Manatee County needs leaders who care more about uniting our communities and not tearing us down or pitting us against each other,” she said. “When elected to the District 1 seat, I will zealously advocate for everyone, not just the few, and I will be a voice for the overlooked and voiceless.

“Representation Matters - my platform is all inclusive - for all residents of District 1,” she added. “I would also offer more balance to the 6-1 Republican to Democrat ratio that currently exists and be one of a small minority of commissioners who did not get on the board after taking money from developers who’ve enjoyed a rubber stamp from it for more than a decade."

Satcher will bring his own type of change. He said he ran against Trace in the primary not because he disliked her personally but because he felt there needed to be a philosophical shift on the commission. His primary win shows many agree. “It was a vote of confidence in me and in our message,” he said. ”It was also a reaction and a frustration from the voices who are not being heard, and that’s what we are endeavoring to do, to hear from voters and take their concerns to the commission.”

On issues of development, Satcher said the county needs to be mindful of property rights. “We have to recognize people own land, and if they want to sell or develop that land, we can’t stop them,” he said. “What we can do is work to do that as responsible as possible and also to keep the area safe. I think a big part of that is safe roads to access where the growth is occurring. A lot of changes are authorized already. If I were to be elected, these homes that have already been approved, we would work hard to make sure we do the best with what we have.”

Brown called proper growth management the most important challenge facing Manatee County, and said development must meet the needs of the community and solve its lack of infrastructure. “Our roadways need the most attention, but we also need to consider employment opportunities and commercial developments,” she said. “We have many houses being built, but where will the people work? If they can’t work within the District, they’ll be utilizing the roadways. I plan to continue listening to the voices of the people in order to figure out what they want and need in their community. I also plan to work with the developers to ensure that they know what it is that they people want and need. Finally, I’ll work with the elected members of the BOCC to ensure that we address these concerns.” 

Photo: James Satcher, Dominique Shauntel Brown.

Less than a week before the election, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office recommended misdemeanor campaign finance charges against Sarasota County Commission candidates Mark Pienkos, Cory Hutchinson and Alice White.

The Sheriff's Office issued "non-arrest probable cause affidavits." It will be up to the State Attorney's Office whether to pursue charges.

The three candidates, Democrats running respectively in Districts 1, 3 and 5, allegedly accepted donations from the county and state Democratic Party knowing the amounts exceeding the county limit of $200.

Finance records show Pienkos accepted $6,000 from the Florida Democratic Party and $1,500 from the Sarasota County Democratic Party in his fight against incumbent Commissioner Mike Moran. They also show Hutchinson collected $2,000 from the local party to battle incumbent Nancy Detert, and White took $1,000 in her race against Republican Ron Cutsinger.

All three returned the money in excess of the $200 per donor limit after Republican Party of Sarasota Acting Chair Jack Brill sent a letter to the county attorney’s office calling for an investigation. Brill said it's unfair the rival party would orchestrate pouring thousands into the races, effectively creating a dark money system where anyone could give money to the party and then have money far exceeding the legal limit get siphoned into campaign coffers.

The Sheriff’s Office met with White and Hutchinson, who said they understood the legal limits but had been told by Sarasota County Democratic Party Chair JoAnne DeVries that party donations could exceed the county limit. For state positions like senator or representative that’s true, but those positions are not subject to limitations of the Sarasota County Charter.

Pienkos had his attorney contact investigators and say he did not want to discuss the matter. He previously told SRQ he believed the donations were legal but returned the money out of an abundance of caution.

DeVries said she believed charges were a politicization of the legal process, and that it's not unusual for excessive donations to result in refunds. "The impartiality of our justice system represents the foundation of our civil society in America," she said. "When the justice system is used as a political tool it undermines everyone’s faith in the justice system."

"What is unusual in this instance is that one political opponent requested a political prosecution," she added. "All Sarasota residents should condemn such political prosecutions." 

Just in time for Costume Day on Halloween, Saturday, October 31, a new Butterfly House will open at Historic Spanish Point campus. You are invited to visit and be surrounded by colorful native Florida butterflies and their favorite flowers in the region’s only Butterfly House Learn and delight in this family-friendly educational experience. The Butterfly House will be open daily 10am to 5pm. 

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The streaming online season opener Together We Rise: Celebrating the Resilience of the Human Spirit brings us together to experience the healing and hope of music. Premiering this Friday, October 30th, The Key Chorale Chamber Singers will present an inspirational program of favorites, uplifting spirituals and music that celebrates the resiliency of the human spirit. Artistic Director, Joseph Caulkins says, “We have all been through a lot in 2020 from social unrest, to a divisive election, and a worldwide pandemic. But the human spirit has an amazing way of finding the good through our ability to overcome, even when times are as challenging as these." 

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All Faiths Food Bank recently received grants and support from the following organizations: $7,500 from the Wells Fargo Foundation in support of COVID-19 response efforts $80,000 from Publix Super Markets Charities in support of the Mobile Pantry program, $7,500 from the TJX Foundation in support of the Mobile Pantry program. Mobile Pantries which provide access to fresh produce, meats and groceries to those in need across Sarasota and DeSoto counties, and COVID-19 response efforts. 

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Lorna Luft, Broadway star and daughter of the beloved legendary star July Garland, will be the keynote speaker at Tidewell Foundation’s 12th Annual Signature Luncheon, scheduled for February 5, 2021. The 12th Annual Signature Luncheon is Tidewell’s signature fundraising event to help fund the services Tidewell provides to more than 10,000 patients annually, regardless of their ability to pay. The luncheon gets under way at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, February 5, 2021, at The Ritz-Carlton in Sarasota. 

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Eleni Kouvatsos has earned her professional accreditation in public relations. In receiving the designation of Accredited in Public Relations (APR), Kouvatsos joins the more than 5,000 professionals nationally that represent an elite group of highly skilled public relations professionals committed to practicing with exemplary ethical standards. 

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The CAC will launch its one of a kind website on October 30th in two Zoom virtual events. Bringing Climate Warming from Global to Local level enables decision makers to use easy to understand and highly trusted information to advance our adaptation to disruptive climate events increasingly impacting Sarasota and Florida. CAC is hosting two Zoom virtual events to launch our website and give you an inside look at brining impeccable science to serve society in one of the world’s most beautiful but threatened areas. 

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Sarasota Sports Medicine announced the addition of The Apex Tri-Wave Class IV Laser to their practice.  “Class IV laser, also known as warm laser, has consistently shown to be an effective modality for treating chronic pain and sports injuries of the lower back and neck, elbow, shoulder and knee. Now, with the addition of the Apex Tri-Wave Laser, we have a powerful new tool to help patients recover faster from a multitude of injuries,” says Dr. Kaufman. “The Apex Laser is surpassing the excellent results we were already able to achieve with our previous system."  

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