Sarasota News Leader

11/02/2012

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Sarasota News Leader November 2, 2012 Patterson tells The Sarasota News Leader she is OK with Scott appointing some of the consortium's leaders, but she wants to make sure those board members are "people who are knowledgeable around the state," not just political supporters. The leadership structure of the consortium has not yet been solidified; Patterson says she expects the group will map out a clear timeta- ble for action at its next gathering. Asked what projects she thinks would be worth funding with the BP dollars, Patterson cites a handful of "environmental restoration projects" that would be winners, but she also made the case for funding economic develop- ment projects. "It would be fabulous if it were possible to allocate some dollars to the rowing facility," she says, "to see if we could speed it along." The Nathan Benderson Park rowing facility has been a major beneficiary of taxpayer dol- lars this year. Scott himself approved $5 mil- lion in state money for the project, the same month Benderson Management Services do- nated $25,000 to the governor's re-election bid. Page 37 Patterson also cites Warm Mineral Springs as an economic development project deserving of funding through RESTORE. Florida Association of Counties Communica- tions Director Cragin Mosteller says having the governor's office involved in the consor- tium's efforts would be "ideal," because it would help Florida present a "unified front to the federal government." Does the association believe Scott's proposal to staff 25 percent of the leaders and appoint a chairman is appropriate? "I think it's too soon to speculate," Mosteller says. "If the counties are interested in the state helping with the consortium, we are happy to continue conversations with the counties on what that might look like," Scott Press Secre- tary Jackie Schultz writes in an email state- ment. Patterson told the commission last week she does not know how the negotiations will shake out, either. "I don't really know what's going to happen on this one," she said.

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