CONA questions candidates on 2050 platforms

Both the long-form and lightning-round questions posed to the Sarasota County Commission candidates Monday night focused heavily on Sarasota 2050.

Alexandra Coe, Steve McAllister and Pete Theisen, running for District 2, and John Minder and Ray Porter, running for District 4, appeared at the forum Monday night. Primary winners Paul Caragiulo, Republican candidate for District 2, and Al Maio, Republican candidate for District 4, did not attend.

Lourdes Ramirez, CONA president, said Caraguilo contacted the board to inform it that he could not attend the forum; Maio, however, did not. Maio also did not attend the June 26 CONA forum.

CONA members asked the candidates their thoughts on new development, rising tax rates and traffic issues on University Parkway.

“It’s panic planning,” Porter said in reference to the planned diverging diamond at the I-75 and University Parkway interchange. “How did the County Commission approve a development without traffic planning?”

Malls across the country are losing revenue, McAllister said, and downtown shops are moving out to University Parkway. He said the entire project was a huge blunder.

None of the candidates supported raising taxes for any reason, however all expressed a level of expectance for taxes to increase in some quantity.

“Everyone will get a tax increase every year,” Minder said. “Sarasota 2050 is a total economic disaster.”

All of the candidates except Minder supported redeveloping areas of the county over approving new developments.

“This town is screaming for redevelopment,” Coe said. Coe said the developments happening east of the interstate are cookie-cutter subdivision type of development, which she believes is the wrong kind.

Ramirez was satisfied with most of the candidates’ thoughts on the comprehensive plan.

“(2050) is a complex problem and they were able to help CONA understand their stances,” Ramirez said.