Sarasota County District 2 Commissioner Mark Smith is clearly an independent voice on the five-member board.
“I’ve been the ‘one’ on several 1-4 votes,” Smith told the Herald-Tribune Editorial Board.
“But to me, each one of those 1-4 votes has only made me stronger (in gaining support among residents).”
Certainly Smith, an architect and longtime Siesta Key resident, has been the one commissioner who has consistently fought efforts to build massive, outsized “mega hotels” in that scenic but small community.
Smith was the sole commissioner to vigorously oppose the commission’s insensitive move to strip away county funding for organizations that provided child care and other vital social services for residents.
And Smith is the main reason why the county
will once again require developers to hold in-person neighborhood workshops on their projects – and abandon COVID-era, virtual presentations that make it difficult for affected residents to participate.
“Government works at the speed of trust, and if you’re not willing to meet with people eye-to-eye, a lot of trust is lost,” Smith told the editorial board. “I firmly believe in transparency. We are all in this together.”
Smith’s bold approach – along with his effectiveness in working to address Sarasota County’s infrastructure after serial hurricanes between 2022 and 2024 – makes him the best choice for voters in the Aug. 18 Republican primary.
They should choose Smith over Kristina Sargent and effectively reelect him to a second term on the commission.
Sargent: A thoughtful novice candidate
Sargent is a trial attorney who moved to Sarasota in 2021, and her resume includes military service and work as a prosecutor in Baltimore, Maryland.
Sargent told the editorial board that she decided to run for office after becoming frustrated by the county commission’s inability to fully tackle infrastructure problems in District 2.
“There are streets here that haven’t been addressed or even touched in decades,” Sargent said.
“There needs to be better accountability, We need to prioritize this infrastructure.”
Sargent said Smith and other commissioners have allowed the county budget to skyrocket in recent years, and she vowed to bring a sense of fiscal responsibility to the board.
“This commission has spent so much money that they’ve spiraled us into debt," Sargent said.
“People say being a newcomer to politics is a disadvantage for me. But I don’t have to defend that record (of overspending).”
Sargent’s campaign has received financial backing from Lakewood Ranch developerRex Jensen. But Sargent scoffed at suggestions that she's been handpicked by local developers to defeat Smith, who was the sole commissioner to oppose the controversial 3H Ranch master-planned community project.
“I’ve heard that I’m the ‘developer’s candidate’ and it honestly makes me laugh,” Sargent said.
“I served my country. I’m a mom. I’m about to be a grandmother. I have a history of service, and I’m just trying to do the right thing (for this community).”
Sargent is thoughtful and knowledgeable, and she has been a credible first-time candidate.
But District 2 – which stretches across all of Sarasota, Lido Key, portions of Siesta Key and Longboat Key, and other notable areas – needs an experienced fighter who isn't afraid to stand up for its diverse constituency.
Smith has shown he’s up to that challenge, and voters should choose him on Aug. 18.
How we made our endorsement
Opinion Editor Roger Brown conducted separate interviews with Sarasota County Commissioner Mark Smith and Kristina Sargent. The interviews were largely focused on public policy and the issues facing Sarasota County, and the decision to endorse Smith was reached after reviewing the candidates’ interviews, positions and records. The decision to endorse Smith was also reached in consultation with Herald-Tribune Executive Editor Wade Tatangelo.
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This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Smith, Sargent seek Sarasota County seat. Here's our choice | Opinion
