YOUR CANDIDATES: District Two

Liz Alpert
The District 2 candidate hopes to bring an informed perspective to big decisions coming before the city.

Liz Alpert decided to enter the City Commission race once she determined Sarasota was at a crucial turning point.

At a presentation from Sarasota Bayfront 20:20, the group working to create a master plan for city-owned bayfront land near the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Alpert became acutely aware of how significant the power of the next City Commission would be. After looking into it further, she determined she wanted to help guide those crucial conversations.

“I think these next four years are going to be pivotal for the future of Sarasota,” Alpert said. “The next City Commission is going to make the decisions that are going to change the face of Sarasota forever.”

Alpert is the lone candidate in the District 2 race with campaign experience, having previously run for seats in the state legislature. Once she realized the impact she could have on a local level, her focus turned to the city government. Alpert said she’ll bring four decades of perspective on the city to the commission, a tenure that’s allowed her to witness the evolution of Sarasota — as well as some missed opportunities.

Alpert, a family law attorney, has spent time on two city advisory boards, currently serving as a member of the General Personnel/Civil Service Board. She’s also spent time on the city of Tampa’s Architectural Review Board, experience she said gave her perspective on how to preserve elements of Sarasota’s history while allowing for growth to continue.

“We can’t put a fence around the city and stop people from wanting to come here,” Alpert said. “We can use smart growth principles to manage that growth so that we don’t lose the quality of life we have.”

Other leading priorities for Alpert include addressing homelessness — a topic citizens feel the city is taking no action on, she said — and encouraging growth along the city’s North Trail. To achieve the latter, Alpert said the city must charge forward with the efforts to redevelop the bayfront. Out of that, she believes increased activity along the North Trail will be a natural byproduct.

Alpert believes her doggedness to address challenges, no matter how significant, will be one of her greatest strengths as a commissioner. She tells a story to highlight that character trait: The oldest of eight children, Alpert was determined to go to college despite lacking the financial means. Taking classes whenever she could find the time and resources, Alpert took 17 years between her first course and finally graduating.

“When I have a goal, and I want to get something done, it may take awhile, but I keep at it until it’s accomplished,” Alpert said. “I’ll bring that to the City Commission.”

David Morgan
The housing consultant believes his experience and age are assets for addressing problems.

David Morgan is the youngest candidate in the City Commission race. He thinks that’s a good thing.
Morgan, 35, is running on more than just youthful exuberance. Chairman of the Sarasota Housing Authority and owner of a business focused on housing and redevelopment, he believes his strengths are well suited to tackle the city’s affordable housing and homelessness issues. Still, he thinks adding a younger member to the board is its own reward.

For all of the conversations the city has had about attracting and retaining younger people, actually achieving those results has proven difficult. Morgan believes he is more tuned into the needs of that younger demographic — and aware that it often takes more work to actually get them to the table to find out what they want.

“I’m living it,” Morgan said. “I’m a young professional living here in Sarasota.”

A resident of Arlington Park, Morgan also serves on the board of the area’s neighborhood association. As a result, last year, he was able to hear a presentation from the owners of the Cabana Inn, who hope to redevelop the oft-derided motel property but need a density increase to move forward with a planned hotel project. That discussion — and seeing the largely positive response from residents — was a key moment in Morgan’s decision to run.

On a districtwide basis, Morgan hopes to foster more opportunities where developers and residents both get positive outcomes. Although those two groups are often pitted against each other, he hopes people will be more willing to look for common ground.

“I think there are plenty of win-wins,” Morgan said. “You have to sit down with your neighbors and find out what you want, but we can’t say no to everything.”

Originally from Florida, Morgan moved 12 years ago to Sarasota to help his father start a business. From his grandfather to his 2-year-old son, there are four generations of Morgans in Sarasota — which is motivating him to focus on the big picture.

“I plan on being here for the next 30, 40 years, and if my son wound up staying here we’re talking about another 70, 80 years,” Morgan said. “With these projects, we’ve got to really think about that 30-year, 40-year vision for the city.”

As someone whose experience has largely been developed outside of the confines of City Hall, Morgan believes he’d be positioned to take a fresh look at problems that have long stymied the city.

“I’ve been involved with the community, so it’s not like I haven’t been doing anything,” Morgan said. “But sometimes, I think there needs to a little bit of a change.”

Eileen Walsh Normile
The sitting commissioner is emphasizing her ability to work well with others — and to root out crucial facts.

For someone who moved to Sarasota to retire, Eileen Walsh Normile has found ways to keep busy.
Just more than a month after being appointed to fill a vacancy on the City Commission, Normile had to begin campaigning to keep that seat. Learning the ins and outs of a new job, performing her duties as a commissioner and reaching out to voters means her schedule has been packed, but she says it’s worth the work.

“I haven’t slept in two months,” Normile said. “Other than that, it’s been a pleasure.”
Before the November appointment to finish Paul Caragiulo’s term on the commission, Normile had gotten

involved in civic matters in other ways. When she moved more than six years ago to Sarasota, she joined the Bird Key Homeowners Association, hoping it would be a way to get to know her neighbors. She eventually became the president of that organization, and later became the chairwoman of the city’s Independent Police Advisory Panel.

On the latter board, she helped lead discussions about domestic violence, homelessness and the police department’s accreditation. Normile’s research into reports from homelessness consultant Robert Marbut added to the city’s skepticism of his proposed come-as-you-are homeless center within city limits, which she viewed as a significant accomplishment.

“As I became more and more involved, the fact that there were good results from all of the efforts that we all put in as a group was very rewarding,” Normile said.

That work on the homelessness issue was ultimately what encouraged her to take on bigger challenges as a commissioner. A former lawyer in the Union County, N.J. prosecutor’s office, Normile believes her legal temperament lends itself to soild decision-making.

“You don’t go into court unless you have the evidence and the facts to back it up,” Normile said. “That’s how I approach everything. There’s no real room for simple emotion.”

One of Normile’s leading priorities is addressing the traffic issues affecting the city. At Tuesday’s City Commission meeting, she suggested local and state authorities should hold a traffic summit to have a big-picture conversation about the issue — which is a leading concern among residents, she’s found.

“That’s on the top of everybody’s list,” Normile said. “We have to do something about it.”

When she was appointed, Normile said a leading priority was establishing collegiality between board members — something she believes has already been accomplished. No matter who comes to the commission table, Normile said her dedication to rooting out as much information as possible means she’s well equipped to work collaboratively.

“I know I don’t have all the answers,” Normile said. “I will work with anyone to find the answers.”