- December 21, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
Age: 76
Resident of Sarasota County: Seven years
Current occupation: Retired from healthcare; community volunteer
I was approached with an opportunity for community service to the voters of Sarasota County. Currently many citizens are expressing concerns about the responses of the county commissioners in favor of big developers.
The quality of life attracting many of us to this area has been chipped away by the sometimes shortsighted decisions that contradict the purposes of a Home Rule Charter. The will of the people can be easily disregarded when political influences favoring special interest groups come into play.
Having graduated with a diploma from Penn-Presbyterian School of Nursing in Philadelphia, and a BSN degree from Thomas Edison State College in Trenton, N.J., I worked in healthcare. Most of my adult life I’ve been a community volunteer.
Retirement has allowed me to participate in local government/civic activities that impact quality of life for citizens, such as protection of the environment, housing, employment opportunities, safety, our schools, support for cultural events, awareness of local government and fiscal responsibility.
I’m active in Sarasota County politics as a Democratic precinct leader for Precinct 311and currently Precinct 312 in North Port. I served two terms on the North Port Citizens Tax Advisory Committee. I am vice president of the North Port Democratic Club and belong to organizations whose community service efforts benefit animal shelters and hospice.
Replacing recent amendments, such as 7.1A, will facilitate citizen efforts to place a referendum on the ballot, as well as future changes to the charter.
The wording of the amendment itself was contradictory. It places additional requirements and restrictions on petitions and will block changes that will be needed in the future. It requires a 10% vote in each individual district rather than the current 10% of all voters in the county, shortens the time frame for collecting the petitions and bypasses public input. It requires a “legal sufficiency review” and a “fiscal impact statement” among other items “prepared by the county” and could be interpreted as the five county commissioners.
At the very least there should be required non-partisan independent studies to determine positive and negative impact of proposed changes, followed by three public meetings to reveal those results.
We four Democrats running for the CRB have agreed to a slate that protects Home Rule. I am in agreement with my colleague Robin Williams, District 4 candidate, who has stated “I pledge not to accept any developer donations” and “will be an independent voice” responsible to the interests of the voters of Sarasota County.
Recent bills passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor include 31 new laws that apply to local governments. Senate Bill 1628 requires that local governments complete a business impact statement before adopting any comprehensive plan amendment or land development regulation. Statements must include:
This law will require changes to the Sarasota County charter. Note that it addresses only businesses, nothing on impacts to the environment, neighborhoods, zoning, etc. Who will compile the estimates, how long will it take, will the information go directly to the state for approval? Shouldn’t Sarasota County and its voters be responsible for approvals and implementation, or is it up to Tallahassee? Who gets to decide?
No response.
No response.
