Ramirez to run for Sarasota County Commission

It was almost one year ago that Siesta Key resident Lourdes Ramirez discovered she was the target of identity theft, before learning the suspect was former Sarasota GOP Chairman Bob Waechter.

Ramirez, president of the Sarasota County Council of Neighborhood Associations, thought the move was to discourage her from running for Sarasota County Commission. Now it's official: It didn't work.

Joining the 2014 General Election race with fellow Republicans Al Maio, Paul Caragiulo and Pete Theisen, Ramirez filed to run for the District 4 seat on the County Commission Monday, Nov. 4, against Maio. Both vie to replace Commissioner Nora Patterson, who has represented Siesta Key and middle portions of the county since 1998.

Ramirez, who has been a staunch opponent of proposed changes to Sarasota 2050, had been at least 75% positive she would jump into the race.

“No one can tell me what I can and can’t do,” Ramirez told the Pelican Press last year, in reference to the fake contribution. “The person who decided to do this obviously doesn’t know much about me.”