- Citizens4DistrictPower
Three challengers offer fresh perspectives
Updated: Oct 29, 2020

In 2018, Sarasota's citizens stared in disbelief as the Board came within an ace of giving a big campaign contributor the right to build a dump at a majestic bird sanctuary. Then came approvals for Benderson's Siesta Promenade and Pat Neal's Grand Lake. Then, Skye Ranch. . .Waterside. . .Hi Hat Ranch.. . .
Thousands of new housing units going up on vacant land as wastewater spilled from a disintegrating infrastructure.
In 2018, the citizens of Sarasota County woke up.
They worked for months gathering signatures to put a Charter amendment on the ballot. At the polls voters countywide approved a change to the local electoral process. Instead of everyone voting for all five commissioners, citizens vote for the commissioner who represents their district. Known as Single Member District Voting, many other counties already have it.
Thanks at least in part to this change, three new candidates stepped up.
Each is a Democrat
All bring fresh, invigorating perspectives to Sarasota
None accepts contributions from developers or SuperPACs
To learn about these candidates, read on. You'll find links to each district and its issues, as well as to local media about the candidates and their races.
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Mark Pienkos
District 1 Issues

Sarasota Election: Pienkos Takes On Moran In District 1 Race
Growth and accountability take center stage for Sarasota County candidate Mark Pienkos
Rural preservation and redistricting hot topics at Sarasota County Commission forum
WABC-7 Interview
Editorial by Mark Pienkos: Sarasota County voters care about rural preservation and pandemic relief
More about Mark Pienkos
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Cory Hutchinson
District 3 Issues

Sarasota Election: Detert, Hutchinson Vie For District 3 Seat
Hutchinson and Detert offer differing views on variety of county issues
Bundles from developers add up in Detert’s re-election campaign
Detert takes in nearly twice as much money as her opponent
WABC-7 Interview
More about Cory Hutchinson
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Alice White
District 5 Issues

Sarasota Election: Cutsinger, White Vie For District 5 Seat
Sarasota County Commission Candidates discuss economy, Covid19 recovery at virtual forum
Longtime Environmentalist Alice White seeks Sarasota County Commission Seat
WABC-7 Interview
More about Alice White
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This year, the first to incorporate Single Member District Voting, the Corona Virus prevented in person "Meet and Greet" gathering. Yet Sarasota's media failed to step up: They held no forums or zoom debates -- a total dereliction.
At least some private organizations stepped in. The CDP Blog has collected and posted all the recorded forums that could be located. These include:
Tiger Bay
The League of Women Voters
Argus
WSLR-Fogartyville
Sarasota County has had 50 years of uninterrupted, unimaginative single-party rule.
The Board pretends to be fiscally conservative, but it hands priceless development rights over to major players (Neal, Beruff, Benderson, Jensen et al) without requiring developers to pony up their fair share of development costs.
Time for a change.
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