City Commission candidates to face off in CONA forum

On Monday, April 8 at 7 p.m., Sarasota City Commission candidates Susan Chapman, Suzanne Atwell and Richard Dorfman will participate in a forum hosted by the Sarasota Council of Neighborhood Associations (CONA).

The top three vote-getters in the March city election are vying for the two at-large city commission seats that will be determined by city residents on Tuesday, May 14, with early voting taking place the previous week.

Open to the public and free of charge, the CONA forum will take place at the Sarasota Garden Club (1131 Boulevard of the Arts).

Moderated by CONA Director Kafi Benz, the public forum offers voters another opportunity to learn about the candidates and where they stand on various city issues.

“With less than two months in which to campaign, this opportunity for debate will be important to find out more details about the platforms and positions of the three remaining candidates,” Benz said. “Expect a lively and intense debate.”

In this forum setting, candidates will be asked a series of questions and given the opportunity to explain their positions while also commenting on positions taken by their opponents. With Chapman considered to be the most neighborhood-oriented of the three remaining candidates, the neighborhood association setting may provide her with a slight home field advantage when squaring off against Atwell (a self-proclaimed “centrist” candidate) and Dorfman, whose campaign platform is focused on creating a more robust downtown.

If you live in the city limits and are not registered to vote, you have until April 15 to register. For registration information, visit the Supervisor of Elections website.

Holland and Lumpkin endorse DorfmanLast week, former Sarasota City Commission candidates Linda Holland (a Democrat) and Kelvin Lumpkin (a Republican) endorsed incumbent Mayor Suzanne Atwell and commission candidate Richard Dorfman as their candidates of choice to fill the two at-large city commission seats to be decided by the second round of city elections taking place May 14.

In the joint statement dated March 26, Holland is quoted as saying, “One of the things I’ve learned in my 30 years of civic engagement is the value of teamwork and Suzanne Atwell is an experienced and essential team player.”

In regard to Dorfman, Holland said, “After debating our way through 12 public forums, I’ve come to admire Richard Dorfman’s ‘can-do’ attitude and robust perspective on the issues.”

In the same statement, Lumpkin is quoted as saying, “Their combined experience and positive outlook will serve our city well. I’m rested and ready to throw my support behind the two candidates I feel are best suited to lead Sarasota: Suzanne Atwell and Richard Dorfman.”

Chapman responds

In response to Holland and Lumpkin’s endorsements, candidate Susan Chapman (the leading vote-getter in the March election), said, “It is now very clear that I am the only candidate who represents the interests of the people who live here. I intend to run a positive, issue-oriented campaign. I trust the voters to elect the person who will stand up for them. I feel honored that I received 44 percent of the votes cast on March 12 and I will be looking for the continued support of voters in May.”

Chapman also noted that her campaign is supported by numerous former Sarasota Mayors, a list that includes Fredd Atkins, Elmer Berkel, Mollie Cardamone, Richard Clapp, Jack Gurney, Kelly Kirschner, Bill Kline, Richard Martin, David Merrill, Nora Patterson and Lou Ann Palmer.

One-on-One Interviews

In the weeks leading up to the March city elections, I interviewed candidates Chapman, Atwell and Dorfman in separate one-on-one settings on my "Local Matters" radio show that airs on WSLR 96.5 FM. These 30-minute interviews can be accessed at the Local Matters podcast page.