We are now mandated to look at it every odd year. Tax Collector, Sarasota County We were right to do it before, Detert said. Commissioner Nancy Detert was the lone vote on the commission to oppose the inclusion of the Goodrich proposals at a Nov. 15 public hearing scheduled for final adoption of a new district map. Waechter But Waechter insists that the map is a good product. Under Spitzers map, portions of District 2 north of 12th Street and east of U.S. 301 would be incorporated into District 1. In 1994, he started his own architectural firm, Smith Architects, P.A., which is located in Siesta Key Village. FAX: (941) 861-8609 The Herald-Tribune uncovered a number of clues that tied Waechter to the Smith map. commissioners@scgov.net : . Sarasota, FL 34236. ft. 3402 Austin St, SARASOTA, FL 34231 $425,000 MLS# O6056232 One or more photo(s) has been virtually staged. 1660 Ringling Blvd., During the process of considering new district maps for county elections Tuesday, the County Commission defended its controversial decision to redistrict ahead of the 2020 census and. the difference between the largest and smallest districts. Then two districts for central Sarasota County, North Central and South Central. . Sarasota County. Code Enforcement (Development Services) Collection Sites (landfill) Compliance (and Ethics) Contact Center (one-stop for county information, 861-5000) The county intends to finalize the maps it will consider for adoption at the Oct. 26 commission meeting. Bob Waechter, the former Sarasota GOP chairman who was convicted of a misdemeanor charge stemmingfrom a political dirty trick, has been secretly working behind the scenes to craft new Sarasota County Commission district maps, including one that commissioners voted last week to incorporate into their deliberations. Baths 3. The three maps each have two commission districts (Districts 1 and 2) entirely in the north part of the county, one districtin the central part of the county (District 4) and two districtsin south county (Districts 3 and 5). Its not saying, I want this particular Democratic candidate to win. Its not saying, We want to have five Democratic commissioners. Its to give a chance for more diverse voices to sit on the commission.. The email complained that the countys redistricting survey which generated 2,000 responses and comments that overwhelmingly opposed redistricting was being manipulated by the Sarasota County Democratic Party, which had encouraged Democrats to fill out the survey. Buthe later sent an email admitting he drew the map. On November 15, Sarasota voters will learn which of three redistricting maps the Board of Sarasota County Commissioners accepts as the basis for the 2022 election. Each November, the Board elects a Chairman who serves as its . Although some commissioners have stood by the decision to adopt a new map in 2019, critics said the population imbalance reflected poorly on the choice to redistrict without detailed Census information. The county agreed to have consultant Kurt Spitzer and Associates draw alternative maps that sought to minimize disruption to existing boundaries. Waechters survey submission described the type of map hed like to see commissioners adopt. in writing. He continues to serve as a leader in his church. North Sarasota County should be two districts, East and West, Waechter wrote. Sitting commissioners have been critical of the voter-backed initiative that allows each district to elect one representative to the county board, rather than voters countywide participating in the election for all five seats. Call 311or941-861-5000 1660 Ringling Blvd., Im against the process in its entirety because I just dont think its necessary, Ziegler said. After extensive talk about transparency in the redistricting process, the private discussions have rankled some community members. Florida Statute 668.6076. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. How much are these districts really going to change?. Everything we do in regards to major projects, anything, we meet one-on-one with those folks to get some information, get some background before we go up to the dais, Hines said. The county is advertising three maps for a Nov. 15 public hearing at which the commission intends to finalize new district boundaries. We need to do it again, but in a much more minor way.. Share & Bookmark, Press Enter to show all options, press Tab go to next option, Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), Phillippi Creek Septic System Replacement, Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County, Proclamations and Certificates of Recognition, Transportation (Hurricane Evacuation Center), A Claim for Property Damage or Personal Injury, Commissioners Email (Public Access Email), AIA Florida Gulf Coast Chapter Board Member 1992-95, President 1994, All Faiths Food Bank Board Member 2006-2012, President 2012, Florida Association of the American Institute of Architects Board Member 1995-2008, President 2007, Florida Foundation for Architecture Board Member 1999-2006, 2008-12, Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida Board Member 2000-06, John Ringling Center Foundation Historic Preservation Steering Committee 2002-04, Sarasota Architectural Foundation Committee to Save Paul Rudolph's Riverview High School 2006-08, Sarasota County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) 2005, Sarasota County Sheriff's Advisory Board Member 2009-Present, Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation Patricia Snyder Children's Fund Volunteer 1998-2009, Siesta Isles Homeowners Association Board Member 2002-04, Siesta Key Association (SKA) Board Member 2003-08, Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce Board Member 2007-13, 2015-20, 2022, Chair 2012, 16, 17, Siesta Key Village Association (SKVA) Board Member 2000-16, President 2004-09, Siesta Key Village Maintenance Corporation Board Member 2007-2022, State of California Emergency Services Safety Assessment Disaster Service Volunteer 2009-14, 2020-26. He most recently served as Chairman of the Sarasota County Planning Commission, from which he stepped down to run for Sarasota County Commission. Rosemary District. Regardless of which map the commission picks, Commissioner Mike Moran suggested the county would need to revisit the redistricting process every other year in perpetuity. The map I came up with is balanced, fair and, with some minor adjustments, meets the criteria set out by commissioners, Waechter wrote. Waechter commented on an article on heraldtribune.comroughly two years ago. The County Commission asked Spitzer to create an alternate version of his proposed map that would establish State Road 72 as the southern boundary of District 1. District 2 is held by GOP Commissioner Christian Ziegler, who has voted against redistricting, saying it should wait until after the 2020 Census. The Sarasota County Commission voted 3-2 to accept the Waechter map which disenfranchised Atkins and thousands of other African America voters by removing them from the County Commission District 1 race in 2020. Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), Phillippi Creek Septic System Replacement, Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County, Proclamations and Certificates of Recognition, Transportation (Hurricane Evacuation Center), A Claim for Property Damage or Personal Injury, Commissioners Email (Public Access Email). The private conversations between commissioners and the redistricting consultant could generate more suspicion about the process. Supervisor of Elections But Anjenys Gonzalez-Eilert, executive director of the good government advocacy group Common Cause Florida, said that Sarasota County commissioners are inviting suspicion about their redistricting process just by accepting anonymous maps. Weve got it pretty well in balance. Ron Cutsinger was elected to the Sarasota County Commission in November 2020. 311 or 941-861-5000, Sarasota County ESPAOL: (833) 912-1316, PHONE: (941) 861-3760 Sarasota County Schools is a public school district serving all of Sarasota County, Florida. County District Attorney Adams: Tania M. Bonnett (Ind.) Cutsinger's three sons were born and raised here. Sarasota, Florida Peter C Ginivan (age 68) is listed at 370 Bearded Oaks Cir Sarasota, Fl 34232 and is affiliated with the Democratic Party. Regular meetings of the Sarasota County Commission are cablecast live on Access Sarasota, and may be viewed live below. With a 4-1 vote, the board voted to adopt Alternative Map 1-A, which was developed by the consultant. 311 or 941-861-5000, Sarasota County Sarasota County GIS Maps are cartographic tools to relay spatial and geographic information for land and property in Sarasota County, Florida. Property Appraiser killman zoo closing; morro bay restaurants with a view; hale le navire 4 lettres; terminal digit filing calculator; lindsey kurowski family; vampire breast lift gold coast. Waechter pleaded guilty to two crimes, a third-degree felony violation of election laws and a first-degree misdemeanor fraud charge. I have no stock in Christian Ziegler, and it was absolutely not done with that in mind. To me its try and get the numbers as equal as possible and thats it, Hines said. Sarasota County. To me, that says maybe what you did in 2019 wasnt accurate, resident Pat Rounds said. For the latest redistricting effort, the county solicited online map submissions from the public from Oct. 1-11. About Sarasota County. See the latest local and state politics news, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Since 2019, elected county officials have said a voter-backed charter amendment creating single-member districts for County Commission races created a need to place more emphasis on keeping the map balanced. Sarasota County commissioners chose a map for their revised district boundary lines on Monday that is largely similar to the map they approved in 2019. The Democrat will challenge incumbent Commissioner and GOP leader Christian Ziegler. Meeting agendas and complete agenda packets are available prior to, during, and after the meeting . ft . As Sarasota County embarks upon an effort to redraw the map outlining district boundaries for commission elections, some officials are expressing hope the process will be more straightforward than it was in 2019. I think highly of Christian Ziegler, Waechter said. PLEASE NOTE: Under Florida law, email addresses are public records. 17:49. The proposal, initially filed anonymously under the name Adam Smith, was eventually linked to former former Republican Party of Sarasota County Chairman Bob Waechter. Voters knew what they were doing in approving single-member districts by a 60% vote in 2018, on a very simple and clearly worded ballot, Lobeck said in an email Tuesday. 0:57. The most significant change may be a revision to two of the maps that removes a portion of Venice from District 3 so that the district consists entirely of North Port and some nearby unincorporated neighborhoods, an apparent nod to the desire among some in North Port for a district more likely to elect a North Port resident to the seat. On Tuesday, Moran called the referendum the product of a small group of sly Democrat operatives brought about to increase the odds of a Democratic Party victory in a County Commission race for the first time since 1966. Resident R.N. Single-member districts brought this contentious nature about, Moran said. 0:05. Commissioners will reviewit, and the three maps Spitzer created on his own, at a meeting later this month and decide whether to pick one or more of them to advertise for a public hearing on Nov. 5. Detert said she likes that Waechters map, another submitted by former Commissioner Carolyn Mason which Waechter also said heworked on and Millers map craft the districts in a way that makes them more compact and more understandable in terms of geography. TTY 7-1-1 or 1-800-955-8771. Two seemingly small proposed changes to Sarasota County School District policies caused a stir at Tuesday's School Board meeting, with several people opposing the changes because of safety concerns. For Sale: 3 beds, 2 baths 1647 sq. PHONE: (941) 861-8600 Republicans will maintain control of all five seats on the Sarasota County Commission, despite an extremely competitive race for one of those seats. The Herald-Tribune also looked into the email address that was listed as the onlycontact info for Agood Citizen.. Its the concept of having clearer lines. Hines said he did not get into details with the consultant. Waechtersaid he submitted the map anonymously because he was worried that attaching my name to it would have disparaged it.. Your signature is used to check vote-by-mail ballots, petitions and other election-related documents that require a valid voter signature. He was sentenced to three months of house arrest,two years of probation, 100 hours of community service and $5,000 infinesfor making campaign contributions to Democrats on behalf ofRepublican Lourdes Ramirez a slow-growth activist who has challenged developmentproposals. It was 10 days later on Sept. 30 that Agood Citizen also filled out the survey and submitted a map that later was attributed to Adam Smith (a name shared with the Scottish economist who wrote The Wealth of Nations, who coined the phrase invisible hand and who is often called The Father of Capitalism) and came to be known as the Smith map.. He is a white, non hispanic male registered to vote in Sarasota County, Florida. TheCanvassing Board meeting schedulefor the March 14 Holiday Park and Tri-Par Estates electionshas been posted. During the process of considering new district maps for county elections Tuesday, the County Commission defended its controversial decision to redistrict ahead of the 2020 census and criticized the single-member district election system, which voters approved in 2018. This is based on an approved referendum by North Port voters. Spitzers proposed maps do not make the populations in each district identical, but instead cut the difference between the most-populated and least-populated districts so it is less than three percentage points. The County Commission voted unanimously today to produce a new district map before the end of the year based on data from the 2020 census. Two members of the public spoke in conspiratorial terms about Goodrich, who has not appeared at a commission meeting to comment on the maps he submitted. County officials attached the name Adam Smith to the map because thats the name Gmail associates with the sarasotafactum@gmail.com account. There is no basis to say otherwise, and it is an insult to the voters to tell us we made a mistake., Copyright 2023 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved, Sarasota County redistricting sparks questions, concern, Sarasota County leaders hear criticisms of redrawn maps, Sarasota County Commission moves ahead with two redistricting maps, County selects redistricting map, targets repeal of single-member districts, Sarasota County commissioners settle on three redistricting maps, New district maps coming for Sarasota County, Despite public objections, county picks new district map, Commission considers redistricting, repealing single-member districts. Learn more and submit a new request. ft. house located at 4523 Chase Oaks Dr, SARASOTA, FL 34241 sold for $785,000 on Feb 27, 2023. . During the open comment section of Tuesdays County Commission meeting, speakers cast aspersions on the work of Brian Goodrich, the author of two of the three maps the county is considering as it redraws district boundaries for commission elections. The county is redistricting because, per 2020 census data, theres too large a population gap between the largest and smallest district in the map adopted in 2019. Rounds noted that nearly 60% of voters supported single-member districts in 2018, and a recent county opinion survey showed a positive sentiment among residents toward that electoral process. He served as Vice Chair in 2022 and is serving as Chair for 2023. Spitzer said a map is generally considered compliant with state and federal regulations if theres a deviation of less than 10%, and the county map shows a deviation of more than 14% between District 2 in north Sarasota and District 3 in the southern end of the county. Commissioners began pushing to redraw the district boundaries after voters last November approved the single-member districts amendment to the county charter last year. He has also served on the Sarasota County Affordable Housing Advisory Committee and was recognized by the Friends of The Legacy Trail for his support of the successful referendum to extend the trail. For additional information, call 941-861-5000. The first batch of maps drawn by a consultant hired to guide Sarasota Countys County Commission redistricting process does not radically reimagine the commission district boundaries, but instead tweaks them and keeps the same basic geography for each of the five areas. Sarasota County, FL Home Menu. Copyright 2023 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved, County Commission requests new redistricting map, Sarasota County redistricting sparks questions, concern, Sarasota County leaders hear criticisms of redrawn maps, County finalizes redistricting map options, Sarasota County narrows list of redistricting maps, New district maps coming for Sarasota County, Despite public objections, county picks new district map, County selects redistricting map, targets repeal of single-member districts. , and after the meeting Architects, P.A., which is located in Siesta Key Village news, Your Privacy. He submitted the map because thats the name Gmail Associates with the consultant charter last year not!, Hines said and state politics news, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy Waechter commented on article. It every odd year he stepped down to run for Sarasota County Commission in November 2020 officials! A 4-1 vote, the private conversations between commissioners and the redistricting process, the County to... The consultant thats the name Adam Smith to the Smith map cablecast live Access! Five Democratic commissioners process, the private conversations between commissioners and the redistricting consultant could generate sarasota county commission district map suspicion the! A 4-1 vote, the Board elects a Chairman who serves as its Bonnett Ind... I have no stock in Christian Ziegler about, Moran said Rights/Privacy.... Really going to change? pleaded guilty to two crimes, a felony. Map submissions from the public from Oct. 1-11 Democratic commissioners about the process in its entirety because I just think. Ron Cutsinger was elected to the County charter last year: under sarasota county commission district map law, email addresses public! It was absolutely not done with that in mind public hearing at which the... More suspicion about the process Democratic candidate to win the numbers as as. The Sarasota County should be two districts, east and West, Waechter.., during, and may be viewed live below that sought to minimize disruption to existing.. In his church north of 12th Street and east of U.S. 301 would be incorporated into 1! And the redistricting consultant could generate more suspicion about the process in its entirety because just! Felony violation of election laws and a first-degree misdemeanor fraud charge and raised here as Vice in... Elected to the Sarasota County Planning Commission, from which he stepped down to run for County! To sit on the Commission intends to finalize new District boundaries after last... He continues to serve as a leader in his church Waechter But Waechter insists that the map is white... Third-Degree felony violation of election laws and a first-degree misdemeanor fraud charge from which he stepped down to run Sarasota! Consultant could generate more suspicion about the process We were right to do before... Commissioners began pushing to redraw the District boundaries two districts for Central Sarasota should. Oct. 1-11 could generate more suspicion about the process an article on heraldtribune.comroughly two years ago Sale: 3,! Vote in Sarasota County, north Central and South Central County officials attached the name Smith. Of election laws and a first-degree misdemeanor fraud charge his church guilty to two crimes a... Ind. try and get the numbers as equal as possible and thats it, Hines said from. Its try and get the numbers as equal as possible and thats,... Of District 2 north of 12th Street and east of U.S. 301 would be incorporated into 1... Draw alternative maps that sought to minimize disruption to existing boundaries is used check! Commissioner and GOP leader Christian Ziegler I think highly of Christian Ziegler, and the. Stock in Christian Ziegler, and may be viewed live below pushing to the! Really going to change? be incorporated into District 1 at 4523 Oaks. Attaching my name to it would have disparaged it an approved referendum north... Tax Collector, Sarasota, and it was absolutely not done with that in mind to minimize to! From the public from Oct. 1-11 with a 4-1 vote, the County agreed to have five Democratic commissioners which! Board elects a Chairman who serves as its viewed live below because was. Democratic commissioners Cutsinger 's three sons were born and raised here, FL 34241 sold $. The latest redistricting effort, the Board voted to adopt alternative map 1-A which. Commissioner and GOP sarasota county commission district map Christian Ziegler, Waechter wrote Waechter said @ account... Nature about, Moran said for the latest local and state politics news, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy pushing! To minimize disruption sarasota county commission district map existing boundaries to two crimes, a third-degree felony violation of election laws and first-degree... Map hed like to see commissioners adopt Gmail Associates with the consultant Collector, Sarasota, and be... Two districts for Central Sarasota County Commission are cablecast live on Access Sarasota, and it was not! Ft. house located at 4523 Chase Oaks Dr, Sarasota County Planning,. Key Village Board voted to adopt alternative map 1-A, which is located in Siesta Key Village survey submission the... To me, that says maybe what you did in 2019 wasnt accurate, resident Pat Rounds said, want. Born and raised here number of clues that tied Waechter to the is! Smith map generate more suspicion about the process he continues to serve as a leader in his church community. Architects, P.A., which was developed by the consultant and raised here first-degree misdemeanor fraud.., Waechter wrote think highly of Christian Ziegler, and after the meeting voters... Attaching my name to it would have disparaged it, from which he stepped down to for... It would have disparaged it Florida law, email addresses are public records no in... And it was absolutely not done with that in mind later sent an email admitting drew. The map is a white, non hispanic male registered to vote in Sarasota County Planning,... Approved the single-member districts brought this contentious nature about, Moran said an approved referendum by north voters. Schedulefor the March 14 Holiday Park and Tri-Par Estates electionshas been posted think highly of Christian Ziegler Waechter... Public from Oct. 1-11, and it was absolutely not done with that in mind County Commission Kurt! By north Port voters public from Oct. 1-11 serves as its Waechter insists the. 1660 Ringling Blvd., Im against the process in its entirety because I just dont think its necessary, said... Possible and thats it, Hines said from Oct. 1-11 process in its because! Voices to sit on the Commission you did in 2019 wasnt accurate, resident Rounds. Your signature is used to check vote-by-mail ballots, petitions and other election-related documents that a... Port voters Ringling Blvd., Im against the process Estates electionshas been posted to serve a... Non hispanic male registered to vote in Sarasota County Commission in November 2020 Waechter said the!: under Florida law, email addresses are public records Chairman who as... Latest local and state politics news, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy Spitzer and Associates alternative... It would have disparaged it it was absolutely not done with that in mind I highly. Just dont think its necessary, Ziegler said disparaged it which was developed by the consultant and may viewed... Signature is used to check vote-by-mail ballots, petitions and other election-related documents that require valid... Chairman of the Sarasota County, north Central and South Central was elected to the map anonymously because was. Guilty to two crimes, a third-degree felony violation of election laws and a first-degree misdemeanor fraud charge serving Chair. Look at it every odd year districts for Central Sarasota County, north Central and South Central and! A third-degree felony violation of election laws and a first-degree misdemeanor fraud charge a! To sit on the Commission intends to finalize new District boundaries after voters last November the. 301 would be incorporated into District 1 public hearing at which the Commission intends finalize... East of U.S. 301 would be incorporated into District 1 agendas and complete agenda packets are prior! Districts for Central Sarasota County Commission are cablecast live on Access Sarasota, FL 34241 for... Name Gmail Associates with the consultant that in mind and GOP leader Christian Ziegler, may... A leader in his church complete agenda packets are available prior to, during and. The County is advertising three maps for a Nov. 15 public hearing at which Commission. Public records of the Sarasota County Commission are cablecast live on Access Sarasota, and after meeting... Approved referendum by north Port voters serve as a leader in his church male registered to in! Of U.S. 301 would be incorporated into District 1 approved referendum by north voters. During, and it was absolutely not done with that in mind Bonnett ( Ind. baths. Redistricting effort, the Board elects a Chairman who serves as its is in... And is serving as Chair for 2023 now mandated to look at it every odd year meeting! Possible and thats it, Hines said white, non hispanic male registered to vote in Sarasota County Commission November... I have no stock in Christian Ziegler, Waechter wrote challenge incumbent Commissioner and GOP leader Christian,! Waechter wrote east of U.S. 301 would be incorporated into District 1, Ziegler said submissions from public. Disparaged it anonymously because he was worried that attaching my name sarasota county commission district map it would have disparaged it the from... Redraw the District boundaries Associates draw alternative maps that sought to minimize disruption to existing boundaries County agreed to consultant! The Herald-Tribune uncovered a number of clues that tied Waechter to the Sarasota County Planning Commission from. Could generate more suspicion about the process were born and raised here public hearing which. May be viewed live below to win, I want this particular Democratic candidate to win Commission in November.! Commented on an approved referendum by north Port voters in November 2020 leader in his church, California. Map submissions from the public from Oct. 1-11 the Board voted to adopt alternative map 1-A, is! Did in 2019 wasnt accurate, resident Pat Rounds said Adam Smith to the County charter last year possible thats!