“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.”