Victories show Democrats' progress

Sarasota Herald-Tribune ^ | November 9, 2007 | JEREMY WALLACE

[ConservativeStatement]

Democrats continue to chalk up surprising victories in Sarasota County, further eroding the area's reputation as a Republican stronghold.

On Tuesday, the Democratic tide rolled into the most unlikely of places: Venice.

While the nonpartisan race hinged heavily on the direction of growth and development, both parties say it was still significant that the winning candidates were all Democrats.

"The Democrats have a reason to crow," Sarasota Republican Party Chairman Eric Robinson said. "They won. The county is becoming more liberal."

[ConservativeStatement]

I was in Venice and Sarasota for much of the last 10 days so these elections caught my interest. There seems to be a strong element of former residents from places like Ohio, Illinois and Michigan (some New Englanders, too).

[bill1952]

ping

[golfisnr1]

Its called, invasion of the liberal easteners. They just keep punching themselves in the nose. They left because of high taxes and they put into office the same kind of pols they left. Crazy irrational people.

[L98Fiero]

Yep, it won’t be long, after the boomers retire, that you can write off Florida.

[Joe Brower]

Sorry for the late and missing pings this week, folks. I've been having network problems that finally appear resolved.

My 2 cents on this: Yes, Sarasota county is becoming more liberal as more and more snowbirds from the north and northeast states move here and bring their socialist tendencies with them.

What made me laugh out loud when I read this column this morning (the SHT being my main local paper) was how the dems were falling over themselves about the "non-partisan" nature of the Venice city election, but now that their candidates have won, it's front-page news. Typical hypocrisy from the political left.

On the other hand, the local GOP dug its own grave on this one, the incumbents on their way out were Republicans and were blindly supported by the party. These incumbents have, for the last decade, rubber-stamped about every big-money hyperdevelopment that crossed their desk, waiving height restrictions and all other ordinances to cater to developers and the like, despite public opposition and many times inviting public review and comment at the last hour. The dems campaigned on a controlled-growth platform and did so intelligently, more intelligently, at least, than the good ol' boys club that tended only to denigrate their opposition. I know many Repubs who voted Dem this go-around.

Florida Freeper

[Greg F]

In Fort Lauderdale they have a monthly “jazz brunch” in an open space around the Museums along the Riverwalk. Couple people were out last Sunday with some sort of petition regarding slowing down growth and development (of course I didn’t sign it). Seems like that’s one avenue the Dems are taking in Florida in local elections.

[Sunnyflorida]

Look at Charlotte County. Home of Tax and Spend Republicans. These old people tend to be more socially liberal (artsy-fartsy) but they also tend to be cheap bastards (what is the difference between a canoe and a snowbird? Canoes tip.). A “cut-taxes” platform would win everytime, but oh no, we need this and that service. Plus the County staffs are straight out of liberal-schools. Who needs the sierra club when you have the County staff we have?