Citizens group asks candidates to promise to run clean campaigns

A citizen watchdog group has challenged every candidate running for office in Sarasota County to sign a pledge to refrain from mudslinging and accepting money from “Dark Money” PACs. 

Citizens for Sarasota County unveiled the pledge in a news release July 11.

“The pledge will raise voters’ awareness of negative campaigning and focus discussion on issues of real concern to the voters of Sarasota County,” said Susan Schoettle, a member of the CSC Steering Committee.

In the release, CSC founder Tom Matrullo said outside influence has hijacked the political process: “For more than a decade, we have witnessed Dark Money PACs and hired political operatives from outside Sarasota County turn our local elections into mud-slinging free-for-alls that ignore local issues.” 

The CSC believes holding candidates accountable can affect elections, noting two incumbents in Venice city elections in 2023 refused to sign a similar pledge and lost their seats.

The pledge reads:

"To do my part to ensure an honest, fair election that focuses on the issues facing Sarasota County voters, I pledge to:

• "Conduct my campaign accurately and honestly, keeping the focus on issues relevant to the voters of Sarasota County, Florida.
• "Not engage in character defamation of other candidates or participate in invasions of personal privacy unrelated to campaign issues and to publicly repudiate any campaign material, communications, or advertisements of other groups who engage in such activities.
• "Refuse both direct contributions and indirect support, e.g. in the form of advertising, communications, or mailers using my name or photo, from organizations that do not disclose the origins of their funding, such as dark money PACs."