South County Tiger Bay Club

08/28/2026

South County Tiger Bay Candidate Forum is underway!

We have a great turnout today at Hotel Venezia as we hear directly from candidates seeking to represent our community in the Florida Senate and Florida House.

Joining us today:

Florida Senate District 22
• James Buchanan (REP)
• Martin Hyde (NPA)
• Lew Wasserman (DEM)

Florida House District 73
• Lisa Klein (DEM)

Florida House District 74
• Ryan Neill (DEM)
• Nick Pachota (REP)

Florida House District 75
• Cynthia Butler (DEM)
• Danny Nix, Jr. (REP)

Candidates are sharing their perspectives, priorities and positions on the issues affecting Sarasota County and the State of Florida as we head toward the November general election.

Thank you to our candidates, South County Tiger Bay members, guests and members of the community who joined us today.

South County Tiger Bay is proud to provide a forum where our community can hear directly from the people seeking to represent us.

04/08/2026

02/24/2026

Shortfall looms while Tax Collector seeks 52% budget increase  Sarasota County staff is preparing to float new tax options at next week’s budget

02/21/2026

Yesterday’s discussion, “Who’s In Control? Exploring Land Use Decisions That Have Moved from Local to State Elected Officials,” delivered a substantive and candid conversation about the shifting balance of power in land use governance.

Our panel addressed the growing tension between state-level preemption and local decision-making authority — and the practical consequences communities are now facing as a result.

Panel Participants:

Tom Knight, Sarasota County Commissioner
Nick Pachota, Mayor, City of Venice
Phil Stokes, North Port City Commissioner

Moderator:
Jon Thaxton

The conversation focused on the increasing control exercised at the state level over land use decisions — and the frustration among local officials who feel their ability to guide responsible, community-focused development has been limited.

Panelists discussed:
Legislative preemption and its impact on municipal authority

Infrastructure strain resulting from accelerated development

Reduced flexibility for counties and cities to tailor planning decisions to local needs

The long-term implications for growth management, environmental protection, and quality of life

The dialogue was direct, informed, and solution-oriented. Attendees gained a clearer understanding of how governance structures are evolving — and what that shift means for future development across our region.

Thank you to our panel and moderator for an insightful and important discussion.

As we move into an important midterm election year, staying informed on these issues is critical. We encourage community members to join us and attend our regular meetings to remain current on local and state developments that directly impact our neighborhoods, infrastructure, and future growth. Engaged citizens make stronger communities.

Join here: https://www.sctigerbay.com/membership/

01/31/2026

We had a truly informative, eye-opening panel discussion on the South Jetty repairs—what’s been damaged, what needs to be rebuilt, and how the city, county, and federal partners coordinate each phase of planning and construction.

Panelists

Justin McBride — Director, WCIND

Rick Simpson — Public Works Director, City of Venice

Scott Moranda — Manager of Beaches & Water Access, Sarasota County

They gave a candid, thorough walkthrough of the repair roadmap—who owns which responsibilities, what permitting and engineering steps come next, and what the timeline drivers are. Thank you to everyone who came prepared with thoughtful questions—community participation was excellent.