Patterson announces bid for state Senate

A longtime champion of Siesta Key in local government issues is taking a stab at statewide politics, as Nora Patterson has filed to run for the Florida Legislature in the 2016 election, but only if Nancy Detert resigns as some have said she would.

“I’d never run against Nancy,” Patterson said. “I like Nancy. My understanding is that Nancy may resign and the seat may well be open in 2016.”

Patterson had no plans to run for state office, but decided to do so at the behest of two former senators, John McKay and Lisa Carlton.

“I suppose they thought I would do a good job,” said Patterson.

Patterson said Doug Holder and Greg Steube have also made plans to run in 2016 for Detert’s seat if it were vacated, changing the pattern established during the last two cycles, in which Detert faced no opposition either in the Republican primaries or in the general elections.

Patterson was first elected to the Sarasota City Commission in 1991, and left in 1998, when she was elected to the County Commission. She served four terms before saying she would not seek re-election in 2014.

Patterson touted her commitment to both frugality and supporting infrastructure during her tenure on the Sarasota County Board of Commissioners, which she left in November, 2014.

During her stay, Sarasota County enjoyed the economic boon of a real estate bubble as well as the recession that followed — but the effects of each may have been tempered by Patterson’s activity on the commission. According to her press release, she led an effort during to cut the property tax rates by 25% and established a more robust reserve fund in anticipation of the downturn that followed.

During and after that downturn Patterson said she was able to fund badly needed infrastructure.

“Infrastructure is huge,” said Patterson, referring to the new Gulf Gate Library. “How many communities have been frugal enough that they could cut taxes and right after a recession build a library, which was badly needed?”

Patterson, who was a teacher in Dixie County Florida while earning her masters degree in educational psychology, said she would like to see the state re-evaluate how it funds its share of local school budgets, the majority of which come from property taxes in Sarasota. Those taxes can be burdensome to families.

Patterson also supports state efforts to diversify its economy, using tax incentives to bring certain businesses here. She cited PGT in Venice as an example, who had moved to North Carolina before returning to Sarasota County.

Patterson sees money spent on roads, libraries, sports fields, public access to the water and beach renourishment as vital to the state’s economy and quality of life for its citizens.

She moved to Florida in 1970 and lives on Siesta Key, where her efforts as a local-issues champion were honored when Bay Island Park was renamed Nora Patterson Bay Island Park.

The Senate seat that may come open in 2016 has been the subject of contentious races, but Patterson said she does not plan to lose her sense of decorum and professionalism and hopes her candidacy will be considered a positive thing.

Patterson said she would seek support from those who have supported her in the past.

According to campaign finance reports, prominent donors include the Benderson family and East County developer Schroeder-Manatee Ranch.

Patterson sees her candidacy as an opportunity to help solve problems on a new level.

“I really do enjoy attacking difficult issues, analyzing them and trying to figure out how to make things work better,” Patterson said. “And to make good things happen.”