SARASOTA – The Sarasota County Democratic Party (SCDP) condemned the all-male Sarasota County Commission today for its resolution against the statewide Amendment 4 on reproductive rights and for again trying to impose its values on Sarasota’s residents.
In a recent 4-1 vote, Republican Commissioners Michael A. Moran, Joe Neunder, Neil Rainford, and Ron Cutsinger approved a resolution stating Amendment 4 “would be detrimental to the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Sarasota County and the state of Florida.”
“Just as they did with their votes last April on United Way contributions, last November on library memberships, and last October on declaring Sarasota a ‘Bill of Rights Sanctuary County’ free from federal or state health regulations, these four white men now try to impose their politics and values on almost 436,000 Sarasotans,” said SCDP Chair Daniel Kuether.
The petition to include Amendment 4 on the ballot gathered 36,487 signatures in Sarasota, making it the third-highest signature count after Orange and Palm Beach counties. This number exceeds the total votes received by any of the four commissioners in their last elections. Rainford was appointed to his position by Governor DeSantis.
Amendment 4 would enshrine a woman’s right to an abortion up to the time of fetal viability in the Florida Constitution and nullify the current ban after six weeks imposed by the GOP-controlled legislature and signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. MAGA Republican Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) and Rep. Greg Steuben (R-FL), both running for re-election, oppose Amendment 4. The ballot initiative received a total of 997,035 signatures statewide.
Kuether noted that just as Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz support women’s reproductive freedom, “all our Democratic legislative candidates up and down the ballot support Amendment 4, as do our four candidates for the Sarasota Hospital Board.”
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, who won the Aug. 20 primary in a landslide, is running to defeat Scott; Manny Lopez to unseat Steube in the 17th Congressional district; and Derek Reich and Nancy Simpson to do the same in State House Districts 73 and 74, respectively, against Fiona McFarland and James Buchanan.
The four Democratic Hospital Board candidates with over a century of expertise and experience in medicine, hospital administration, and public health are Dr. George Davis, Dr. Dale Anderson, Alan J. Sprintz, and Vicki Nighswander.
"It's a scary thought to think what could happen if these actions from the Republican-controlled County Commission were to be carried over to other county roles like the Hospital Board." Added Kuether
Kuether urged Sarasota residents, including Republicans, independents, and Democrats, to write to the Board of Commissioners and demand that the latest resolution be rescinded immediately.
The Board of Commissioners can be reached at the following addresses:
- Mike Moran: mmoran@scgov.net
- Mark Smith: mhsmith@scgov.net
- Neil Rainford: nrainford@scgov.net
- Joe Neunder: jneunder@scgov.net
- Ron Cutsinger: rcutsinger@scgov.net
The Sarasota County Democratic Party (SCDP) is the local committee of the Florida Democratic Party. The mission of the SCDP is to encourage the fullest participation by all voters who believe in true freedom and fairness in our society. We stand up for justice, equality, and opportunity for our citizens and support qualified candidates who will promote these goals.
Learn more at www.sarasotadems.org. Contact Information: daniel.kuether@sarasotadems.org 941-330-9400
