Observer SARASOTA
EXCLUSIVE SEASON MAGAZINE
Look inside for your spring guide to arts and social events.
DIVERSIONS: BOZO BEHAVIOR
Exciting Exhibits
Lynda Lilley, aka Blossom, puts her best face forward.
Southside experiments with Science Night.
SCHOOLS 12A
INSIDE | PAGE 1B
You. Your neighbors. Your neighborhood.
SLICE OF THE CITY PEOPLE, PICS & PLACES
Thursday, MARCH 3, 2011
commission election
PARTY POLITICS
Both the Republican and Democratic parties are becoming increasingly involved in the three City Commission races, which are supposed to be nonpartisan. One candidate claims a party member asked him to drop out of the race. By Robin Roy | City Editor Loren Mayo
Front row: Emily Merrill, Jia Johnson, Maggie Bevier and Katie Dean; back row: Jemma Adams and Kendall Roehl
+ Cookie crusaders sweeten the deal A troop of Girl Scouts lugged box after box of Do-Si-Dos, Samoas and Thin Mints Sunday to Siesta Key Beach. As the sun began to set and drumcircle drummers came out, the Brownies scouted the beach for hungry cookie-lovers.
City Commission elections have traditionally been nonpartisan. And, although they officially still are, the Republican and Democratic parties are playing an increasing role in trying to determine the outcome of those races. “I think we should let people know there’s an election and they should get out and vote,” said Rita Ferrandino, chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Sarasota County. Both parties have sent e-mails to their members identifying the Republicans and Democrats running for city commissioner. “I sent the e-mail as a response to the Democrats doing the same
was like they declared war on us,” he said. Because there are three Democrats in the District 1 race — Linda Holland, Willie Shaw and Frederick Williams — Ferrandino said her party will stay out of that race, because she will not pit one Democrat against another. But in the District 3 race, which has just one Democrat — Diana Hamilton — Ferrandino is allowing party members to get involved. “We’ve told anyone in District 3 that they can help Diana,” she said. Hamilton has accepted some of that help.
Inside: SEE more election coverage
Part two of District 1 candidate profiles, Page 10A-11A. Political contribution analysis, Page 7A.
thing,” said Joe Gruters, chairman of the Republican Party of Sarasota County. “We were caught flatfooted two years ago (in the City Commission election). We won’t let that happen again.” Gruters said the Democratic Party was stumping for votes for Democratic candidates in the 2009 election. “When the Democrats went after one of the nonpartisan races, it
SEE ELECTION / PAGE 2A
Nonpartisan races and the law Florida law does not prohibit political parties from getting involved in nonpartisan election races. However, it does require candidates in nonpartisan races to abstain from mentioning their party affiliation. Section 97.021(20) of the Florida Statutes defines a nonpartisan office as one “for which a candidate is prohibited from campaigning or qualifying for election or retention in office based upon party affiliation.”
CITY HALL
Courtesy photo
Curves members Phyllis Filipowicz and Maureen Beck with owner Debbie Stovall
+ Pajama Program gets a helping hand Members at Curves of Osprey collected new pajamas and books for children who are waiting to be adopted. Led by member Ann Van Cott and Valerie Dorr, Pajama Program Suncoast director, 174 sets of pajamas and 134 books will be donated. Curves celebrated Feb. 25 with a pajama-party breakfast.
BUTT OUT
Park smoking ban sought
INDEX
Downtown residents fear when library employees urge smokers to put out their cigarettes, smokers will go across the street to Selby Five Points Park.
Black Tie...............................11B Classifieds..............................20A Cops Corner..........................18A Crossword.............................19A Opinion....................................6A Real Estate...........................18A Weather................................19A Vol. 7, No. 17 Three sections www.YourObserver.com
By Robin Roy | City Editor
Rachel S. O’Hara
Five Points residents have asked Commissioner Dick Clapp to research a smoking ban at Selby Five Points Park.
At least one city commissioner wants to again explore a possible smoking ban at Selby Five Points Park. Commissioner Dick Clapp said some downtown residents fear establishing a no-smoking campus at Selby Library will
have an adverse effect on the park. “All the people who smoke outside the library will move to Five Points Park,” he said. The county currently prohibits its employees from smoking on all of its campuses. Library employees will also begin handing out cards to other smokers
there and explaining that the county wants a non-smoking atmosphere at the library. No one will be kicked off the property or ticketed for smoking there. Some residents would also like to see smoking prohibited at the park.
SEE SMOKING / PAGE 2A