In the world of legislative politics, House District 73 enjoys both the benefits and drawbacks of isolation.

The Sarasota seat arguably should be competitive. Voters in the 2020 presidential election split almost evenly, with 49.7% voting for Donald Trump and 49.3% backing Joe Biden. Similarly, Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2018 won the district by less than a point in his recount-close statewide win,  though he took nearly 62% there in 2022 during his landslide re-election.

But House Democrats are not yet pouring resources into the Sarasota area seat, even though Democrat Derek Reich to date has raised more than $179,000 to challenge state Rep. Fiona McFarland, R-Sarasota. He’s done that almost completely from donors with Sarasota County addresses, as the high school teacher develops strong relationships with the region’s affluent donor base.

To be fair, money hardly makes this second-time candidate a hot recruit against a two-term incumbent. McFarland raised nearly $205,000 this cycle just in her candidate campaign account. She beat Reich two years ago winning 56% of the vote. On top of that, she’s affable and sympathetic, a young mother who just gave birth to her fourth child.

And by the way, the fundraising totals only look close if you discount committee money. McFarland’s Friend of Sarasota political committee, which can receive unlimited donations, has more than $431,000 cash on hand, while Reich’s similar Freedom First Fund committee has only about $8,000. So realistically, subtracting any spending out from coffers, the incumbent gets to play with some $613,000 in a low-TV market while the challenger must make due with about $109,000.

But Reich feels like his money better reflects grassroots support. “95% of it from average people living in Sarasota County,” he said. “My average donation is $169. My opponent has taken tens of thousands from developers.”

That’s a familiar refrain. It also discounts that a well-liked incumbent will receive money from countless sources in Tallahassee and the region, or that those local developers do wield influence for positive reasons like job creation and community partnerships. Still, there’s definitely a set of voters who find Benderson Development checks radioactive, and Reich would be foolish not to let those numbers know that glow comes from McFarland’s war chest.

McFarland is more focused on her infant than the trail just this moment, and said she has yet to cross paths with Reich this cycle. Campaign pros around her feel confident she will outperform even optimistic expectations. She’s a female candidate in a county that likes women officials. And she’s worked on a number of bipartisan issues from reducing child care costs to protecting data privacy.

She also went gone along with the party line on some sticky matters both major, like abortion, and local, like the New College takeover and a threat to Sarasota’s school funding during the COVID wars. 

Incumbency brings with it the negative of having a record to attack. Still, the advantages, from name recognition to fundraising prowess, outnumber the drawbacks by far.

Reich also suffers the negative of fighting alone. Sarasota is a Republican County, though parts of it are very blue. I’m not sure anyone in Tallahassee realizes this. Sure, Democrats won a House seat here in 2018, but that was after Trump’s election as president, during a Special Election, and Margaret Good barely held onto the seat in November that year before abandoning it for a failed Congressional run rather than risking defeat to, well, McFarland.

Tallahassee Democrats feel Good’s 2018 win was a lucky fluke, and Republicans have gained in Sarasota registrations ever since. There are no other Democratic or even battleground seats in all of Southwest Florida. Even Tom Edwards’ success in the nonpartisan School Board race in August means he won’t be around to bring coattails in November.

But Reich finds reason for optimism. Edwards, and School Board member-elect Liz Barker, won by big margins in county precincts in House District 73.

The biggest X factor in the race, though, is outside of McFarland’s or Reich’s control. Will the presidential election flip races blue that in 2022 seemed impossibly red? After Democratic candidate Kamala Harris’ debate performance — and Trump’s gaffe-filled failures the same night — there’s reason for blue hope. Then again, Republicans seemed poised for a ballot-consuming landslide six weeks ago.

Jacob Ogles is contributing senior editor for SRQ MEDIA. 

As we begin this new academic year at New College of Florida, we are not just welcoming a fresh cohort of students—we are embracing a moment of growth and renewed purpose. This year, we celebrate record achievements that mark the beginning of a new era for our college, one where we continue to build on our historical legacy, while setting new benchmarks for the future.

For the second consecutive year, we are proud to have a record-breaking incoming class, a testament to our forward momentum and our commitment to a bold vision for New College’s future. With more than 360 new freshmen and undergraduate transfers joining us this year, we are one full year ahead of our projected five-year growth plan. Just a year ago, the idea of welcoming a class of over 300 students was unprecedented. Today, our undergraduate enrollment has surged past 850, reflecting the increasing draw of our college. 

We are also excited about the rising caliber of our incoming students, with this year’s class boasting SAT scores on average 20+ points higher than previous year, a rise we anticipate to grow even greater. As we regain our stature as a leader in liberal arts education, reaffirmed by Washington Monthly’s ranking of New College as the nation’s number one public liberal arts residential college, we are attracting students who are not only bright but are eager to engage in the rigorous and experiential academic environment that New College offers.

Our commitment to excellence is further exemplified by our faculty. This year, we welcome more than 40 elite scholars—the most distinguished group in our history. These new educators join our ranks from some of the most prestigious institutions in the world, including Oxford, the Ivy League, Stanford, and the University of Chicago. Their expertise spans disciplines from political science to humanities, computer science to environmental studies, enriching our academic programs and providing our students with unparalleled opportunities for intellectual growth.

For example, Dr. Bruce Gilley, one of the nation’s leading scholars on democracy and global politics, joins us as a Distinguished Presidential Scholar. Dr. David Ellis, with his extensive experience in military intelligence and conflict zones, brings real-world insights to our political science program. And with several new faculty members holding doctorates from Oxford, including Dr. Andrew Doyle and Dr. Spencer Klavan, we will continue to broaden our humanities and classical studies programs at New College.

The research acumen of the new faculty can also be presented with great enthusiasm, as we welcome Dr. Briana Aguila-Ames who has published 44 peer-reviewed research articles and obtained three U.S. patents through research for environmental sustainability applications, such as water purification and resource recovery.

Amidst our growth, there are core elements that will remain the same and define who we are. The Independent Study Projects (ISPs), the senior thesis, and our dynamic and diverse learning styles are the hallmarks of the New College academic experience that will continue to thrive. These unique aspects of our curriculum not only preserve our tradition of academic excellence but also ensure that we continue to attract and nurture high-achieving, interdisciplinary students.

As we continue on this upward path, we remain steadfast in our mission to be recognized as the nation’s top liberal arts institution—not just among public colleges, but across the entire spectrum of higher education. This ambition will continue to fuel our growth, setting even higher standards, and ensuring that our faculty, students and programs reflect the very best that academia and specifically a New College education, has to offer.

The beginning of this school year feels more than a step forward, it is a powerful leap. The energy can be felt from every corner of the college and I maintain my confidence that we are well on our way to achieving our goals and solidifying our place as the premier liberal arts college in the country.

Thank you for your continued support. 

Richard Corcoran is President of New College of Florida. 

When you live in a community where tourism is the top industry, you often don’t have to go far to tap into the latest insights to gain a foothold in our visitor economy. However, every now and again, venturing beyond our county lines gives fresh perspective and avenues to pursue. 

This is especially true for us at Visit Sarasota County as we look for expertise and resources to strengthen our area’s reputation as a must-experience destination for visitors on the regional, national and world stages. 

Over the summer, our teams traveled by land, sea and air to do so – and I’d like to share what each of them learned and how they intend to enrich their work for the betterment of Sarasota County. And, if you’ll indulge me, I’d also like to sprinkle in a few moments of recognition. 

Three different conferences were held just across the bridge in Tampa. Most recently, we attended the Florida Governor’s Conference on Tourism. Hosted by Visit Florida, this annual event brings together over 1,000 attendees for three days of story-sharing and networking among our statewide network of tourism professionals. Throughout the event, Sarasota received a few shoutouts from the podium, including a moment of applause for Marie Selby Botanical Gardens for their recognition as TIME’s 100 Greatest Places in the World. 

Whereas at Governor’s Conference we gained Florida-based insights, at Destinations International’s Annual Convention, we had a window into the global state of travel. This year’s gathering emphasized strategies to bridge the gap between residents and visitors when it comes to tourism marketing. The thinking goes as more guests choose our destination for their vacation, their dollars are spent and stay in our county – which helps lower taxes, keep businesses open and sustain jobs for hardworking locals. While these insights alone made the trip worthwhile, our very own Nathaniel Sweetman was also named a 30 Under 30 recipient and will represent Sarasota among a class of 30 different communities in four countries.  

The celebrations continued at the PR & Comms Summit, hosted by the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA), where our Director of Community Relations & Partnership, Hunter Carpenter, APR, was installed as the president of the Central West Coast chapter.  

At the Connect Sports Marketplace in Milwaukee, our Sports Director, Pete Harvey, held valuable discussions with the NCAA and On Location travel to strengthen our relationships and explore hosting future championships in Sarasota County. Through 36 one-on-one meetings with event-rights holders and national governing bodies, Pete also highlighted the exciting renovations at 17th St. Park and the new indoor facility at Nathan Benderson Park. Notably, a conversation about the HBCU softball championship expanded into a potentially broader collaboration to host the 2025 or 2026 HBCU Athletic Conference Summer Meeting. 

While the Connects event showcased our region as a premier destination for athletic events, our presence at the Corporate Event Marketing Association (CEMA) Summit and the American Society of Association Executives’ Annual Meeting gave our Sales Team – Suzanne Hackman, CDME, and Shantel Norman – the opportunity to get Sarasota County on the radar of group and meeting planners. This outreach is especially valuable for our hotel, dining, and attraction partners. 

Our reasons for being at each of these gatherings certainly differ. However, one thing always remains the same: our VSC team goes beyond the traditional business-card exchange to build genuine connections and, in turn, amplify our efforts in preserving and promoting all the makes Sarasota County a world-class destination. 

Erin Duggan, CDME, is president and CEO of Visit Sarasota County.  

Photo courtesy Visit Sarasota: Visit Sarasota County at Destinations International Annual Convention. (From left to right: Calvin Bien-Aime, VSC intern; Jessica Bertolini, Marketing Manager; Erin Duggan, President and CEO; Nathaniel Sweetman, Sports Coord