BEATING BACK 'DIRTY TRICKS'
A new political action committee wants to make county races nonpartisan. File photo
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NON-PARTISAN COUNTY ELECTIONS
By Cooper Levey-Baker
Associate Editor
The campaign to make all countywide races
nonpartisan became official this week, with
the launch of Open Our Elections, a new PAC
dedicated to promoting the cause and placing
the issue on the ballot. Intended to beat back
some of "the recent manipulations, abuses
and dirty tricks" employed by local political
parties, the effort has already found "broad
support," according to Open Our Elections
chairwoman and former Venice City Councilwoman Sue Long.
going to explore in this comprehensive guide
to the movement. Strap on your seatbelts ...
it's "explainer" time!
What is Open Our Elections?
Open Our Elections is a newly formed political action committee (PAC) dedicated to
putting the issue of nonpartisan county elections in front of voters. An outgrowth of the
Public Interest Coalition, which is made up of
groups such as the Sarasota County Council
of Neighborhood Associations, the Audubon
But how would it work? And how would it Society and the Sierra Club, Open Our Elecaffect the political process? That's what we're tions is led by Long. Its treasurer is Bill Zoller,
