The Speech From Hell

Or was it?

Last night the Democratic Womens Club of Sarasota County held their monthly Happy Hour at the Mellow Mushroom restaurant. There were close to 75 people in attendance, including seven candidates running for office.

When I was told the candidates (including me) were going to give short speeches introducing themselves, I knew this would be problematic. It shouldn’t be - I talked on the radio for years. One usually can’t shut me up.

This was different, however.

We would be expected to convince people we were the right person for the position we were running for. As candidate after candidate rolled off their educational credentials, I just felt my education didn’t define my intent. Sure I was a product of the local schools and graduated from college, but Ted Bundy also had his college degree.

Flo Entler (l); Matthew Montavon (r)

Flo Entler, running for Sarasota City Commission, was spectacular. We learned so much about her, including that she ran in the Boston Marathon. There would be no way I’d have wanted to read my speech after hers.

Kelly Kirschner just entered the race to take over Vern Buchanan’s seat in District 16. He was the candidate who left us wanting more. He spoke of how he went to Cardinal Mooney High School the same year as Joe Gruters. Ironically, Kirschner could end up running against Gruter’s wife, Sydney, in November. It depends on who gets the nomination.

Beth Mayberry always wins a crowd over. Her confidence is reassuring, but the joy she exudes is something she is going to be known for as much as her last name. Mayberry is a certified financial planner or top of having been a teacher. She was born for this job.

Kirschner (l); Mayberry (r)

Nancy Simpson was up next. The candidate is running for Florida State House 74 and has her speech down pat. Simpson has run before and knows exactly what she wants to get across. Her enthusiasm can almost disguise just how smart she really is. Simpson is a formidable and qualified candidate, who really knows how to help Sarasotans due to her knowledge of flood plains. (The woman is a genius.)

Matthew Montavon is running to represent Florida's 17th Congressional District in the U.S. House. He is class, decorum, handsome, knowledgeable, intelligent. In other words, he has all the right stuff. There’s also a warmth surrounding him making for an approachable representative.

He handed the mike over to his Democrat challenger Allen Spence, who made a point to say that he would be loud in using his voice for causes important to Florida. I remember the first time I met Spence. He was handing out water bottles to people attending a rally. “I gave some to a dog,” he added. That scored points.

However, Spence’s secret weapon is the team he has surrounding him. Aaron Pyman has da skills! His photographer is consistently welcoming and kind.

Then it was my turn. Ohhh boy. . .

Let it be known that Jamie Barrett had a speech ready to go if I hadn’t shown up. I should have read from her speech. What I most wanted to convey was that I would be everyone’s voice. I wanted to tell them about my day in an effort for the people listening to know me, rather than rattle off what I felt didn’t really matter. This campaign was not about me, it’s about all of us.

London Put DOWN the drink and handbag before posing for a photo (l). Jamie Barrett (r)

My day had included a visit to the local Democratic headquarters, where I got a real lesson in what Democracy looks like. These hardworking volunteers make the local party run like a well-oiled machine. Karen Lundeen (who I infamously attempted to steal tickets from at the Dingbat Theatre) could give a master class for Democrats across the country in how hard work brings results. Barbara Fittipaldi is the relaxed smile who efficiently slays in all the many hats she wears.

After the headquarters, I stopped by the Boatyard. This is the property just east of the Stickney Point Bridge that the county commissioners purchased at an inflated price. I was haunted by the people greeting me, who had a rental business at the iconic yellow lighthouse and only had days to move out. What would they be doing with their watercraft? Along with these shell-shocked employees were the other tenants heartlessly thrown out, destroying a community that attracted tourists and added charm to our beautiful town.

It made me that much more determined to serve in the capacity of a county commissioner, because these people didn’t matter to those corrupted by power. They were treated less than. We aren’t talking about a corporation who bought the property, but the people who are supposed to insure a good life for all Sarasotans. This neighborhood, consisting of colorful houses, providing a backdrop to the best beach in the world, will be torn down.

That’s what my speech was. There were ‘dramatic’ pauses, because I wanted to emphasize that they were the ones who needed to be behind the microphone - not me. It’s their stories that need to be heard, not mine. They only thing I wanted to assure everyone listening is that I’ll fight like hell for them and the town I grew up in.

While I spoke, I noticed Kirschner mentally encouraging me with a stare down like “You can get through this!”

The teacher in Mayberry was nodding her head like I was her student and I really just wanted to pull her beside me. That’s when it happened - I couldn’t shut up.

I was thankful that the County Commissioners voted to rescind their prior decision that took $2 million dollars from taxpayer funds that every citizen thought was for education. Initially, by a 5 - 0 vote, they handed that money over to County Commissioner Teresa Mast’s buddy, tax collector Mike Moran.

This vote only came after this became public knowledge and I believe the commissioners wanted to save their tushes. 84% of citizens voting for this education referendum isn’t something as easily dismissed as the folks who wanted to earn a living and pay taxes from their businesses at the Boatyard. (What they did to these people really burns me.)

When I was done speaking, my people ‘got’ me. A beautiful woman named Kali understood my mission, encouraging me beyond words in a Facebook post.

We see bad things happening, among the good. What Sarasota needs are people in positions where they can call out the power and be heard. All of the candidates above can get the job done.

If our campaign can get the petitions signed, sealed and delivered to the Supervisor of Elections by Monday am, then the website goes up, and my work as a community watchdog begins. The blog remains!

---

If you live in District FOUR, please sign the petition. We have hours left. We’ll deliver hard copies and come pick up finished petitions. Petition LINK is here.

A. If you’re east of 41 from Bee Ridge south to Beneva Road - you’re in District Four

B. If you’re on Clark Road and going South and waaay east - you’re in District Four up until Border Road.

---

Thank you also to David Dean, Traci Lipton and her “beautiful friend” Dean Davidson. Thank you to the volunteers with boots on the ground sweating up a storm. I’ll drop by today between my own efforts to get these petitions signed .