Preserving the Best of the Past: Discussing the Future of the Van Wezel

117 S. Pineapple Ave.,Sarasota FL 34236

21 October, 2022

Description

Join us in our loft as three candidates for Sarasota County Commission discuss good stewardship of the city's existing assets with a focus on the future of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Center with an expert in historic preservation. About the Candidates: Currently serving her fifth year as a Sarasota City Commissioner At-Large, Jen Ahearn-Koch's roots in Sarasota run deep. After her parents purchased a residence here in 1970, she and her mom moved to Sarasota where she graduated from Cardinal Mooney High School before earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Internal Affairs at the American University in Paris and a Masters of International Affairs from Columbia University in New York City. In 1996 Ahearn-Koch, her husband and 2-year-old son settled in Sarasota permanently. She served as Vice Mayor from 2018-2019 and Mayor from 2019-2020. She is an active member of the Florida League of Cities and has been honored with their “Home Rule Hero” award for three consecutive years. Ahearn-Koch is also currently serving her fifth year on the Utilities, Natural Resources, and Public Works Policy Committee as Vice Chair. Dan Lobeck is an attorney who is the principal owner and managing partner of a five-attorney law firm in downtown Sarasota. He is Florida Bar Board certified in Condominium and Planned Development Law, specializing in representing condominium associations and HOAs. Related to his profession, he was the founding president of the local chapter of Community Associations Institute and two-term chair of its state legislative committee. Describing himself as a "refugee from Ft. Lauderdale," Dan moved to Sarasota in 1982 after searching the state for the best place to live and work. He founded an office here for another firm, before starting and building his own law practice. Dan Lobeck is running for Sarasota City Commission to "restore integrity, transparency and logical decision-making for all residents and businesses, not just the special few." Debbie Trice is a 25-year resident of Sarasota who has held positions in management, sales and marketing with IBM. She attended MIT, and holds an MBA from the NYU Stern School of Business. She was president of the Rosemary District Neighborhood Association for the past two years, and served on the Sarasota County Charter Review Board. Debbie Trice is running for the Sarasota City Commission to "restore balance, collaboration, and creative problem-solving to the housing, transportation, environmental, and quality-of-life issues essential to a sustainable city." About the facilitator: Tony Souza is President of Chelston Partners working with clients who are taking on Historic Preservation projects including building rehabilitation, applications for the National Register of Historic Places and preparing applications to the IRS and the National Park Service to receive the 20% Tax Credit for the rehabilitation of an Historic Property. Recently Mr. Souza successfully completed the application for the Historic Tax Credit for the 1925 Historic Belle Haven Building located in the Quay Property on Sarasota's waterfront. He successfully completed the Tax Credit for the 1927 historic Rose Hill Apartments in downtown Venice, FL. In Florida he has successfully reversed decisions of the National Park Service by preparing appeals that allowed buildings to keep the Tax Credit. ....................................................................................... This free in-person event is at our new store at The Mark, 117 S. Pineapple. There is the option an $8 ticket to help defray the cost of the event. Registration will end 1 hour before the event's scheduled time. .............................................................................................................. All signed up and unable to go? Please let us know! Seating is limited and there may be people on our waitlist who would like to to take your place. Please send an email to [email protected] ASAP and hopefully we'll see you next time. Click here to go to the Bookstore1Sarasota website.