The Charter Review Board is an elected body of 10 members, two members from each of the five county commission districts, who serve staggered terms of four years. The Charter Review Board reviews and proposes changes to the Sarasota County Charter which are submitted to referendum in accordance with the provisions of Article VI of the Charter. An affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Charter Review Board members is required to submit amendments to referendum. Members are elected countywide by the voters of Sarasota County at the General Election. They serve without compensation. Meetings are held to organize, elect officers, and conduct business pursuant to the Charter Review Board bylaws.To view the LWV of Sarasota County Charter Review Board Candidate Forum of 10/22/2024, click here.
I am running for the Charter Review Board because I believe public service means putting the community first, a value that has guided my life.
I have served as President of the Englewood Area Chamber of Commerce, President of the Englewood Area Board of Realtors, President of the Englewood Area Cancer Foundation, Treasurer of the Englewood Rotary Sunset Impact Club, and in other leadership roles. Serving others has always been central to who I am, and this role continues that commitment.
As a local business owner, and with my experience with board governance, and policy it has prepared me to evaluate whether the Charter continues to serve the public and whether proposed amendments should be recommended for voters to decide.
The County Charter is the document that guides how the County operates. A position on The Charter Review Board is one of oversight and structure more than day-to-day operations. Operations is the job of the County Commissioners. Charter Review Board should gather public input, study the issues carefully and recommend change when needed. The Board has no ability to make changes to The Charter, only voters can do that.
The changes to the Charter that were made in 2018 & 2022 added additional procedural requirements before a citizen-led amendment could appear on the ballot. If The County held periodic public workshops that informed citizens of the process and offered a nonbinding review by the county attorney or independent counsel for pre-filing, this could help identify legal issues early on. Improving access to information, reducing unnecessary paperwork, and increasing transparency help ensure government remains accessible, accountable, and responsive to the public.
I believe that Section 7.1 needs to be reviewed. Is essentially the Charter's "rules for changing the rules." It establishes paths for proposed amendments to reach the ballot while ensuring that the people of Sarasota County retain the final authority to approve or reject any change to their County Charter. No matter who proposes the amendment, Charter cannot be changed without voter approval. The voters have the final decision.
I am running for the Sarasota County Charter Review Board because I believe our County Charter is the foundation of local self-government and the strongest safeguard of the rights of our citizens. It deserves thoughtful stewardship, constitutional fidelity, and leaders who will always put the interests of the people first.
As a lifelong Republican and constitutional conservative, I have always believed that government's primary purpose is to protect the God-given rights and freedoms of its citizens—not to expand its own power. That principle has guided my service to our community and is the reason I am seeking this position.
The Sarasota County Charter Review is an independently elected body—the only one of its kind in Florida. That independence gives us the authority to work with the County Commission while remaining accountable to the people, not politics. I view the Charter as our local constitution: a document to be protected, respected, and amended only when necessary to preserve the rights and will of the citizens.
As a candidate, I have already begun that work. I've met with citizens over coffee, gone door to door, attended community events, and listened to residents from every corner of our county. I've heard their concerns, their ideas, and their hopes for Sarasota's future. That listening will not end on Election Day. If elected, it will become one of my highest priorities.
I believe the Charter Review process should never be confined to meetings in a government chamber. It should take place wherever the people are—in neighborhoods, civic organizations, veterans' groups, service clubs, businesses, and community gatherings. My responsibility is to seek out the voices of the people, not simply wait for them to come to me.
I want to hear from all.
As a constitutional conservative, I believe the Charter should protect our rights, limit government, and remain stable. Major changes belong in the hands of the people at the ballot box. Where recent court decisions have made portions of the Charter unconstitutional, I will work to amend those provisions so they withstand future legal challenges while preserving the will of the voters.
