I'm Not a Candidate. So Why Is Florida Politics Targeting Me?

There is an old saying that politics is a blood sport. Every election season brings negative campaigns, and candidates become the target of attacks. But this time, I was the target—even though my name isn’t on the ballot.

After more than twenty years fighting over-development in Sarasota County, there is probably no greater insult than suggesting I've suddenly become someone who supports the very developers I've spent years opposing. Yet that is exactly the impression the recent Florida Politics article tried to leave with its readers (link)

That's why I'm responding.

Like many people, I had once considered Florida Politics a credible political news source. But after reading article after article attacking Commissioner Joe Neunder, I started asking questions. Then I read NPR's investigation into Florida Politics and its publisher, Peter Schorsch ("Politicians say this Florida news site lets them buy coverage"). That reporting raised legitimate questions about allegations that political campaigns could purchase favorable coverage or coverage critical of their opponents.

I publicly endorsed both Commissioner Mark Smith and Commissioner Joe Neunder for the August 18 primary. Yet Florida Politics focused negative articles only on Joe—and then on me. That naturally made me wonder why.

My question was simple: Was there any relationship between the repeated Florida Politics articles attacking Dr. Joe Neunder and those working to defeat him? I was simply asking a question based on what I observed.

Dr. Joe Neunder's opponent is Jim DeNiro. His campaign manager, Max Goodman, manages candidates whose campaign signs appear on Benderson-owned properties. And Jim DeNiro's own campaign signs appear on property owned by Gary Kompothecras, a developer seeking approval for mega-hotels on Siesta Key. Those are publicly observable. And those who have followed my work know I have spent years opposing those very developers.

Whether there is any relationship between Florida Politics, the developers, and/or opposing campaign team, I suspect there is. And I believed it was reasonable to ask the question.

After the attack article on me was published, Jim DeNiro never objected to a private citizen being targeted. Instead, he published a post criticizing "some of Sarasota's once loudest anti-developer crusaders." I would have preferred that he reject attacks on citizens rather than reinforce the narrative.  That decision speaks for itself.

The Florida Politics piece tries to paint me as someone who has abandoned her principles because I endorsed Commissioner Joe Neunder.    It won't work.

Supporting Joe Neunder does not erase more than twenty plus years of fighting over-development. It does not erase the lawsuits, the hearings, the volunteer hours, or the personal resources I've invested protecting this community.

Nor does endorsing Joe Neunder and Mark Smith mean agreeing with every vote they've ever cast. It means supporting the persons I believe will best in protecting Sarasota County going forward.

If asking questions and expressing my opinions makes me a target, so be it. I won't stop asking questions.

I won't stop standing up to over-development—or to candidates who say they oppose it but fail to stand up to it when it matters most. 

And I certainly won't let anyone rewrite my record.

Political attacks spread quickly. You can help set the record straight by sharing this blog  and newsletters with others so they can judge the facts for themselves.