NORTH PORT — The three candidates seeking the vacant District 1 City Commission seat in the March 9 special election found more common ground than difference during a Zoom forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Sarasota County.
The candidates, Joseph Garren, Walt Grzenikowski and Alice White, all spoke of the need to bring in higher-paying jobs and business and to ease the tax burden on city homeowners.
White, a 30-year resident, said she had concerns about the original annexations in the early 2000s and was among several who foresaw problems fostering unity as new residents moved in.
Specifically, she said the city would “really struggle to have that area feel they’re a part of what I would call North Port proper, because they’re three miles up the highway.”