Campaign contributions show sources of support

Money talks, and if it could comment on the race for the District 3 Longboat Key Town Commission seat, it might say: This race is a close one. The latest campaign treasurer’s reports released by the Town Clerk’s office showed that Vice Mayor David Brenner has pulled ahead of challenger Ray Rajewski slightly in terms of fundraising, bringing in a total of $11,665 in campaign contributions through Feb. 24, compared to the $11,151 Rajewski brought in during the same period.

So, where is all that money coming from?

Brenner’s donors include former mayors George Spoll and Jeremy Whatmough, current Commissioner Pat Zunz, Key Club attorney Brenda Patten and Cannons Marina owner David Miller, who is currently board chairman of the Longboat Key, Lido Key, St. Armands Key Chamber of Commerce.

Rajewski has received contributions from former commissioners Gene Jaleski and Peter O’Connor, along with many supporters of the Islandside Property Owners Coalition, including its president, Bob White. Of the 83 contributors listed on Rajewski’s latest report, just more than half — 43 — listed addresses located behind the Islandside gates of the Longboat Key Club and Resort. Rajewski said that he frequently hears concerns while campaigning that the town’s codes will be changed to accommodate developers. (The other things he said he hears most on the campaign trail? Residents do not want dogs on the beach or cell towers.)

“These are the people that are most affected by changing the town’s code,” said Rajewski, referring to his Islandside support and concerns about a potential review of the town’s zoning code and Comprehensive Plan related to the Key Club’s proposed $400 million Islandside redevelopment-and-expansion project. “My supporters are the residents. My opponent’s support seems to be coming from the commercial interests. The lines have been drawn.”

But Brenner denied that the bulk of his support comes from commercial interests.

“I know that my support comes from a wide range of residents,” he said.

Brenner’s supporters cite his experience on the commission in their decision to contribute.

Whatmough said that he has been impressed by Brenner as a commissioner.

“I think he has evolved into being one of the very best commissioners,” he said. “He looks to do what is right in the long-term.”

“I think he’s done a great job,” said Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub owner Ed Chiles. “I think he’s brought that new focus on implementing the Vision Plan (which) is the most thorough survey ever conducted of Longboat Key.”

But Rajewski’s supporters cite his vision for the Key.

“I believe it’s very important how we go about rejuvenation,” Jaleski said. “I believe that Mr. Rajewski wants to go about it without turning it into a tourist community. I think that the market has told us that we don’t want any more retail than we have. Ray is simply saying, ‘Let’s be smart about what we’re doing.’”

L’Ambiance resident Larry Merriman, who contributed to Rajewski’s campaign, said that he sees the Key the same way that Rajewski does.

“I think Longboat Key is a jewel,” Merriman said. “I feel strongly that it’s exactly what I want. I don’t think it needs to be modernized.”

The Longboat Key Public Interest Committee (PIC) voted to endorse Brenner over the weekend at a meeting. That choice didn’t surprise Rajewski, who declined an invitation to appear at a candidate forum co-sponsored by PIC and the Longboat Observer and who declined to answer six questions that PIC sent in writing to both candidates. Rajewski wrote in an email to PIC representatives that he declined to participate in the forum “due to PIC’s involvement and commercial bias.” However, he wrote that he had met with the Longboat Observer and “responded to many of the issues you raised” and that the responses would soon be published. (Profiles of both candidates were published in the March 1 issue of the Longboat Observer.)

PIC Co-President Gaele Barthold said that the board was able to see both candidate profiles before voting. Voting board members unanimously chose Brenner.

“We were very disappointed that (Rajewski) declined to participate,” Barthold said. “Those who voted felt that Mr. Brenner had done a good job and deserved a second term.”

Rajewski, who describes himself as the “residents’ representative” wasn’t worried by PIC’s endorsement. If anything, he believes not appearing at the forum helped, rather than hurt, his campaign.

“I think PIC has become a commercial interest group, not a public interest group,” Rajewski said. “They should change their name to the Commercial Interest Group — CIG.”

Both Brenner and Rajewski have the same plans for the two weeks leading up to the election: getting out and talking to voters.

But, although they’re speaking to voters, Brenner and Rajewski have barely spoken to each other. They haven’t debated, and at press time, no debates had been scheduled. Brenner said that he and Rajewski were introduced briefly at a Sarasota Tiger Bay Club meeting in January. They said hello to one another — but not much more.

Click here to view the campaign treasurer report summary.