Candidate endorsements for Sarasota County Commission and U.S. House of Representatives
BARBETTA STANDS OUT IN A STRONG FIELD OF CANDIDATES
The Pelican Press, 08/16/206
Political endorsements by community newspapers such as the Pelican
Press may only be worth the paper they are printed on, but we take our
candidate evaluation process seriously and hope our readers consider
them a useful election guide.
On Sept. 5, every registered Sarasota County voter will be eligible to
cast a ballot in the hotly contested District 2 race between three
Republicans to succeed David Mills on the Sarasota County Commission.
A lot of media attention has already been focused on it.
This contest was recently opened to everyone when an 11th hour
write-in candidate withdrew in the face of a civil rights lawsuit and
cleared the way for an estimated 130,000 previously disenfranchised
voters who are not Republicans to have their say about this important
position.
The candidates are Joe Barbetta, John Lewis and Casey Pilon. Whoever
among them receives the most votes will win a four-year term on the
county commission. It is not necessary for one candidate to receive 50
percent of the votes plus one, so there will be no runoff.
Barbetta is an attorney and investment consultant who prepped for this
race with a 14-year stint on the Sarasota County Planning Commission,
which advises the county commission on rezoning petitions,
comprehensive plan amendments and land development regulations.
In his advisory capacity, Barbetta has been a strong advocate for
environmental protection and what community planners call the "smart
growth" movement, which influenced many county commission decisions
about the 2050 Plan for new villages and hamlets east of I-75.
Lewis was the Sarasota police chief and public safety director for 17
years before he retired and successfully campaigned for a seat on the
Sarasota County School Board. His professional experience in the
public sector is broad and diversified.
Pilon, the wife of former County Commissioner Ray Pilon, was a county
employee for 12 years and has extensive experience working with
administrators, public works officials and citizens through public
education programs she directed.
There are no weak links in this trio. Barbetta was a strong voice on
the planning commission, Lewis a more than capable law enforcement
leader and administrator, and Pilon an enthusiastic county employee
who took leadership roles where she served.
This newspaper believes Barbetta is the best prepared to tackle a
myriad of difficult decisions the county currently faces, and bring
balance to a commission that should always weigh the benefits of
growth against the toll it takes on our natural resources.
He is conversant on critical transportation issues, affordable
housing, infrastructure needs and water resources, and understands
there is a wealth of knowledge in the community that is waiting to be
tapped if elected officials are willing to listen.
The Pelican Press enthusiastically endorses JOE BARBETTA for the
District 2 seat on the Sarasota County Commission.
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