Image courtesy Save Siesta Key

Save Siesta Key plans to ramp up its efforts to incorporate the community as a city. Ahead of the 2022 Legislative Session, the civic organization will hold a Dec. 29 rally at Marina Jack Park.

“Over 2,200 residents and tax payers on Siesta Key have signed a petition launched by SSK in a bid to get a referendum on the 2022 ballot for a vote for incorporation of Siesta Key,” reads a press release from the group. “This makes it abundantly clear that a majority of the community of Siesta Key are supporting SSK efforts.”

The demonstration will begin at 11 a.m. at the Unconditional Surrender statue in Sarasota.

This event follows a town hall held earlier this month by Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, and Rep. Fiona McFarland, R-Sarasota. The two plan to sponsor legislation that would allow a vote by island residents.

Charles Byrne, a board member for Save Siesta Key, feels confident the group will win the support of a majority of local lawmakers. The organization has invested more than $100,000 on a feasibility study this year and would like to see the Florida Legislature take action this coming session.

“It’s important only because of the amount of effort,” he said. “It’s a laborious process. To have to start over with a new group is an onerous process.”

Gruters and McFarland, who represent Siesta Key, have supported the initiative. Other lawmakers like Rep. Tommy Gregory, R-Sarasota, have shown skepticism. Byrne, though, stressed that legislation will only put the question before voters next fall, and he hoped all lawmakers from the region would support leaving the decision to citizens, especially when local surveys by the group show 95% of the less than 7,000 impacted residents on the island support incorporation.

“Having served in military, it’s kind of ironic after defending the liberty to vote if we are denied it,” he said.

Image courtesy Save Siesta Key