Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/207831
Sarasota News Leader November 8, 2013 Page 56 THE SIESTA KEY RESIDENT AND PRESIDENT OF THE SARASOTA COUNTY COUNCIL OF NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS FORMALLY FILES FOR COUNTY COMMISSION By Cooper Levey-Baker Associate Editor You could call it the worst kept secret in local politics, except it wasn't even really a secret. Still, this Monday, Nov. 4, it became official: Sarasota County Council of Neighborhood Associations President Lourdes Ramirez officially filed paperwork to run for the Sarasota County Commission seat being vacated by Nora Patterson next year. Ramirez's opponent in the Republican primary is Al Maio, a vice president with the design consulting firm Kimley-Horn and Associates, who has declined repeated requests for an interview from The Sarasota News Leader. Maio will undoubtedly hold the fundraising edge in the race, having already socked away almost $83,000, but Ramirez says her "grassroots" effort will offer stiff competition. She's already faced personal attacks, including an illegal one. Former Republican Party of Sarasota County Chairman Bob Waechter was arrested last year for allegedly making donations to Democratic candidates in Ramirez's name. We sat down with Ramirez to hear her thoughts on the commission, and the race. When I walked out of there I thought, "I could do it." I started the process last January to ask people what they thought and of course talked to my husband because it's a huge undertaking. I really, really felt that I could not only do the job, I felt like I could work at it. I understand the basics of government, Sarasota County government, because of all the years I've been working on it, so I felt confident. And when that whole Bob Waechter thing happened, I thought, "OK, now he's trying to bully me." Even though I spent the last year going back and forth, I really thought, "I'm going to do it. I'm going to put my neck on the line." News Leader: How do you build a local grassroots campaign? Ramirez: The good news is because I have developed a support system over the years anyway as a community activist and community advocate, I already had a basis. It's not that I'm coming into it without some support and encouragement. So that's my core, and The Sarasota News Leader: You've been with my core I have a team that I put together. We can work on building the grassroots. active in politics for years. Why run now? Lourdes Ramirez: Last year in January I attended something called Candidate College. It was a one-day course, and the purpose for me going was to learn more about how to do campaigns, because I thought, "Why don't I learn about it, to be a campaign manager?" News Leader: What has changed on the commission that you feel the need to run? Ramirez: The Waechter thing didn't motivate me as much as made me firm in my decision.