Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/108313
Sarasota News Leader February 8, 2013 Page 18 wake of the Great Recession]; reinvigorate Atwell has been in town less than 20 years the cultural district; more mixed-use on North and lives on Bird Key. Theisen lives in Alta Trail; and revitalize Rosemary." Vista near Payne Park and has also lived in Sarasota less than 20 years. Dorfman is the Richard Dorfman: "How we treat our homeonly condominium resident (near the North less, how we deal with policing. The single Tamiami Trail Publix) and has been in town overriding issue is fiscal health. A no-growth attitude isn't the road to health. You're going about four years. to be paying more in taxes; count on it." Four of the candidates have run for City Commission at least once before: Atwell, Dorfman, Theisen and Holland. Chapman previously ran for a judgeship. Lumpkin is making his first run for public office. Pete Theisen: "I also spoke with [City Finance Director Chris] Lyons. He didn't tell me we had to double taxes. He did say we were funding an awful lot of things that are not core government functions. In other words, there's THE 'MOMENTS' fat in our funding." The big anti-incumbent moment during the Linda Holland: "The three things I'm commitCCNA debate involved responses to a question ted to work on: a balance between the development community and our neighborhoods; about the sale of city parkland at the Beneva we need to provide quality public safety; third, and Fruitville roads intersection to Benderson we need to promote our cultural, educational Development Co. Five of the six candidates and environmental assets. We could do a bet- had unflattering things to say about the proposed $1 million sale. ter job on that." Susan Chapman: "Maintain our high quality of life. Economic development. Government stability. Our quality of life is the goose that lays the golden eggs; it's why most of us came here. We should not compromise our standards for economic development." WHO ARE THEY? In a nutshell, three of the candidates are retirees: Atwell, Dorfman and Theisen. Atwell was a clinical psychologist; Dorfman was a sports promoter; Theisen was an acupuncturist. Three hold down jobs: Lumpkin is a Protestant church leader; Holland is a property manager; Chapman is an attorney. The "fan-dance" moment went to the only incumbent in the race — Atwell: "Yes it was a 3-2 vote, and certainly I value parkland. But this is a very different case." The diplomatic moment went to Chapman. She was the first to respond to a very clever question: Since voters can vote for two, who is your second choice? With almost no pause, she responded: "I choose Linda [Holland] because of her history in the community. And I choose Pete [Theisen] because he makes me laugh. And I choose Suzanne [Atwell] because she has the soft skills. I choose Kelvin [Lumpkin] because of his commitment to the High Point [N.C. community policing] strategy. And I How long have they been here, and where do choose Richard [Dorfman] for his show busithey live? Lumpkin was born here and lives ness skills and good listening." in north Sarasota. Holland has 30-plus years in Gillespie Park. Chapman has more than 20 The other five were basically speechless years in town; she lives near Hudson Bayou. after that. %