How do you even begin to tell one of the craziest stories ever connected to Sarasota? Might as well start with Dale Murray, who grew up a dirt-poor orphan in Kentucky, became rich enough to buy cars for strippers and eventually needed FBI protection from a Colombian drug cartel trying to kill him. Yep, as good a spot as any.
In the 1970s, Murray made millions through the purchases and sales of old coal mines, and the vice president of his company was a man named Joel Schleicher. You may recognize the name.
Schleicher is currently on the board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District, and he recently voted against a $1.5 million grant for a crucial wetlands redevelopment project that would improve our water quality. Sarasota city officials were reportedly not pleased.