the 941

This afternoon, at the “Vote for Change” rally at Five Points Park, an audience of about twenty-five was treated to a Democrat-style injection of political inspiration, right into the bicep. And once that area became inured and benumbed by rhetoric, into the chest, the calves, and finally the eyeballs. 

As Sarasota is not the bluest part of the state — a candidate today claimed to be one of two elected democrats in the county – most of the talk was about reversal, renewal, upheaval. Leaders said their strategy was to inundate the political arena with a big slate of democrats.

Twenty candidates running in eighteen races were represented. Read on for a rundown of what we heard, plus word of an ambitious Newtown outreach effort planned for this weekend.

Some of the first words of inspiration came from U.S. Congressional candidate Christine Jennings, who, with her little painted white face and her wispy luminous hair, always looks sort of otherworldly in her public appearances.

“How many of you want better public education?” she urged. “How many of you want to preserve the environment that brought you to Sarasota in the first place?”

Sam Rosenfeld, for Florida House of Representatives District 20, talked about snubbing the special interests that control our state legislature. “Let’s turn Sarasota blue!” he cried.

 We liked Betty Gissendanner, candidate for District 71 of the Florida House, if only because she brazenly referred to herself in the third person again and again. “What we have is broken,” she said. “What we need is what I’ve got. … Seniors, do ya hear me? Working families, do ya hear me? … Send Betty G to Tallahassee and she’ll make sure your voices are heard.”

   Betty G is OK with me

Richard Jackson, running for Florida House District 67, rolled some eyes when he said his opponent was a guy named Ron Reagan. “I’m running against an insurance man. How many of you are happy with your insurance situation? … Let’s send him home to work on that insurance, and let’s send Richard Jackson to Tallahassee!” OK, we get it. It’s a branding thing.

Tough task ahead of him: “My name is Barry Sullivan, and I’m the guy that’s going to restore your trust and confidence in the Sarasota County supervisor of elections office!”

When the intros ended, the schmoozing began. We talked with local activist and WMNF reporter Virginia Hoffman, who told us about “Chew and Chat,” the fish fry/democratic outreach she has planned for Newtown this weekend.

She’ll be distributing doorhangers to 975 homes in Precinct 31, the Sarasota County voting bloc with the highest concentration of democrats. She and other volunteers will be registering voters, helping former felons reinstate their right to vote, and just rallying forth the Newtown democrats. For more information, Virginia can be reached at 365-7450.

Bookmark to:

Posted in News, Politics | Leave a comment