Board seeks to overturn what we voted for: Single Member Districts

 Kindra Muntz said it best:

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Hello friends,

 

Will you join us at this meeting May 19?

 

In the meantime, will you send a note to the list of Charter Review Board members below to express your thoughts?

Let’s flood them with emails!!

Thank you!

 

Kindra Muntz

Sarasota Alliance for Fair Elections

 

ACTION ALERT: MAY 19, 2021

WHAT: Charter Review Board meeting—where they will start discussion to overturn Single Member Districts

WHEN: 5:30 PM—to buy a T-shirt ($10) to KEEP SMD—or wear a red t-shirt---and get a speaker card (meeting starts promptly at 6:00)

WHERE: Sarasota County Administration Center, 1660 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34236

WHY: Show up to KEEP SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICTS for electing County Commissioners

 

It’s time for people all over the county to stand up for Single Member Districts for electing County Commissioners. 60% of voters of all political parties voted YES to change to single member districts in 2018, to enable principled local candidates to campaign for County Commission, cut the cost of campaigning by 80%, and elect Commissioners who are accountable to all the people in their district, not just the developers, as they serve on the Commission for the good of the county. We elect our State Representatives by single member districts. Sarasota County is so large it includes portions of FIVE state legislative districts: two complete districts (72 and 74) and parts of three others: (70, 71 and 73.) It makes sense to elect County Commissioners by single member districts as well.

 

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

1. Show up on May 19 to KEEP SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICTS for electing County Commissioners. Just being in the audience will help.

2. Get a speaker card and speak up (you have up to five minutes at the Open to the Public Session at the beginning of the meeting.)

3. Email the Charter Review Board members ahead of time to express your thoughts:  (See the list of CRB members and a sample message to send them below)

4. Review the Single Member Districts website: The Case for Reform, Fact Check, and the four short videos in the Media Center to be reminded of why single member districts are so needed.

Remember, your voice is strongest when only you and others in your district elect your Commissioner— not when 80% of voters all over the county can dilute your votes and choose your Commissioner for you. Keep your power. Keep single member districts.

 

Charter Review Board members: (and the email to send your message to all the County Commissioners as well):

jim.gabbert@scgcrb.net

kennedy.legler@scgcrb.net

ray.collins@scgcrb.net

david.samuel@scgcrb.net

scott.williams@scgcrb.net

elaine.miller@scgcrb.net

alexandra.coe@scgcrb.net

richard.dorfman@scgcrb.net

joe.justice@scgcrb.net

deborah.lapinska@scgcrb.net

 

cc:

Commissioners@scgov.net

 

 

What to say: Sample messages—but please write your own PERSONAL message, and don’t just copy these: (because they think people don’t know what they voted for in 2018, and are unhappy with SMD):

 To the Charter Review Board:
 I'm happy with Single Member Districts. 

I was not confused in 2018. 

Perhaps certain elected officials are confused now. 
I'll be paying close attention to your May 19th discussion of Single Member Districts. 
Thank you.

 

Or maybe:

To the Charter Review Board:

Al Maio said he was waiting for that one person who said they were happy with single member districts.

Please let him know he has to wait no longer! 
I am perfectly happy with single member districts.

I knew exactly what I voted for in 2018.

I’m not a bit confused!

Commissioner Maio

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Come in person - but if you can't: 

How to watch the Charter Review Board meeting:

Editor's Note: Sarasota County makes it difficult to find live meetings of key boards. If you can't make it to the CRB meeting on Wed. May 19 at 6 pm, you can watch it by tuning in to Access Sarasota on Youtube at that time - it's a live feed, and when there's nothing live, it's useless.

or

If you are unable to catch the meeting live, you can find the recorded meeting here in the CRB's archive at some later point, usually within 4-24 hours.

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Background

The Board is starting the process of finding reasons to undo Single Member Voting in Sarasota. A brief update.

Here's a history of Single Member Voting in Sarasota - why voters chose Single Member Voting, and how they changed the Charter. By Kindra Muntz