SARASOTA – The latest data shows more than 2 million Floridians have cast their ballots early. As many focus on the presidential election it’s easy to forget about the local races for office.
Local attorney Drake Buckman runs his campaign defining the basic duty of the government. To respect and protect the rights and future of the individual citizen. Buckman, the democratic candidate, is challenging Republican Fiona McFarland for the hotly contested state District 72 race.
“When we saw the crisis that was going on in government with Margaret Good leaving the state house,” said Buckman. “We realized that there was a void here in Sarasota, and it was a void of leadership and independence.”
Since last appearing on SNN’s Political Corner with Grant Boxleitner back in December of 2019. Buckman’s campaign spearheads focusing on local leadership, clean water, school pride, and now getting residents of then Suncoast through the pandemic.
“I don’t think the world has ever changed more in 10 months than it ever has in the last 10 months since we last spoke,” said Buckman. “We have a huge crisis right now; we have a combination of – we have a combination of a natural pandemic, coupled with a complete lack of leadership, and unwillingness by a state and federal government to protect its citizens and help us deal with this pandemic.”
The grassroots campaign pledges to continue restoring Phillippi Creek, supporting struggling local businesses that have taken a significant economic impact due to the pandemic and Red Tide, and to tackle the bigger issues dealt in Tallahassee.
“We have to start acting in the legislature like we’re an independent form of government, which we are, and we’re not just a rubber stamp body that will do whatever the governor says or the Republican Party says,” said Buckman.
Buckman says it’s time asses what went wrong during the lockdowns, and to learn from the failures of our local government in order to rebuild the Suncoast’s infrastructure that has been taken apart in the last decade.
Make sure to tune in this weekend as SNN’s Political Spotlight features Buckman’s opponent Fiona McFarland.
SNN plans to bring you full coverage of election night here on the Suncoast. Tracking each ballot passed, and which candidate will represent their district in the states capital.
Live coverage starts on SNN at 7 p.m. November 3rd, and our election night broadcast can also be followed on our Livestream, Facebook, and Twitter pages.
