links to Your Federal, State and Local Representatives
Contacting your representative is important to make your voice heard. According to staffers who work with our political leaders, the most effective contact is a phone call.. Phone calls can't be ignored and must be handled as they occur. And when staffers are over-whelmed by a deluge of calls, their boss hears about it.
Many elected officials have a capitol office and a local office, Which office should you contact? Staffers say it is easier to get attention in the local office. Writing letters is the second best way to be get through to your representatives. Like phone calls, letters must also be handled by staffers. However, letters can be glossed over more easily than phone calls. Lastly, least effective is social media like Facebook and Twitter. Those accounts are checked infrequently by busy staffers. |
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Florida's Federal Representatives
House of Representatives District 16: Vern Buchanan District 17: Tom Rooney |
Senators Bill Nelson, Senior Senator View Bill Nelson's Legislative Profile and get alerts Marco Rubio, Junior Senator View Marco Rubio's Legislative Profile and get alerts |
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Florida's State Representatives
Enter your street and city name here to find the name and contact information for your Florida State Senator and Representative. |
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Sarasota County
Board of County Commissioners The Commissioners Calendar Videos and Minutes of Archived Board Meetings |
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Sarasota County School Board Meetings
For a listing of audio and video recordings of previous School Board meetings, or to attend the meetings in person, consult their Calendar here. |
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Manatee County
Manatee County Commissioners Commissioners Calendar Live Streamed Meetings (Flash player required) |
Manatee County School Board
Board meetings are broadcast live on MSTV and METV. MSTV is Brighthouse channel 646 and Verizon channel 39; METV is Brighthouse channel 645, Verizon channel 31, and Comcast channel 19. Check the Board's Calendar here. |
Local Activist Groups
Check the Forgertyville Activist Calendar here for a list and contact information for organizations working on local issues.
The Brady Campaign
The mission of the Brady organization and its Million Mom March is to create a safer America by cutting gun deaths in half by 2025. To join the local Sarasota County Brady Chapter, Click here.
League of Women Voters of Sarasota County
The League of Women Voters motto is “Making Democracy Work. It is a nonpartisan organization which encourages informed and active participation in government. Click here to join or learn more.
Indivisible
Indivisible is a group of local organizations with a common goal: to fuel a progressive grassroots movement to resist actions harmful to our American values. Connect with one of the groups in the Sarasota/Venice/Bradenton/Lakewood Ranch area if you’d like to get involved. Simply type in your zip code to find a group in your area. Click here.
Map of the 60 Indivisible groups in Florida.
Not finding an Indivisible group in your area or want to start your own? The Indivisible Guide was written by former Congressional staffers and tells you how to organize your own grass roots organization. And they provide insights into how you can best get the attention of your elected officials.
Do you like to write Letters to the Editor?
Let your community know your position on what’s happening in our state and local area. You can easily write a letter to the editor either online. Or, if you’d rather, send a printed version. Click here for guidelines for the Herald Tribune.
ResistBot
To easily contact your officials on your cellphone, text RESIST to 50409.
Control Growth Now
This organization has been working for 25 years to control development in a way that is responsible and to make growth pay its own way rather than placing the costs of growth on the backs of the taxpaying public. Click here for more information.
Start a Petition
Starting a petition about a cause you believe in is easy - and FREE. The Care2 Petition site will walk you through the process and help you learn how to promote your petition. Care2 Petitions.
Stop Bullying and Harassment
Learn what you can do to stop harassment. An organization called Hollaback! is a global people-powered movement to end harassment, working to ensure equal access to public spaces. Online training available.
Community Radio
Our area has several radio stations that address issues of local concern. Here are links to their calendars.
WSLR 96.5 Sarasota’s community radio station. The station has recently expanded their coverage to Bradenton on WPBV 100.1, Bradenton. For their complete programming schedule, click here.
WKDW 97.5 Indivisible Radio is hosted by Ron Feinsod, founder of Indivisible Venice. Ron invites guests to discuss issues that affect all of us and our neighbors. Monday’s 6pm and Wednesdays 1pm. tune in to 97.5 FM or access the programs on the web. For more information, click here.
WSLR 96.5 Sarasota’s community radio station. The station has recently expanded their coverage to Bradenton on WPBV 100.1, Bradenton. For their complete programming schedule, click here.
WKDW 97.5 Indivisible Radio is hosted by Ron Feinsod, founder of Indivisible Venice. Ron invites guests to discuss issues that affect all of us and our neighbors. Monday’s 6pm and Wednesdays 1pm. tune in to 97.5 FM or access the programs on the web. For more information, click here.