Ziegler scandal no big deal in county run by shameless Republicans

In Sarasota, the Zieglers fit right in

Why on Earth would we expect Bridget Ziegler to step down from her position on the Sarasota County School Board?

Why would we expect her husband, Christian Ziegler, to step down as chairman of the Florida Republican Party?

Just because they publicly admitted to participating in a sexual threesome – or because Christian Ziegler has been accused of sexual assault?

Sarasota County is where:

• Michael Flynn is ascendant in local politics.

• Doug Logan, a major figure in the Cyber Ninjas Arizona vote audit debacle, lives.

It is also where the county Republican Party has twice voted former President Donald Trump as “Statesman of the Year” – and has denied ever giving a similar "honor" to former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney in 2017 (which was before she became a vocal Trump critic).

In this county, real estate developers get most every zoning variance they request, regardless of citizen input; the governor engineered a hostile takeover of New College of Florida because it was too “woke”; and both of our U.S. House representatives support a baseless impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden.

In Sarasota County, Republicans are shameless and proud of it.

Michael Phelan, Sarasota

GOP targets Christian; crickets on Bridget

I know, another Ziegler hair-on-fire letter. But for me this has actually sharpened the focus on the hypocrisy and self-interest of Florida’s Republican Party.

For example, Gov. Ron DeSantis called for Christian Ziegler to resign as state GOP chairman – and most other elected officials who represent Sarasota have done the same.

Christian’s a “distraction,” they all say.

High crimes and misdemeanors? No. But he might jeopardize their ability to retain power, especially if voters go into the booth with their disgust still fresh on their minds.

Meanwhile, however, DeSantis lets Bridget Ziegler stay on Disney’s board.

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And it is "crickets" from everyone regarding Bridget Ziegler's fitness to serve on the Sarasota County School Board, where her ignorance and hypocrisy have melded into a toxic mess and has all of these conservative parents having to explain to their kids what a "three-way" is.

Wow. I guess for them it’s OK to let this hypocrite govern the kids as long as their political careers and pocketbooks are intact.

Tom McArdle, Sarasota

Waste of money to open Venice substation

Recently Sarasota County Commissioner Neil Rainford came out in full support of Sheriff Kurt Hoffman’s plan to reopen the sheriff’s substation in the Venice area, exclaiming “It’s time we deliver for South County.”

Problem is, it’s just wasteful spending.

One reason given was the need for fingerprinting service, however, these days all state agencies and the FBI now require fingerprints to be done through the digital Live Scan system.

Live Scan systems are available at dozens of locations throughout Sarasota County, including many UPS stores; only concealed weapons permits require law enforcement to take fingerprints, and the state no longer requires such permits.

A second reason given was to host a drop box for unused prescription drugs, a program overseen by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The DEA website lists several pharmacies in South County with drop boxes; the Venice and North Port police departments also have drop boxes.

As a South County resident, I want a commissioner who knows what residents of this area really need and won’t grandstand in support of wasteful spending. Until just recently, Commissioner Rainford lived in northeast Sarasota County.

We deserve a commissioner who has been a longtime Venice area resident, like the late Nancy Detert was.

Paul Sloan, Venice

End killing in Gaza, start negotiating

I completely support Israel’s right to defend itself. The Hamas fighters who committed the atrocities Oct. 7 should be strung up.

But 18,000 civilians dead?

Israel has made its point to Hamas and to the world. Israel is powerful enough to kill every Palestinian in Gaza, including all of the Hamas terrorists. Israel’s military is 100 times as powerful as Hamas’.  It can continue until all of Gaza is rubble.

It’s now time for a negotiated settlement. Get the hostages back. Stop all bombing. Use small, commando groups to seek the very worst Hamas strongholds. Stop killing civilians just to kill an occasional Hamas terrorist.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian teachers and shop owners are fighting the Russian monster to a standstill, preventing it from retaking Eastern Europe. They are doing the fighting for all of us. Russia’s military is 100 times that of Ukraine’s, but Ukraine is hanging on!

Israel doesn’t need any more money from us to devastate the remains of Gaza. Israel can do that by itself. Ukraine still needs us to keep Vladimir Putin in check.

James Stewart, Parrish

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Why should Bridget or Christian Ziegler step down?