Renewed hope for Democrats
By Zac Anderson , Herald-Tribune
/ Saturday, January 2, 2016
The Florida Senate could tilt more Democratic in the New Year after a big court ruling last week that rejected a redistricting map favoring Republicans for one that leaned slightly Democratic in the last presidential election.
But Southwest Florida Democrats hoping to send one of their own to the Senate still face an uphill climb.
Sarasota County Democratic Party Chair Christine Jennings said she hopes to recruit a good candidate who can reach voters that might be turned off by the policies being promoted by Gov. Rick Scott and the GOP-controlled state Legislature. H-T ARCHIVE
The Senate map selected by Judge George Reynolds maintains the current configuration of Sen. Nancy Detert's district, which pairs Sarasota County with part of Charlotte County — and which went for Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney in 2012 with 53.5 percent of the vote.
The Senate district directly to the north held by Bradenton Republican Bill Galvano — that now will cover all of Manatee County and a large portion of southern Hillsborough County — is even more Republican. It went for Romney with 57 percent of the vote in 2012, according to an analysis by Democratic data consultant Matthew Isbell.
Local Democrats have been closely following the redistricting effort to see if it might produce a map more favorable to the party in this region. The last local Democrat to make a strong run at a state Senate seat was high-profile lawyer Morgan Bentley, who secured only 41.7 percent of the vote in 2008 against Detert.
Bentley is a moderate, well-connected, business-friendly Democrat who ran in a presidential year and was a solid fundraiser, all of which should have helped him. But he had the disadvantage of running against a moderate, well-known GOP opponent in a Republican-leaning district.
Now Detert is leaving her Senate seat to run for the Sarasota County Commission, creating a rare open seat that will feature a hotly contested Republican primary. The map selected by Reynolds ensures that the three GOP candidates vying for the seat can stay in the race. The Senate's proposed map drew two of the candidate's homes out of Detert's districts, but Reynolds went with a different configuration proposed by a coalition of voting rights groups.
Reynolds' decision brings some clarity to the race on the Republican side, but it still remains to be seen if Democrats can recruit a candidate, especially one strong enough to perform well in a Republican-leaning district.
A tough Republican primary could leave the Republican nominee battered and low on cash, but even a bruised GOP candidate likely would have an advantage in the race.
Sarasota County Democratic Party Chair Christine Jennings said she's not discouraged by Bentley's poor showing in 2008 — or the district's Republican tilt, saying she hopes to recruit a good candidate who can reach voters that might be turned off by the policies being promoted by Gov. Rick Scott and the GOP-controlled state Legislature.
"The way politics have been in Tallahassee — Rick Scott and the whole Legislature — that's a wonderful opportunity for Democrats across the state to do well," Jennings said.
Buchanan pushes panther protection
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan ended 2015 calling for greater protection for one of the most endangered species on the planet.
With Florida panther deaths reaching a record high this year, Buchanan reiterated last week that he wants the federal government to do more to protect the species.
"We should not stand by and do nothing as yet another endangered species is wiped off the earth," Buchanan said in a statement. "We don't get a second chance once a species becomes extinct."
Buchanan was one of nine Florida congressmen — and just two Republicans — to send a letter to President Barack Obama on Dec. 9 requesting the federal government designate land in Florida as critical habitat for the panther.
Such designations can be controversial because of their potential to limit development, but the letter notes that development can still take place and "simply requires additional review."
Planned Parenthood gift
Palmer Ranch developer Hugh Culverhouse Jr. is playing a big role in the campaign of Sarasota Democrat Edward James III, whose state House bid has been buoyed by $45,000 in contributions that Culverhouse gave to a political committee backing James.
Now Culverhouse is using his cash to help support Planned Parenthood, a group that has been in the spotlight lately as the GOP-controlled Congress sought to cut off federal funding for the abortion provider, and after a gunman attacked a clinic in Colorado.
Culverhouse gave $10,000 to Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida recently and last week put up another $25,000 challenge grant, indicating he could be a larger force in local politics and community causes.
Culverhouse is a Republican who has backed Republicans such as former Sarasota County Commissioner Joe Barbetta in previous elections. But he also donated to Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist's 2014 campaign, telling the Herald-Tribune then, "I am supporting moderates, regardless of the party."
■ The Sarasota Republican Club meets Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Sarasota Yacht Club. Nearly two dozen GOP candidates for local and state offices will attend the event, which is billed as a "Kick-off celebration of the 2016 elections season." For reservations, call 888-325-3212.
■ The Sarasota Tiger Bay Club meets Thursday at 11:30 a.m. at Michael's On East. A panel of experts will talk about managing public lands. For reservations, call 925-2970.
■ The Republican Women's Club of Sarasota meets Friday at 11:30 a.m. at Michael's On East. Sarasota Police Chief Bernadette Di Pino will address the group. For reservations, call 941-441-6412.
■ The Democratic Club of Sarasota meets Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at Marina Jack. Educator Gwendolyn Calvert Baker, the former New York City School Board President, YWCA director and UNICEF president, will speak. For reservations, call 379-9233.
■ The Manatee Chamber of Commerce is holding a legislative breakfast Friday at 8 a.m. at the IMG Academy Golf Club. Local members of the state Legislature will give a preview of the upcoming legislative session. For reservations, email LisaR@ManateeChamber.com.
Last modified: January 2, 2016