A push to change the timing of Sarasota’s city elections got a lift Monday with an endorsement from the NAACP. But while leaders of that group see a shift to November elections as a way to boost minority turnout, critics of the measure remain skeptical that city issues would get more attention at the bottom of the ballot than they do now.

Trevor Harvey, president of the Sarasota County branch of the NAACP, released a statement Monday backing the Decide The Date campaign, which wants Sarasota’s city elections held in sync with state and national elections, meaning in the fall of even-numbered years. “Not only does this save taxpayers money, it also increases the overall participation in the African-American community by 86 percent,” says Harvey

Critics, though, say that turning out a higher percentage of voters who want to weigh in on president, governor and other high-profile offices won’t necessarily mean a higher turnout for city contests and issues. “The people that vote within the city are the ones who are going to vote anyway,” says City Commissioner Willie Shaw, who represents a minority-rich district in north Sarasota.

In May this year, 22.75 percent of city voters came out for a city commission runoff, but just 7.97 percent of black voters turned out. Earlier this year in March, 10.55 percent of black voters came out in a city race that drew 19.2 percent of voters citywide. That contrasts sharply with elections in November 2016, when 76.8 percent of voters in Sarasota County came out, including 63.86 percent of black voters.

Of course, that was when the presidential election topped the ballot. In August 2016, only 25.76 percent of Sarasota County voters came out for a state and county primary election, and 15.44 percent of black voters turned out. Those numbers are only slightly higher than the city elections the following spring. And critics of the Decide The Date petition note the measure calls if there are more than two candidates for an initial election concurrent with state primaries, then to hold a runoff in November if necessary.

Former Sarasota Mayor Suzanne Atwell, a co-chair for the Decide The Date, said the fine details of the debate can wait until after the petition drive, which should just be about whether voters this November should have the choice to move the election. But she said the potential boost in turnout drew her to the cause; she noted she twice supported putting similar measures on the ballot when she sat on the city commission. “This is good governance,” Atwell says. “It gives the opportunity for the highest possible percentage of the voting public to participate.” 

The Venice Symphony will present “Emotional Landscapes”, at 7:30pm, Jan. 12 and 3:30pm, Jan. 13 at the Venice Performing Arts Center in Venice. Guest Conductor Stilian Kirov, who lives in Sarasota, will lead The Symphony’s musicians in Tchaikovsky’s Snow Maiden Suite, Debussy’s La mer and Richard Strauss’s Four Last Songs, featuring guest soprano D’Ana Lombard. Says Kirov, “In Snow Maiden Suite, you feel the beauty of Tchaikovsky's melodic and harmonic writing and are immediately transported into a colorful piece of theater. Four Last Songs is a representation of a lifelong journey, suffused with calm, acceptance and completeness. Debussy's beautiful La mer is a breathtaking sea journey painted through the composer's extraordinary music.” The Venice Symphony’s “7 Concerts 7 Conductors: Finding Maestro” season is the culmination of a conductor search that narrowed a field of 164 applicants to seven. When the season ends, one will be offered the position of Music Director. 

Photo provided by The Venice Symphony.

The Venice Symphony, 230 South Tamiami Trl., Venice.

Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner is reminding citizens who reside within State House District 72 that Tuesday, January 16, is the last day to register to be eligible to vote in the district’s Special Election, which is scheduled for Tuesday, February 13. Turner recommends that voters confirm before the January 16 voter registration deadline that they are registered to vote and that their voter registration information is current. He said new voter registration applications must be completed, signed and returned in person or postmarked by the January 16 deadline. An application may also be submitted online at www.registertovoteFlorida.gov or through any driver license or tax collector’s office that issues Florida driver licenses or Florida ID cards. Voters who have moved, changed names, or need to update their signatures since the last election may also complete a voter registration application to update their records. Signature updates must be received by the elections office prior to the start of the canvass of vote-by-mail ballots, which is Tuesday, February 6, 8:30am. Address and name changes may be made any time prior to voting. Applications are available at all three elections offices in Sarasota, Venice and North Port, at public libraries, military recruitment offices, and public assistance offices, and may be downloaded at the website below. 

Voter Registration Applications

JFCS of the Suncoast was recently awarded a $60,000 grant from the Charlotte P. Graver Fund and Community Foundation of Sarasota County to provide support for JFCS community-based outreach programs and events. The funds will be used toward ongoing funding needs for JFCS’ seven focal areas, which include outreach and support services for families, children, youth, cancer support, veterans, Jewish healing and seniors, as well as events, which help raise additional funds for the nonprofit agency across a six-county region. Founded in 1985, JFCS is a fully accredited, community-based social service, non-profit organization serving Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, Collier, Lee and DeSoto counties in Florida, with the goal of empowering people to lead healthy, happy and sustainable lives. 

JFCS of the Suncoast

The American Institute of Family Law Attorneys has recognized the exceptional performance of Florida’s Family Law Attorney Colleen Norman as 2017 10 Best Family Law Attorney for Client Satisfaction. The American Institute of Family Law Attorneys is a third-party attorney rating organization that publishes an annual list of the Top 10 Family Law Attorneys in each state. Attorneys who are selected to the "10 Best" list must pass AIOFLA's rigorous selection process, which is based on client and/or peer nominations, thorough research, and AIOFLA’s independent evaluation. AIOFLA's annual list was created to be used as a resource for clients during the attorney selection process. One of the most significant aspects of the selection process involves attorneys' relationships and reputation among his or her clients. As clients should be an attorney's top priority, AIOFLA places the utmost emphasis on selecting lawyers who have achieved significant success in the field of Family Law without sacrificing the service and support they provide. Selection criteria therefore focus on attorneys who demonstrate the highest standards of Client Satisfaction. More information about Norman can be found at the Carmen R Gillet law firm website below. 

Carmen R Gillet