As Sarasota County becomes more firmly Republican, infighting has reached new heights within the local GOP. That’s on bright display now as competing voter guides hit voters’ mailboxes, neither one of them connected to the official Republican party but both claiming to know the “real” Republicans running in local races.

One mailer bears the branding of the America First SWFL Caucus and the Sarasota County Republican Assembly. Another contains preferences of the MAGA Committee. There’s almost no overlap in the slates supported by each group, and the local party has firmly disavowed a connection.

“These misleading ‘Republican’ groups spamming you do not have the GOP's best interests at heart and we encourage all Republicans to make their own, informed decisions,” wrote Jack Brill, chairman of the Republican Party of Sarasota, in the latest newsletter to members.

So how did Republicans find themselves in this place? It seems to be a mix of the consequences of wild success coupled with a complete loss of authority on who can bestow the imprimatur of conservatism in the year 2024.

The success is the easy part to document. For those who have known this county for more than a minute, it feels not so long ago Sarasota seemed to be a purple county. Sure, the party hasn’t voted for a Democrat for president since Harry Truman, but Barack Obama came within 220 votes of doing that barely 15 years ago. It felt then like Sarasota would increasingly be a state battleground. Rather, 2008 now seemed the zenith in Sarasota’s blueness in the modern era.

As of June 30, Sarasota’s 153,370 registered Republicans dramatically outnumbered its 85,531 Democrats by almost a two-to-one margin.

But that’s just talking about Republicans as a mass of people. With that sort of advantage in numbers, are the political battles in the region even right versus left anymore? The dueling mailers suggest otherwise.

Insiders will spot who is behind each ad immediately. The MAGA Committee wants to retain state Rep. James Buchanan, R-Venice, and keep a group of Sarasota Public Hospital Board incumbents and allies. The America First mailer would replace Buchanan with far-right challenger Michelle Pozzie and install a group of anti-vaxxers who have compared hospital doctors to prison guards.

But the America First group also sides with controlled growth county commission candidates Alex Coe and Tom Knight, while the MAGA favors business community favorites Teresa Mast and Neil Rainford. The Republican Assembly’s Conni Brunni said nearly every candidate sought out the group’s support, and only now that a slate is advertised are folks furious. 

Both mailers seem to imply support from former (and maybe future) President Donald Trump, employing the America First and MAGA branding he made popular. The truth is, the man running to be leader of the free world likely has no interest in the make-up of local land-use boards.

The slates are in agreement only on races where there’s a clear party favorite like Rick Scott, or a single party option like Mike Moran for Tax Collector. But on anything where there’s intra- party debate, the Assembly ballot favors disrupting as many apple carts as possible while the MAGA slate feels like vetted establishment choices. For the record, the MAGA committee seems tied to consultant Anthony Pedicini who said he’s gotten no significant pushback from the party.

I imagine plenty of voters see candidates they prefer on both lists, but the goal of either mailer seems to send a message that resonates beyond any single contest. There’s a fight underway over exactly who controls the political machinery in this county.

That fight has already extended into the courts. The county party has sued former officers of the America First SWFL Caucus over some $8,000 worth of party assets. Some expect the party to take action on the mailers. But while a judge may help clarify who controls the voter databases and party logos, a nastier fight awaits on the trail to determine who controls the meaning of Republicanism in Sarasota County.

Jacob Ogles is contributing senior editor of SRQ MEDIA. 

The value proposition of New College becomes strikingly evident when assessing its return on investment, as recently highlighted by The Princeton Review's recognition of the institution among its "Best Value Colleges" for 2024. This accolade that I am particularly proud of underscores a comprehensive evaluation encompassing over 40 distinct metrics, where affordability is merely one facet among many.

New College distinguishes itself particularly in ROI compared to institutions throughout the Sunshine State. Notably, it stands out as the sole small liberal arts college listed, contrasting with large universities whose enrollments range from 45,000 to nearly 70,000. This unique positioning emphasizes New College as the best choice in Florida for those seeking a personalized liberal arts education with enduring impact.

Only one other Florida school ranked in the top 20, and all of the other five Florida entries are large universities with enrollments ranging from 45,000 to nearly 70,000. No private institutions in Florida made the cut, meaning students seeking a small liberal arts college experience with a big lifelong impact have just one choice in Florida: New College. 

Central to the New College experience are intimate class sizes, direct faculty engagement devoid of teaching assistants and a humanities-centric approach that fosters scholarly breadth across multiple disciplines. Such an education is designed to resonate throughout a lifetime, preparing students for immediate career success and sustained scholarly pursuits.

The resonance of New College’s academic rigor and faculty dedication is palpable in feedback gathered by The Princeton Review, where respondents highlight distinctive features such as narrative evaluations, mandatory undergraduate research initiatives and the honors thesis requirement. These elements collectively define the institution’s academic stature and differentiate it within the educational landscape.

Many students see the return on investment in awarding prestigious scholarships and fellowships. New College has produced 92 Fulbright Student Award recipients, the most in Florida. Our students routinely succeed in acquiring scholarship and grant funding for research projects worldwide.

We pride ourselves on preparing students for lives of great achievement, and many of our scholars continue their academic endeavors well beyond their undergraduate years. New College appears in the top 15 producers of doctorates as a percentage of its baccalaureate graduates over a 10-year period, while no other Florida college or university is in the top 100. 

The robust ROI offered at New College is not entirely separate from financial considerations. Public higher education in Florida maintains a focus on reasonable costs, especially for Florida residents. Need-based financial aid and merit-based scholarships allow many of our graduates to leave with little or no student loan debt, a key factor in allowing our alumni to have multiple options between a swift start to graduate studies or embark on rewarding careers.

As New College continues to grow, marked by consecutive record-setting enrollments, it remains steadfast in its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of academic excellence. This dedication ensures that future graduates will continue to benefit from the exceptional ROI that defines the New College experience. Not only will they achieve an amazing education, but they are already on their way to becoming great citizens.

Richard Corcoran is president of New College of Florida. 

As the official tourism marketing organization for the county, we take great pride at Visit Sarasota County in supporting our industry, all the while promoting our region as a must-experience destination. 

This week, the Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved our plan and budget for the coming year. We’re grateful for their support and trust as we continue to focus on keeping visitors coming, businesses open and residents employed, all year long. 

The work ahead of us is a significant undertaking, one that doesn’t happen without equally significant teamwork. So, I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce you to the people who will transform this plan into actionable solutions. 

As President and CEO, I oversee all departments – Marketing, Sales, Sports, Community Relations and Finance – as we all collaborate together to achieve our goals of driving tourism in Sarasota County.

Our marketing strategy, led by Kelly Defebo, CMP, Vice President of Marketing & Communications, ensures we’re connecting with a variety of visitors 365 days a year. We’re actively pursuing media opportunities domestically and abroad thanks to our Communications Project Coordinator, Olivia Turpening. Our Marketing Manager, Jess Bertolini, enlists freelancers and agencies to manage VisitSarasota.com and create content to amplify Sarasota’s story. Data from our area businesses helps guide our visitors on all there is to see and do, and Sam Warner, our Data CRM Coordinator, leads these internal efforts.

Sarasota is a gem of a destination, yet we don’t rest on our laurels – and so, our Sales team is diligently attracting groups for meetings, conferences and exhibitions. We recently appointed a new Director of Sales & Industry Relations , Suzanne Hackman, CDME, who works closely with Shantel Norman, Group Sales Manager, and Sandrina McCloud, Destination Services Manager, to provide exceptional hospitality and personal attention to visiting groups. Here we know, most are new visitors – and our goal is to convert them into repeat visitors.

Sports tourism is another compelling driver of visitation in our area, led by Director of Sports Pete Harvey and assisted by Sports Marketing Coordinator Nate Sweetman. This team supports 75 sporting events annually and promotes our portfolio of premier facilities. Thanks to their time and talent, and close collaboration with the amazing team at Sarasota County Parks and Recreation Department, our growth in this market continues to reach new heights. 

In June, we welcomed Hunter Carpenter, APR, in a newly created role, Director of Community Relations & Partnership. Hunter’s background as a Sarasota native and experienced PR professional will strengthen VSC’s relations with our more than 500 tourism partners, as well as oversee ways to educate residents about our local impact and why the sustainable growth of our industry is critical to all.

To make all this happen, we receive funding from the Tourism Development Tax, allocated by the Tourism Development Council. Thanks to our Director of Finance & Administration Andrea Hunt and Staff Accountant Tammy Jones, we follow rigorous guidelines to ensure funds are spent appropriately in the most efficient and effective manner to achieve our mission. 

Last but certainly not least, our Office Coordinator Camille Seabrook is the bridge-builder that keeps our office functioning and teams collaborating.  

I am incredibly thankful for my best-in-business staff at VSC. Their dedication to our community make all the difference, and I couldn’t do my job without them. Together, we are committed to making Sarasota County a must-experience destination for visitors across the globe and better place for all those who call it home – and we’re just getting started. 

Erin Duggan is president and CEO of Visit Sarasota County. 

Photo courtesy Visit Sarasota County.