Депутаты Сарасоты заподозрили застройщиков в финансировании кампании по их отставке

Sarasota commissioners: Developers’ interests are behind outside campaign ads UPDATED at 4:15 p.m. with comments from Sargent and DeNiro campaigns. SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - Two Sarasota County Commissioners say big developers may be behind a shadowy campaign to unseat them in next week’s primary election. Meanwhile, the candidates being endorsed by the attack ads say they have nothing to do with the ads and don’t know who is behind them. “We have outside players trying to weigh in and convince Sarasota voters to buy into what have been described as disinformation and disaccurate (sic) information,” District 4 Commission Joe Nuender said. Nuender and District 2 Commissioner Mark Smith say their voting records against unbridled development has made them targets. Nuender estimated at least $20,000 has been spent on online attack ads and flyers to benefit their primary opponents, fellow Republicans Jim DeNiro and Kristina Sargent. “This is some serious stuff,” Smith said. In an article published by The Florida Trident, the ads and their funding are traced to a Wyoming nonprofit corporation called Local Government Accountability Inc. and U.S. Polling Research LLC. The Trident story references a “manifest cataloguing hundreds of LGAI files, including financial records and metadata mixed with candidate files, political graphics, brochures and editorial material generated by artificial intelligence.” The ads attack Nuender and Smith, while urging voters to cast ballots for DeNiro and Sargent. Sargent told ABC7 Friday she has no ties to the either LGAI or U.S. Polling research. “I’ve made it my mission to run a clean campaign,” she said. “I think my race has been rather mild. This is crazy. This is Sarasota. Wow. It’s bad,” she said. Max Goodman, a political consultant with the DeNiro campaign, also denied knowing who was behind the attack ads. “We have no idea,” he told ABC7 Friday. “It’s uneasy to witness an incumbent so desperate that he’s calling an impromptu press conference four days out from an election,” Goodman said. “He sees the writing on the wall and that can be difficult.” While neither Nuender or Smith would say exactly who is behind this push to oust them in the primary, Nuender said they are not blaming the building industry at large. “You have to understand there are land use attorneys and there are planners, and there are major developers,” he said. “I mean, you have to have plumbers and you have to have electricians ... But I will say that there is a very small percentage of people within the development community that drive the train, as we all know. “And clearly, Mark and I have been on this board. They don’t like our votes.” Nuender called the alleged funneling of finds through a Wyoming nonprofit “cowardly behavior.” “Why would Wyoming care about what’s going on in Sarasota County? What is the ‘why’? “But that’s what Sarasota County voters need to be aware of to protect their votes, because they’re trying to steal their votes and influence an election.” With the primary Aug. 19, Smith said the attack ads haven’t made much of a difference in his race. ‘I find, just talking to folks in my district, it’s not terribly effective," Smith said. “So I feel confident that I’m going to win and win big,” he said. “But Joe, on the other hand, he’s in the trenches. And that’s why I’m here today, is to support my buddy and colleague, because he is here for the people and for the voters.” Sargent said she did not think developers would champion her as a candidate on her record. “I think we are overdeveloped. Because if it’s developers behind it, I’m not a developer candidate,” she said. “I don’t know what the end game is, other than getting them out.” Sargent also said this apparently outside influence has tarnished the entire campaign. “I am active in the community. I’ve had a good time up until, like, today in this race. Because now it’s just ... It’s getting dirty,” she said. “And I thought we could really get through this and not have this happen. Which is unfortunate.” Nuender said Friday he doesn’t believe the attacks will stop with the primary. “This is a beta test for future elections, perhaps November. If not November, certainly for the two year presidential election cycle, which, as we all know, is very, very big.” “That’s what Sarasota County voters need to be aware of to protect their votes, because they’re trying to steal their votes and influence an election,” he said. Copyright 2026 WWSB. All rights reserved.