Petitioners race to change how the county elects commissioners

If one group gets its way, Sarasota County could change the way it elects county commissioners.

The Sarasota Alliance for Fair Elections has been collecting signatures from registered voters to change County Commission elections to single-member districts, meaning residents would vote for candidates representing only their geographic area. That would be a change from how voters cast ballots now: a countywide vote that elects commissioners who represent geographical areas.

So far, SAFE has collected and validated more than 10,000 signatures. The group needs 15,096, and if it can get them by March 16 — a self-imposed deadline — there’s a chance of getting the issue before voters in a June special election.  

“It’s really an ambitious goal,” said SAFE President Kindra Muntz. “It’s a stretch.”

The Friday deadline gives just enough time for the petitions to be processed and validated by the Supervisor of Elections, for the County Commission to call a special election and for the county attorney to write the ballot language.

Supporters of the switch say it will make campaigning easier for those who don’t have generous financial support, and will make elected officials more attentive to the voters and issues.

Opponents, such as Argus Foundation Executive Director Christine Robinson, argue it takes power away from voters.

“It really disenfranchises voters from being able to elect their county commissioners to do what’s in the best interest of the county,” she said.

Opponents argue the county tried single-member district voting in 1992, but it was switched back two years later.

If SAFE is able to get the necessary signatures, the special election for voters to decide if they want to make the switch to single-member district elections would be the week before the qualifying period for this year’s County Commission candidates.

So far, five candidates have filed intents to run: Al Maio (R) the incumbent for District 4, along with Lourdez Ramirez (R) and Wesley Beggs (D). Paul Caragiulo will not run again for District 2, but Christian Ziegler and Alexandra Coe, both Republicans, have filed.

The proximity of a special election to the commission qualifying period, June 18-22, is another sticking point for Robinson.

If SAFE can’t have a special election in June, it hopes to get the issue on the ballot in the general election in November, and possibly affect change for the 2020 election.

Those interested in viewing or signing a petition can go to keepdemocracysafe.org.