Sarasota GOP pitches guidelines for nonpartisan races

After the involvement of political parties made some waves in the nonpartisan City Commission race, Republican Party of Sarasota County Chairman Joe Gruters is attempting to cut down on that involvement going forward.

On Thursday, Gruters sent an email to Sarasota County Democratic Party Chairwoman Christine Jennings and several local media outlets. In the email, Gruters proposes a series of guidelines to reduce the partisan participation in the March 10 City Commission election. Some of the stipulations included in that proposal are:

• No money from either party will be spent on behalf of any city candidate;
• Neither party will give organized support to any city candidate;
• When parties invite candidates for a non-partisan race to meetings, all candidates in that race will be invited.

If the Democratic Party were to reject the proposal, Gruters wrote, the Republican Party would begin supporting registered Republican candidates in nonpartisan races in earnest.

"Without an agreement between the two local political parties, the Republican Party will use any and all resources to assist and elect its party members to the two city of Sarasota commission seats up for election in 2015."

"I am hopeful that local Democrats can support this agreement," Gruters wrote. "However, without an agreement between the two local political parties, the Republican Party will use any and all resources to assist and elect its party members to the two city of Sarasota commission seats up for election in 2015, and all other nonpartisan elections countywide going forward."

Despite the overtures from Gruters, Jennings was unwavering in her stance on how to handle the city elections. Jennings said that the only stipulation outlined in the City Charter is that no party affiliation is denoted on the ballot. Informing voters which candidates are registered Democrats is not only not violating the spirit of the nonpartisan race, Jennings believes, but is providing a service to the individuals who comprise the local party.

"I truly know that our Democrats expect us, as a party, to let them know that we have Democrats in the race," Jennings said

Gruters — echoing comments from some candidates in the commission race — has said the nonpartisan element of the City Commission election is important to preserve, because a simple party divide does not necessarily occur when dealing with local issues. Jennings has said she believes there is no such thing as a partisan race, and that party affiliation matters even when it comes to the City Commission.

"There are absolutely differences," Jennings said. "Both parties stand for different things."