For the past dozen years, we always viewed three-term board member Caroline Zucker as if she were a full-time public relations employee of the district than as an elected board member who represented the interests of taxpayers and parents and maintained her distance. This page has been updated to correct the name of the company Tom Edwards founded. The Observer Media Group Inc. respects your privacy and values the relationship we have with you. All of that demonstrates the kind of passion and commitment to the community that voters want in a legislator. What’s more, Brodsky and his office, the region’s law enforcement departments, 12th Circuit judges and numerous regional not-for-profit organizations have been among Florida’s leaders creating programs that help addicts, homeless, mentally ill and veterans rather than overcrowd county jails. North Port is a growing community with health care needs that should be adequately addressed. I’m against the games politicians play to raise taxes,” he says. Or you can think of the CEOs who stay too long. (Or, they disliked the other candidate more than they disliked you.). It needs a finance expert. Either way, it’s still money taxpayers’ money for the government to spend. Little did she know as a rookie board member how much distress the hospital was in — financially and morale-wise. SM Health System is opening its new hospital in Venice in 2021. And she did that after serving years as president of the Southside Elementary School PTA, president of Sarasota’s Junior League, head of a statewide Junior League education committee, mother of four sons and owner-operator of a physical therapy business. But now is the time for someone like Daniel Clermont. Thus is the nature of politics and government — government in the margins. Satcher also works at Gulf Coast Mercantile, an online supplier of remodeling products for contractors and consumers. Take Lourdes Ramirez. Given District 2 Commissioner Liz Alpert is running for reelection, that makes this race, to a large degree, a referendum on her performance. No one knows more about the district’s finances than Mary Foreman. PRIMARY ELECTION â AUGUST 18, 2020 Sarasota County School Board: Thomas Edwards, District 3 David Graham, District 2 Sarasota City Commission: Dan Clermont, District 3 GENERAL ELECTION â NOVEMBER 3 It’s too bad they’re all competing for the same seat. Graham is an analyst for the district. In Kruse, Manatee Republicans have a candidate with valuable private-sector experience in finance — an attribute always needed — and someone who will view the county’s issues from the perspective of a taxpayer, not from that of a government administrator. RL Anderson Building, 4000 Tamiami Trail S., Venice 34293. Candidates: Jim Boyd; John Manners Houman. Either that or replace the CEO, increase the hospital’s millage rate and attempt a turnaround to remain independent. 2020 General Election Candidates. The board meetings also are aired on a space-available basis on the local access TV station. But thanks.”. More importantly, Boyd spent his eight years in the House as an advocate for taxpayers — a dependable lawmaker for fiscal restraint and low taxes. by: Observer Staff Staff Name: Finolia Idahosa. What’s more, there was public strife between the hospital’s then-CEO Michael Covert and the staff, and the hospital’s reputation suffered for spotty customer service. Unfortunately, while we appreciate Hyde’s style at commission meetings and his care and doggedness, our guess is sometimes his behavior goes too far for Sarasotans. âThe Sarasota Memorial Health Care System, an 839-bed regional medical center, is among the largest public health systems in Florida. 2 leader — is the department’s chief operating officer, the leader who keeps the day-to-day operations on track. And the people, the taxpayers are a check on us.”. Indeed, this region and all of Florida would be better off having both of them serving in the Legislature. In fact, you can probably say Hunzeker, 73, is so steeped in government administration and management that it is part of his DNA. Hospital Board Sarasota Memorial Hospital District 1 Gen. Sarasota Area At Large Hospital District Map All won their seats! At one point in her term as board chair, Barcomb, MacKenzie and Verinder traveled to New York City to meet with Moody’s Corp. to discuss the hospital’s bond rating. Taxpayers should be thankful. Thursday, May 7, 2020, is the National Day of Prayer. But this much is clear: When you see Hoffman and Fern side by side in public settings, the decision is clear on who’s ready for the job. Likewise, to a great extent, we view elections as referenda on the performance of incumbent office holders. Sarasota Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020 2 ... SARASOTA HOSPITAL BOARD. Below are the LWV dates scheduled General Election Forums. As he put in an Observer candidate questionnaire: He “recognizes the importance of creating a balance between protecting Sarasota’s gorgeous environmental landscape and developing our business community. We’re sharing these successes that have occurred during Knight’s tenure because he has not done all of this himself. Sarasota Memorial Hospital has changed how it treats babies with neonatal abstinence syndrome, and the results so far look promising. Sarasota Memorial Hospital (SMH) is an 839-bed health care facility located in Sarasota, Florida. Get real-time election results for the local races across Sarasota County and Florida. It’s akin to building an NBA basketball team. But as one longtime Sarasota Republican told us, McFarland underestimates the parochial loyalty Sarasotans have for those who have served the community. No one can question whether former Manatee County Administrator Ed Hunzeker is qualified to be a county commissioner. With this knowledge, the board needs to establish a simple, clear message that can be shared with staff, consumers and the community. Each of these two Democrat Party candidates has decades of experience in health care that give them the credentials to serve on the Sarasota Hospital Board. Hospital Foundation Adds Two New Board Members Gary Dornbush and Sandi Stuart recently joined the Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation board. If you consider this race a referendum on Robinson’s performance versus taking a chance on a newcomer unknown to Sarasota County residents, Robinson — in spite of charges of being a divider — clearly understands the role of a school board member and has acted accordingly. But here’s the thing: Wells has lived in Sarasota for 30 years, yet few voters know him. In Sarasota, he’s doing the same: owning and managing multiple properties. This is what we repeatedly heard: Gould has the edge — “the legal intellect, always prepared, committed.” But it’s not just her courtroom experience, we were told. First-time candidate and long-time Republican Party of Sarasota loyalist Mike Hutchinson argues that Moran and his commission colleagues have bent too much to housing developers. Kruse graduated from the Columbia University School of Business in New York and spent six years in New York as an associate and investment officer at Capital Source Finance, a firm specializing in commercial real estate. As a member of the hospital board, she has developed a reputation for being conscientious, well prepared and contributing valuable nursing perspectives. For 10 years before that, Hoffman served as the department’s chief in-house lawyer. District 1: Bridget Mendel; Gina Messenger (incumbent). When you examine the 300 contributors (and the $165,900) to the campaign of 12th Judicial Circuit State Attorney Ed Brodsky, you can quickly see it is a long list of respected, accomplished people from all across Sarasota, Manatee and Desoto counties — business owners, sheriffs, retired sheriffs, mayors and Democrats. My passion involves issues related to patient safety, patient rights and organizational excellence, as well as the focus on a positive experience for patients and their loved ones in the health care setting. Medred, 33, grew up in Sarasota, is a civil engineer by education and is now owner of a real estate appraisal firm. Here is what makes the difference for us: Sarasota Memorial Hospital and the Sarasota Memorial Healthcare System would not be in existence as an independent hospital and would not be the highly rated hospital that it is today were it not for Donna Barcomb. Barcomb sided with remaining independent and raising the millage rate. Sarasota Voter Guide 2020: Vote-by-Mail, Early Voting, Candidates - Sarasota, FL - Sarasota-area residents can vote early in person or by mail, or they can go to the polls on Nov. 3. Another issue on which he has harped: The county’s rainy-day reserves, which is close to $550 million, depending on how you look at it. First Name. Candidates: Donna Barcomb; Fiona McFarland; Jason Miller. With more than 40 years in the health care field, including being a CEO of a large tertiary care teaching, research and patient health care system, I bring a breadth of local and national working knowledge and understanding related to the functioning of hospitals and health care systems. There are two parts to this question. We have written stories about the key races, and you can read And yet, he opposes an elected mayor. Don’t go too far. He says he studies from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., after putting his children to bed. “The others (those board members with whom he has clashed) think it should be that of cheerleader. Or imagine Hunzeker’s successor, current Administrator Cheri Coryea, who previously served as Hunzeker’s deputy administrator. SM Health Systems reported $193 million in uncollected/bad debts last fiscal year. Then, in 2004, Barcomb was chair of the hospital board committee that recruited Finlay’s successor, Gwen MacKenzie. For a telling insight into this race, just look at the money. The Sarasota Public Hospital Board meeting schedule. Hudgins has been a respected bank president or senior banker in this region for more than 30 years, served 12 years on the Sarasota Planning Commission, was president of the Sarasota Salvation Army Advisory Board and currently is one of only two non-lawyer members appointed to the Board of Governors of the Florida Bar. The voters in this district deserve a representative who is not looking to advance to the next level. That’s a 5.4% annual drop in murders, rapes, robberies, assaults, arson, burglaries, larcenies and motor vehicle thefts. By clicking "Accept," you agree to our use of cookies and similar technologies. … City government should be fiscally responsible, focus on infrastructure, preserve our parks and open spaces, support our critical arts and culture and maintain safe and character-rich neighborhoods. Candidates briefly describe their approach to issues by answering questions developed by the League and voters in advance. I am a highly motivated individual with impeccable ethical standards and a desire to serve with the highest dedication to the patients cared for by Sarasota Memorial Health Care. And after beating a well-known local politician in 2016, Trace continued to build on her many achievements in her first term as county commissioner. We use technology to collect information that helps us enhance your experience and our products and services. Knight appointed Hoffman to that position five years ago. Like a Boy Scout, he’s always prepared — and prepared to evaluate issues from the perspective of taxpayers. Issues & Initiatives ... 2020 / In County Hospital Board / By Sarasota County Dems / Comments Off on Hospital Board 2020. They are strong free-market, low-regulation, low-taxation conservatives, believers in constitutional liberty, who also embrace Gov. District 3: Nancy Detert. Click here to view the Observer's Nov. 3, 2020, general election recommendations. He told The Sun he decided to run because he felt that the community no longer had a say in district matters. His grandfather served in the House in 1940s, and his uncle, the late Wilbur Boyd, served in the House and Senate in the 1960s and 1970s. But she has shown tendencies to keep Manatee government growing. The cookies we use help us understand what information and advertising are most useful and valuable. Sarasota Friday, Sep. 25, 2020 3 months ago. Candidates (Democrats): Steven Kleinglass; Vicki Lynn Nighswander. Budget for Fiscal Year 2021; Budget for Fiscal Year 2020; Financial statements for the 9 months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 (Unaudited) Fiscal Year 2019 Audited Statements; Sarasota Memorial Health Care System has engaged DAC as its Investment Relations Provider. As lawyers, have they spent enough time in the courtroom and handled a wide enough variety of lawsuits to give them the breadth of experience and judgment they will encounter and need as a judge? We’ve seen the latter movie before at the Manatee School Board. SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS OFFICE 101 S Washington Blvd 941-861-8600 Email the Supervisor of Elections Patient safety, doing no harm to patients in the health care setting; Patient rights and organizational excellence, insuring that patients are controlling their health care in collaboration with their provider and having a positive experience in the health care setting; and. Jody Hudgins is a careful steward of Sarasota’s Charter and a voice of wisdom. He, too, embraces the belief that Sarasota County government is working well and that there isn’t a compelling need to change the charter. Finlay is credited with leading a successful, yearslong effort to improve the hospital’s reputation and customer-service ratings. Of all the Republican races on the region’s ballots, this one is probably the most watched. Office Candidate Name (Party) ... Hospital Board Central District, Seat 1: Bill Paxon (REP) Withdrew: Bobcat Trail CDD, Seat 3: Bruce K. Bauer: ... Sarasota Soil & Water District, Group 1: Steven W. Horton: Elected: Sarasota Soil & ⦠All candidates⦠Hospital Board Central District Seat 1: Both candidates for this seat, Vicki Lynn Nighswander and Steven Kleinglass are very qualified with impressive healthcare backgrounds. Meet the candidate. 101 of 101 precincts reported. There definitely are pluses and minuses to Hunzeker’s candidacy. Indeed, in this race between Hunzeker and first-time candidate, businessman George Kruse, you have a contest that gives voters a clear opportunity to break from the past, to break from the directions Hunzeker steered county government and embrace a fresh perspective, fresh thinking and the start of a younger generation of leaders in Manatee County. Rural heritage, not urban sprawl.”. He also has become a leading advocate for his neighborhood (Arlington Park) and district. Subsequently, Booker’s rating rose to a “B.”. Florida and Sarasota County will continue to grow. Check the Access Sarasota Television Schedule for air times. Vanessa has no credibility with me. Hospital Board At Large, Seat 1: Sharon Wetzler Peters At Large, Seat 2: Tramm Hudson At Large, Seat 3: Britt Riner Central, Seat 1: Sarah Lodge Sarasota Soil & Water Conservation District Group 1: Steven W. Horton A wise person told us many years ago that seldom is it a good idea to go back. So many things come to mind about Hunzeker’s candidacy for the District 7 At-Large County Commission seat. It has hobbled the board for more than a decade. It administers the public healthcare system in Sarasota County. District 3: David Samuel. And she was chair of the board when it brought in Dr. Duncan Finlay, a respected Sarasota physician, to replace Covert. “I’ve worked every job there is,” he says — science, history and math teacher; guidance counselor; food service; custodian; and landscaper, to name a few. Boyd’s opponent, John Manners Houman of Thonotossa in Hillsborough County, is a frequent candidate for state offices, albeit so far unsuccessful. This is a non-salaried position, however members can be reimbursed for expenses they incur. Their frame of reference is how they did things, often leaving them unable or slow to embrace innovation and change. WHY I AM RUNNING The CRB is currently lacking an advocate for the people of Sarasota and Sarasota County's environment; and I will be that advocate if elected to the CRB. The cookies we use help us understand what information and advertising are most useful and valuable. District 1 candidates: James Satcher III; Priscilla Lee Whisenant Trace (incumbent). District 72 has been hobbled with two short-term legislators not committed to the seat — Republican Alex Miller and Democrat Margaret Good. Caregivers at Doctors Hospital of Sarasota earned the 2020 Guardian of Excellence Award®. They have been involved in ministry work in Haiti and, locally, helping victims of sex trafficking. [2] The hospital was founded in 1925, and is the only trauma center in Sarasota County, Florida. We are not following the crowd. But she made a miscalculation in her quest for the nomination. You can think of the pro athletes past their prime who just can’t give it up, only to stay too long. When you look at the Manatee County School Board, the one area of expertise that is sorely missing is someone with acute financial skills. The hospital's Medical Staff includes more than 1,400 credentialed providers who represent 60 specialties. We recommend: Samantha Medred; Joseph “Jody” Hudgins, Candidates (Republicans): Audie Elizabeth Bock; Sharon Wetzler DePeters (incumbent). As the owner/CEO of Boyd Insurance and Investment Services in Bradenton, Boyd also worked as an ardent proponent of reforming Florida’s auto insurance laws for consumers. McFarland and her husband have been homesteaded residents in Bradenton, which is outside of District 72. So they play it safe. Graham is a graduate from Riverview High School in Sarasota. Politics & Government Sarasota Voter Guide 2020: Vote-by-Mail, Early Voting, Candidates Sarasota-area residents can vote early in person or ⦠It’s the second part that hangs over many politicians. So the candidates all say the same thing: They will be fair and impartial and follow the law. But if elections are indeed referenda on incumbents’ performance and results, Brodsky has delivered what voters want: a state attorney who enforces the rule of law forcefully and fairly and who pursues innovative programs and strategies with other branches of the legal system to help, rather than merely house, those in need. This is where we take issue with Hutchinson. We recommend Vicki Lynn Nighswander because of her expertise in infectious disease control. When you read or hear what Patterson would like to have happen at City Hall, he strikes you as a CEO who would make a first-rate elected mayor. We’re always one step behind.”, “I’m a lifetime conservative. All of the above comes to mind when evaluating incumbent Sarasota County commissioner Mike Moran versus his Republican opponent, Mike Hutchinson. He told us his three main reasons for running are: Satcher says county government should not be spending any taxpayer money on affordable housing. This race is overflowing with talented, smart, accomplished individuals. But how do your really know? To “Keep the country country” is unrealistic. At the same time, you can say voters are somewhat unfortunate: It’s a tough choice. In that role, I was responsible for more than 75,000 patients, 3,500 employees and an annual operating budget in excess of $700 million. District 7 (at-large) candidates: Edwin Hunzeker; George Kruse. In both, she earned a reputation as a committed hard worker. But as Kruse aptly told us: “We already have a county administrator. The company Tom Edwards, is the time of Covid, Vickiâs career in public makes! Primary, Lisa Chittaro we already have a hospital in North Port ; Mary Foreman, CPA, another. Other candidate more than 1,400 credentialed providers who represent 60 specialties on roads: “ we need get. 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