SARASOTA, Fla. – The Argus Foundation (ArgusFoundation.org), a nonprofit organization dedicated to joining business leaders from diverse industries and leveraging their talents and experience to benefit the community, held its 2016 Florida Senate candidate forum with six confirmed political candidates last week.
On Thursday, April 21, the candidates, who are contending for Nancy Detert’s State Senate seat, addressed over 150 attendees at the sold-out event. Frank Cirillo, former State Representative Doug Holder, Rick Levine, former County Commissioner Nora Patterson, current State Representative Ray Pilon and current State Representative Greg Steube answered questions on a variety of issues. Questions had a business and education slant, but candidates also touched upon taxes, Enterprise Florida, transportation and incentives.
“This successful Argus Foundation event allowed for great discourse between the candidates,” said Rod Hershberger, president of The Argus Foundation. “It’s important for our members and the business community to meet and hear from their potential representatives, and we are certainly thankful for their willingness to serve our community.”
Several elected officials were also in attendance to hear from the candidates, including, Sarasota City Commissioner Liz Alpert, Sarasota Vice Mayor Suzanne Atwell, Sarasota City Manager Tom Barwin, Sarasota City Commissioner Susan Chapman, North Port City Commissioner Cheryl Cook, Supervisor of Elections Kathy Dent, North Port City Vice Mayor Rhonda DiFranco, Sarasota Property Appraiser Bill Furst, Sarasota County Commissioner Charles Hines, Sarasota Sheriff Tom Knight, Clerk of Court and County Comptroller Karen Rushing and Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority Commissioner Dr. Peter Wish.
Meant to educate and stimulate, the Argus Foundation’s Meet the Minds events feature informative guest speakers who discuss the important issues impacting the community, state and world.
About The Argus Foundation
Established in Sarasota in 1983, The Argus Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to joining business leaders from diverse industries and leveraging their talents and experience to benefit the community. The organization, which seeks to facilitate communications between the public and private sectors, has more than 170 members from 50 different industries. For more information, visit ArgusFoundation.org.