Rob Grant Enters Race for Sarasota City Commission, District 3

Arlington Park resident and Sarasota High School graduate Rob Grant has announced his candidacy for Sarasota City Commission, District 3. The accounting professional is running on a platform that will include protecting public input on development, public safety reforms, a renewal of dialogue between the arts and neighborhoods, working toward a fair redistricting process, and the establishment of a long-term budget planning process.

“District 3, which comprises diverse neighborhoods stretching from Arlington Park on the south to Bobby Jones Golf Course on the north, has some unique challenges that require thoughtful and committed leadership,” Grant said. “Much of the vacant land that is available for development in the City is in our district and I intend to make sure the voice of the people is heard as decisions are made about future growth, as these decisions affect everything from housing costs and job opportunities to transportation.”

For the past year, Grant has been active in his neighborhood as part of the Preserve Arlington Park Neighborhood committee, which was formed in response to several proposed large-scale developments adjacent to the Arlington Park Neighborhood. He has spent many hours reading background materials and attending meetings with neighbors, developers, city commissioners and staff so that misguided, overzealous development does not impact residents’ access to services and a high quality of life.

“Unfortunately, in talking with residents, there are feelings that we are a totally ignored district, have been deadened with complacency and we should leave well enough alone,” Grant said. “My goal is to restore the power vested in the people through the City Charter and other guiding documents such as the Comprehensive Plan.”

With recent events in our country, Grant is concerned that the voices of those already underserved by the City will be silenced. 

“It is even more evident now that the struggle continues for many to find equal treatment and access to a quality of life that others take for granted, depending on your race, background and socioeconomic status,” he said. “Every individual deserves the opportunity to get a job that will support a high quality of life, with a manageable cost of living that allows for access to healthcare as well as the services that their city government offers, including transportation, parks, civic events, and arts and culture.”

Grant will bring to the City Commission his professional accounting and money management experience at a time when the City of Sarasota’s budget will require careful attention in the face of economic challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Homelessness, housing costs, jobs and economic growth, mental health, and addiction – none of these issues are going away; the City will have to figure out how to address them with the funds available,” Grant said.

For more information, go to www.robforsrq.com.