Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/104211
Sarasota News Leader January 18, 2013 Page 22 Patterson's vote came as a surprise to members of the community as well as other commissioners last week. Sarasota attorney Dan Lobeck, who is known community-wide as a slow-growth advocate, told the News Leader he could find only one other instance in the past several decades when the County Commission failed to reappoint a Planning Commission member who wanted to keep the seat. That was in July 1991, he wrote in an email, "when Becky Ayech, a Dan Lobeck/Contributed photo very strong growth control advocate, was not reappointed. However she had only served for Reilly, he pointed out, was very thorough in … six months, filling a vacancy on the Plan- her reviews of applications that came before the board. "I guess I thought it was just kind ning Commission." of an automatic [decision]" that she would be Lobeck penned a guest column for the Sara- reappointed, he added. sota Herald-Tribune this week, calling Reilly "an intelligent and diligent voice for neighbor- THE VOTES hoods, the environment and the public inter- When the County Commission began discussest." ing the appointments during its regular meetHe added, "Although she was open-minded to development interests, occasionally voting with them on issues such as building heights, she voted her conscience when she thought the developers were wrong." ing on Jan. 8, Chairwoman Carolyn Mason received four nominations for the two seats coming open. Barbetta nominated Michael Beaumier of Osprey, an executive with Gilbane Building Co. Commissioner Joe Barbetta told the News in Lakewood Ranch. Leader he also was surprised by Patterson's Patterson nominated Kellogg, and Commisvote last week. sioner Christine Robinson nominated Reilly as Reilly has been "a very good member" of the well as John R. Ask of Nokomis, a real estate Planning Commission, he added. "The last broker and owner of his own firm. thing you want is nine rubber stamps on there. When Mason called for the votes, Barbetta You want some balance … Out of a balanced was the only person not to raise his hand for board, you get a balanced discussion." Ask. Barbetta and Mason voted for Beaumier, Barbetta served on the Planning Commission while Commissioner Charles Hines and Patfor 14½ years before he was elected to the terson voted for Kellogg. Barbetta and Robinson voted for Reilly. County Commission.