True Blue '24' Meet-and-Greet in Venice to Include Down-Ballot Candidates

VENICE, FL -- Candidates for the U.S. Congress, Florida House, Sarasota School and Hospital Boards, and the Venice City Council will meet voters at a True Blue ’24 Rally on Saturday, March 30, from noon to 4 at Maxine Barritt Park.

“The politics versus fact-based education drift of the Sarasota School Board and the anti-vaccine agenda of the so-called ‘health freedom’ extremists on the county Hospital Board have produced especially high interest in our local races,” said Daniel Kuether, chair of the Sarasota County Democratic Party.

"The True Blue ’24 event will give Venice and all South County voters a chance to meet the down-ballot candidates who offer the best hope for returning our School and Hospital boards, State House, and Venice City Council to policies that actually reflect the views of their constituencies,” he added.

As an example, Kuether noted, even Republican-leaning Venice voters overwhelmingly elected Democrats Joan Farrell and Ron Smith last year to the non-partisan Venice City Council, sending a clear message that the issue of overdevelopment supersedes political party.

Patricia Ouelette, running for the City Council this year, will be among the candidates to meet voters and answer questions.

The program will begin at 1 p.m. Food trucks and raffles for prizes will be at the family-friendly event.

Maxine Barritt Park, located at 1800 Harbor Drive in Venice, has ample parking and restrooms. It is adjacent to the Brohard Paw Park to the south and Sharky's restaurant, and the Venice Fishing Pier to the north.