In office since 1972, Barbara Ford-Coates holds distinction as Sarasota County’s longest serving elected official. Even as Sarasota County became solidly Republican, she remains the lone Democrat holding countywide partisan office. But could that change when she faces Republican Mike Moran, a two-term county commissioner who raised more than $114,000 to unseat her?

But from what she hears on the campaign trail, Ford-Coates said she feels confident. “Going out to talk to people and hear what they say about how they are treated in my office, it’s just a wonderful feeling,” she said. “People feel we have been doing a good job and have stepped up and helped.”

She seeks a 14th term in November, and has seen the demands of the office change over time. Ford-Coates also has had to continue through personal tragedy. Her husband Brian died last week. The two married in 1972 and had seven daughters together, as well as 11 grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Moran first won his commissioner position in a county election in 2016, the last time Ford-Coasted appeared on the ballot. That cycle, he beat Democrat Fredd Atkins with 58% of the vote. Ford-Coates beat Republican Jim Bender with 61%. In 2020, Ford-Coated won re-election unopposed. Moran won a difficult primary that year but won a single-member district election with 56% over Democrat Mark Peinkos.

This year, Moran through Sept. 6 raised more than $114,000 for the countywide campaign, while Ford-Coates raised just under $73,000. But notably, Moran spent nearly $113,000 of his money already defeating Charles Bear in a Republican Primary; Bear has since endorsed Ford-Coates. The incumbent through the last reporting period spent less than $14,000, so Ford-Coates has the cash advantage for now.

Ford-Coates said she’s been a fiscally conservative manager. Her office has the lowest per capita costs of any county tax collector in Florida’s 67 counties. She also said she has remained on the cutting edge of modernizing the officer. Hers was the first in Florida to issue driver’s licenses at tax collector branches and the first to send tax notices by email, something that dramatically cut costs including postage.

“It’s fun to find better ways to do things,” she said.

She defended recent personnel costs, addressing Moran’s criticism about an administrator who earned more than $300,000 a year. Ford-Coasted said that was temporary, and a result of that employee legitimately working 80 hours a week during staff shortages after the pandemic. “You reward employees for going the extra mile,” she said.

She also pushed back at accusations the office pockets too much excess costs, saying taxpayers receive refunds when fees generate more revenue than the office incurs in cost.

She leveled her own criticism at Moran for pushing policy change forbidding county employees from their paychecks to United Way over its support of Planned Parenthood, an organization whose services include helping women obtain abortions. Ford-Coates noted she still allows her office’s employees to direct their own payroll support to United Way, as does every other county constitutional officer.

“United Way is a valuable resource, and my staff really feels they do a lot of good work, visiting agencies each year,” Ford-Coates said. “They know which agencies are the ones that need some help.”

Ford-Coates doesn’t worry much about the Republican tilt of the county.

“Party to me, especially at the local level, cannot play a role in these administrative positions,” she said. “I never endorse or contribute to candidates in other elections because I work with those people and need to make sure we have an open and trusting relationship.” 

Photo: Barbara Ford-Coates

Manatee Memorial Hospital (MMH) is proud to announce the opening of the Manatee ER at Palma Sola. On Thursday, September 26, the new freestanding emergency department will be unveiled. Located at 633 75th Street West in Bradenton, the new Manatee ER at Palma Sola will be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide care for all ages. The 10,884 square ft. facility includes six exam rooms, three rapid medical spaces and full-services laboratory, x-ray and ultrasound areas. The ER at Palma Sola is expected to see its first patients in early October. This will mark Manatee Memorial’s second freestanding ER in Manatee County, after opening the Manatee ER at Bayshore Gardens in April of 2023, and its third overall with the ER at Sun City that opened in 2022.The beach themed event is open to the public and will include tours of the facility, refreshments from Kona Ice and remarks from community leaders including SCF President Tommy Gregory, Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown and an introduction to Manatee Memorial’s new CEO, Andy Guz. 

Enrollment Marketing Solutions Inc., a leader in marketing project management, is excited to announce the launch of its newest service: Marketing Project Management Training and Development. With over 18 years of experience and a track record of completing more than 11,000 marketing projects since 2006, our team of PMP-certified professionals is eager to share their expertise to help organizations strengthen their internal project management capabilities. This new service is designed to empower businesses to effectively manage their internal marketing projects. The training program offers modules focused on key areas such as resource allocation, project management coaching, team building, stakeholder communication, and project prioritization. Key Service Modules Include: Day-to-Day Project Management: Equipping teams with the tools and techniques for managing day-to-day marketing initiatives.; Project Manager 101: A foundational course on the basics of marketing project management; Process Improvement: Streamlining processes to enhance productivity and efficiency; Project Governance: Ensuring that all marketing projects align with strategic goals and meet governance standards. Enrollment Marketing Solutions Inc. is committed to fostering growth and operational excellence for organizations of all sizes. This new training service marks the next step in helping clients become more self-sufficient in managing their marketing projects with confidence. For more information, visit our website at www.enrollmentmarketingsolutions.com 

You've had a stroke. Now what? HCA Florida Englewood and Fawcett Hospitals are excited to host a monthly support group for stroke survivors and caregivers. As you navigate your post-stroke journey, the support group offers more than just resources and information. It's a place where you can find new friends, support, hope, and most importantly, emotional support. The group is designed to help you with your unique challenges, offering warmth and acceptance. Recovering from a stroke can be difficult to navigate. One in four who have suffered a stroke is at a higher risk of a second stroke. The good news is that with education and lifestyle changes, such as improved diet and exercise, you can take steps toward prevention. If you notice someone showing signs of a stroke, such as face drooping, arm weakness, or speech difficulty, it's crucial not to delay care. Immediate medical intervention is necessary to halt a stroke and prevent extensive brain damage. The sooner treatment is given, the more brain cells can be saved, leading to a better long-term outcome. The group meets on the last Friday of each month. The next session will be held on Friday, September 27, at the HCA Florida Fawcett Hospital Community Center, 3280 North Tamiami Trail in Port Charlotte. HCA Florida Englewood is a primary stroke center and Fawcett Hospital is a comprehensive stroke center. Both hospitals have earned the prestigious 2024 Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus award from the American Heart Association and are proud to be part of  HCA Healthcare and the HCA Healthcare Foundation’s national sponsorship of the American Heart Association’s Together to End Stroke® campaign. 

Lakewood Ranch and leading proptech firm Cecilian Partners are thrilled to announce that the recently launched resident lifestyle platform, Customer Blueprint, has been awarded the PropTech Breakthrough Residential Platform of the Year. Lakewood Ranch, the nation’s top-selling multi-generational master planned community, was the first to launch and actively collaborate in the design of the groundbreaking platform. Customer Blueprint elevates the resident experience by providing an all-in-one, integrated digital solution for community management and resident engagement. Lakewood Ranch was instrumental in shaping the platform and ensuring it met the needs of modern residents and community managers. Part of Cecilian’s proprietary Residential OS, Customer Blueprint gives residents seamless access to all aspects of community living, from event tickets to facility reservations and amenity details. As a centralized hub, the platform consolidates community management tasks, streamlines communications, and provides real-time insights into resident behavior, allowing communities like Lakewood Ranch to make data-driven decisions that continually improve the resident experience. The PropTech Breakthrough award highlights Cecilian Partners’ dedication to propelling the future of community development technology and emphasizes Lakewood Ranch’s role as a pioneer in adopting and helping design this game-changing platform. Together, the companies are redefining what it means to foster a connected and thriving residential community. Since launching in February, Customer Blueprint has seen rapid adoption within Lakewood Ranch, with over 4,000 residents and 1,500 non-residents already registered. The platform’s user-friendly interface and dynamic capabilities have made it a critical tool in managing one of the country’s most complex and successful master planned communities. 

At Revive Family Chiropractic, we specialize in providing comprehensive chiropractic care for everyone and specializing in pediatrics, pregnant women, athletes, and individuals with ADHD, ADD, and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Our mission is to enhance the health and well-being of our patients through personalized, specific, gentle, and effective chiropractic treatments to their unique needs.We are offering a grand opening special of a FREE Scan and Consultation with a $30 adjustment. Come see us and let us help revive your life!

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Join The Sarasota Ballet as we begin our highly anticipated 2024 - 2025 Season with Relative Works, a dynamic program running from October 25 to 27, 2024, at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts. This opening performance showcases the incredible talent of artists who share a deep connection with The Sarasota Ballet, highlighting innovative new works and cherished favorites. The program begins with a World Premiere by Jessica Lang, The Sarasota Ballet's Virginia B. Toulmin & Muriel O'Neil Artist in Residence. Lang, renowned for her visually stunning and emotionally resonant choreography, has had her work performed by many of the world's leading ballet companies. Her new creation promises to bring a fresh and captivating vision to the stage, adding another remarkable piece to her already acclaimed body of work. Following Lang's premiere, the stage comes alive with the return of Ricardo Graziano's Amorosa. Last performed in 2019, this romantic and visually compelling ballet features striking red corset costumes for the women, contrasting with the men's stark black, high-collared attire. With these vivid costumes, Graziano's choreography creates a powerful and sensual atmosphere that has left a lasting impression on audiences. Closing the program is the highly anticipated return of Johan Kobborg's refreshing production of Napoli Act III. An important part of Danish Choreographer August Bournonville's legacy, Kobborg again brings this historic work to the stage with beauty and vitality that is sure to delight Sarasota audiences. 

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