Sarasota County Commission candidates discuss economy, COVID-19 recovery at virtual forum

SARASOTA COUNTY — No door knocking, no house parties, no debates or town hall meetings. How about Zoom?

That’s where candidates for the Sarasota County Commission vying for the southernmost region clashed on economic development earlier this month.

The virtual candidate forum, sponsored by the pro-business Argus Foundation, focused almost entirely on economic issues and the county’s recovery after COVID-19. It was the first time that three candidates for District 5 — two Republicans and one Democrat — participated in a forum together.

The candidates are likely to inherit one of the worst economies in history. They are also faced with how best to help the thousands of area businesses that have either had to close or significantly scale back services because of coronavirus.

There were clear differences of opinion on many issues — starting with how to jumpstart the economy.

For Republican Christopher Hanks, a North Port city commissioner, it means returning with renewed vigor toward sports tourism and encouraging greater investment in sports attractions. That also means streamlining impact fees, relaxing nonessential or redundant permitting applications.

“We need to focus heavily on it and make it sexy for investors,” Hanks said. “There is a ton of space for this right now in south county.”

Republican Ron Cutsinger said he would support reducing the cost of building permits and beefing up the county’s permit department.

Democrat Alice White thought the county was on track when it enacted a $4.3 million small business loan program. Longer term, the county could sponsor a “Taste of Sarasota County” festival to showcase area restaurants, she said.

Republican candidate Joseph Mason was absent.

Sarasota County, like the rest of Florida, is growing. But the candidates differ on handling it.

White, a longtime environmentalist, said the current rate of growth isn’t sustainable economically or environmentally.

“As we recover from COVID, we can’t have another summer of red tide,” White said.

Cutslinger said that he would support planned, mixed development communities that enhance walkability with goods and services.

“I would like to see us move away from single-family homes and commercial centers across town,” Cutslinger said.

For Hanks, the county needs to show “flexibility” and put plumbing and internet infrastructure at the forefront.

Recently, the Sarasota County Commission agreed to delay, for at least a year, a public referendum headed for the November election ballot on the proposed mental health special district tax it unanimously supported in January. The board’s decision was driven by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cutsinger believes it that putting the referendum on pause was the right thing to do. Although he generally supports aiding mental health organizations, creating a special taxing district is the wrong way to go, he said.

White said that she supports the special taxing district but would like the county to put more focus on early prevention for treatment and not what she called a “stop-gap approach of putting out fires.”

Cutsinger, Hanks and Mason will face off during the Aug. 18 primary election. The winner will be pitted against White in November.