DeSantis, developers and arrogance lost big in Sarasota, Manatee elections

Wow, how about those Tuesday primary election results in Sarasota and Manatee counties?

They say you learn far more from losing than from winning, so let’s hope some hard truths are being grasped right now by the three biggest losers from the Aug. 20 primary:

They are:

1. Big-spending developers

Prominent local developers threw around immense amounts of money to back primary candidates like Sarasota County Commissioner Neil Rainford , Manatee County commissioners Kevin Van Ostenbridge and Raymond Turner , and Manatee County Commission candidates Steve Metallo and April Culbreath .

The developers would have been better off using those $100 bills to light up their imported El Inmenso cigars: All of those desired candidates lost, and some by horribly wide margins.

It just goes to show what can happen when residents who are already agitated about overdevelopment in Sarasota and Manatee counties get to vote shortly after a major tropical storm hits and causes massive flooding and damage – and further exposes extensive infrastructure issues that are aggravated by relentlessly developing property at a breakneck pace.

2. Gov. Ron DeSantis

What’s that acrid odor wafting in the air?

It’s the smell of Gov. Ron DeSantis ’ supposed Midas touch in endorsing candidates turning into one of high-grade manure.

For evidence, look no further than Tuesday's Republican primary results, where one candidate DeSantis openly blessed ( Sarasota County School Board Chair Karen Rose ) was decisively broomed out of office – while two officials appointed by the governor ( Rainford and Manatee County Supervisor of Elections James Satcher ) were soundly defeated.

Now, add that to:

• DeSantis’ disastrous 2024  presidential run .
• The increasingly tight race for Florida’s electoral votes in November – in a state that DeSantis has bragged about making Democrat-proof .
• The humiliating legal downfall of DeSantis’ blatantly anti-minority “woke” law.
• The embarrassing departure of University of Florida President Ben Sasse – less than a year after DeSantis effectively forced him on the school and its students.

Yep, the governor’s touch is anything but Midas these days.

Yep, right now it downright stinks.

3. Smug, arrogant and complacent candidates

Boy, “smug, arrogant and complacent” sure sums up how Rose ran her School Board race against challenger Liz Barker .

In short order, Rose:

• Tried to hog the credit for the school district’s improving third grade reading scores .
• Didn't respond to a candidate interview request from the Herald-Tribune Editorial Board.
• Appeared to do little to discourage her backers from launching negative attacks against Barker.

Total it all up, and that's why you can add one more word to Rose’s campaign to win reelection:

Unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, we can confidently declare that this boast by Van Ostenbridge – which he made during an Editorial Board interview regarding his District 7 primary race against fellow Manatee County Commissioner George Kruse – is not going to age very well:

More: 2 controversial candidates want 1 seat on 1 weird commission. Here's your best choice.

“I’m going to win," Van Ostenbridge said. "And people want to back winners.”

Smug? Check.

Arrogant? Check.

Complacent? Check.

Hmmm. ... what happened to the check box that's supposed to be next to "winner"?

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: DeSantis, developers and arrogance lost big in Sarasota, Manatee elections