County Commission District 2: Mark Smith

Age: 71

Current occupation: Architect. 

Sarasota County residency: 52 years. 

What are the top three priorities/issues facing the county, and how should the commission address them? 

1. Infrastructure, the new construction is being built faster than new roads can be built, and existing roads can be improved: Redirect surtax dollars to road projects and apply for additional state and federal grants for road projects. 

2. Affordable housing: Affordable Housing Trust Fund- I supported annual deposits from general fund into the Affordable Housing Trust, which is budgeted to start in 2027.

3. Stormwater: Creating a Stormwater Department - After the 2024 hurricanes hit Sarasota County, it became obvious that storm water maintenance was neglected. The new Stormwater Department now has stormwater maintenance on a schedule. 

Why are you running for office?

Sarasota County has been my home for most of my life, I grew up here, I raised my family here, started my business here. I care. The three reasons given above are challenges I look forward to continuing to solve. 

Have you ever run for public office before? If so, for what office?

Yes, in 2022 for County Commission District 2 and in 2010 for County Commission District 4 (before redistricting).

What makes you more qualified than you opponents for this office? 

I've been a County Commissioner for over 3 1/2 years and have the experience of how to get things done. As an architect, we are trained to listen. We listen before we design. This job is similar in that as a Commissioner you have to listen to all sides before decisions are made. 

Affordable housing — what can the Sarasota County Commission do to increase the supply of workforce housing? 

An Affordable Housing Trust Fund funded by devoting a percentage of the property value increase when a property is up-zoned resulting in an increase in the number of housing units that are allowed to be built. Funding from tax gains would be the dedicated revenue stream needed to enable the county to make vastly greater investments toward affordable housing. 

What is your philosophy toward zoning? 

Zoning should be based on compatibility. Commercial and industrial uses should be buffered from residential. Multifamily residential should be buffered or stepped down in density as it abuts single family. 

Growth — What is your philosophy on how population growth should be addressed in Sarasota County — particularly east of Interstate 75? 

The developments east of I-75 have already been "entitled" by previous County Commissions. The philosophy of the 2025 Plan of self-sustaining, condensed development with large open spaces for nature was abandoned years ago. i see our challenge now as a County Commission is to see how we can negotiate affordable housing out east so that the teachers, firefighters, retail and hospitality workers can live in these new communities and not have to commute on Fruitville, Bee Ridge, and Clark. We have to enforce open spaces, animal crossings, buffering, stormwater to make our natural environment sustainable.

Roads/Transportation — What should the County Commission's strategy be to address the county's road needs? 

Redirect surtax dollars to road projects and apply for additional state and federal grants for road projects. 

What is your position on land acquisition for conservation and preservation? 

All for it. 34% of Sarasota County is protected from development, I'd like to see it get to 40%. The ESLPP program has preserved more than 42,000 acres in Sarasota County since 2000. Its renewal is on the November ballot, we need to encourage everyone to vote "Yes" to continue the program. 

What is your position on using tax increment financing around the Bay Park to fund 50% of a new performing arts hall? 

I have stated that for me there are four conditions that I require before I can support a new performing arts hall. 

1. The historic Van Wezel has to remain, be renovated and flood-proofed. 

2. The SPAC Foundation originally agreed to put in half the money for the new hall, now I understand it is around $200 million with the city picking up around $80 million. Last I heard the Foundation had around $20 million-$30 million in hand. They would need to have the entire $200 million. 

3. The Straz Center in Tampa controls when the Broadway shows are allowed to perform in Sarasota, usually seven or eight years after opening in Tampa. For the new SPAC to be financially feasible, the shows need to be able to come to Sarasota in two to three years. I've asked for a letter from The Straz agreeing to release the shows in that timeframe to ensure the new SPAC will not be a burden to the taxpayers of Sarasota County. 

4. Parking. There is currently not nearly enough parking for the new SPAC. My understand is the city of Sarasota has agreed to build the parking needed, we'll see. 

What grade would you give the County Commission on managing the county's tax dollars? What needs to be changed in the county fiscal management? 

I'd give the Commission a B+. This Commission has inherited a massive new building program that was started a decade ago and is in now full construction mode being paid for by the surtax dollars. The county is still recovering from three major hurricanes from two years ago using over $400 million in federal grants to fund recovery. Created a new Stormwater Department to evaluate and maintain the stormwater conveyance system that hadn't been maintained in 20 years or so. We're funneling as much money as we can into road infrastructure though surtax and grants in an effort to handle traffic from new residents and businesses. We are a victim of our own success. The county keeps personnel and maintenance of planned county facilities and their impact on the General Fund. 

Can you identify any area where you think the county's spending should be cut, or any area where more needs to be spent? 

The Commission can always direct staff to find ways to be more efficient, but that is not going to produce huge budget cuts. Cutting services to the public would produce savings but would the citizens be happy with fewer parks and libraries, longer travel times for emergency services because we eliminated fire stations and cut the number of first responders, or reduced the number of Sheriff deputies when our population keeps growing. You have to realize that out of every dollar of property tax 53 cents goes to the School Board, 21 cents goes to the County Commission for the operation of the county and county services, 24 cents goes to the Sheriff, Sarasota Memorial Hospital, and the Property Appraiser, Supervisor of Elections, Tax Collector, and Court Administration. One fifth of every property tax dollar is controlled by the County Commission to make Sarasota County the best county in Florida. 

What is you position on the county's current millage rate — is it satisfactory? Too high? Too low? 

It is satisfactory. The millage rate has been about the same since 2008. FY 2026 millage rate is 3.842, FY 2027 it will be 3.3833, a little lower than FY26. The County Commission held our budget for 2027 to a 1.6% increase with an annual increase of just 3.6% for FY28 - FY31. Even at those low annual increases, the county will still maintain a 75 - Day Disaster Reserve, and by FY31 will have the additional 60 - Day Economic Uncertainty Reserve fully funded.