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Challengers sweep Venice council races
By ZAC ANDERSON
zac.anderson@heraldtribune.com
Verdict on development issues
Three slow-growth candidates made history in Venice Tuesday, upsetting the city’s balance of power and continuing a growth backlash that is sweeping the region.
The overwhelming election of Sue Lang, Ed Martin and Ernie Zavodnyik over three well-connected incumbents turned Venice’s power structure on its head, and proved that growth continues to be a powerful political issue in Southwest Florida.
The challengers are part of a slow-growth movement that elected two Sarasota City Councilmen and a county commissioner last year, and passed an amendment to the county charter designed to limit new developement.
“It’s just too much development; things are changing too fast,” said Venice retiree David Rowe, 75, who voted for the challengers.
The challengers, who worked together as a team, won by a resounding margin, with Lang beating Jim Woods, Zavodnyik topping Bill Willson and Martin defeating incumbent Mayor Fred Hammett.
The election marks a new era in Venice politics after years of dominance by high-powered, well-funded local business leaders.
With a near majority on the seven-member council, the challengers, who include a retired attorney, affordable housing expert and top federal education official, could have wide-ranging influence.
Contentious issues such as development at the municipal airport, a new downtown hotel and the city’s unfinished revision to the comprehensive plan, which allows greater development, face much tougher scrutiny by the new voting bloc.
SEAT 5
Challenger Lang, 56, a retired Connecticut city housing official, handily defeated incumbent Woods, 66, a retired Manatee Community College official. Retired corrections officer Gary Budway, 67, who ran a low-key campaign, finished a distant third.
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