I am Jon Susce the Publisher of Sarasota Phoenix Media Inc. We are currently being sued by the RPOF political operative Anthony Pedicini. who has access to $millions from his PACs, LLCs and that Florida Republican establishment centered in Tallahassee.. The Sarasota Phoenix needs funds to continue to take on the likes of Pedicini and the rest of the UNI Party flinkiess turning the Sarasota/Manatee area and beyond in Florida into one big SHIT SHOW. So please contribute to our Go Fund me appeal so we can continue to take on those turning Florida into Paradise Lost and write articles like the following. Fundraiser for Jon Susce by Concerned Citizen : Support Local News against "Lawfare"
Brill/Brody/Brandt
BRILL HANDPICKED SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE BRANDT GAVE $500 TO DEMOCRAT BRODY
Recently announced Sarasota Republican Executive Committee Chairman Jack Brill’s handpicked Sarasota County School Board candidate Heidi Brandt could have a problem with Republican voters, which concerns being a $500 contributor to Democrat Hagen Brody’s Sarasota County Commission campaign.
Brandt supported Brody over Republicans Mark Smith and Laurdes Ramirez, who faced off in a Republican primary. Smith won the primary and went on to defeat Democrat Fredd Atkins, who defeated Democrat Mike Cosentino and Brody in the Democrat Primary.
Goodwin and Edwards
Brandt was joined by other major supporters to the Brody campaign, which included former Sarasota County School Board members Jane Goodwin and present School Board member Tom Edwards.
Goodwin with Brill as a Republican before becoming a Democrat
Goodwin for years was registered as a Republican, but similar to various Sarasota and Florida politicians being a registered Republican was a cover for being a progressive Democrat, which appears what Brandt is portraying as she seeks both Republican and Democrat voters. Those types of registered Republicans are called Republican In Name Only--a RINO.
By endorsing Brody, Edwards, Goodwin, Brandt and others were willing to ignore that on 3/29/2021 Brody in a f bomb laced toxic, vulgar, violent, near roid misogynist manner held City of Sarasota women employees in a near hostage conditions for over two hours.
This is how the Sarasota Herald Tribune reported Brody's dysfunctional behavior:
"According to the various complaints, Brody stormed into City Hall yelling “to the point of being red in the face” – while also behaving in a “very bullying” manner that “frightened” those present and left them feeling as though they were in a “hostage situation.”
The Brody outburst was attributed to Van Wezel CEO Mary Bensel getting all the credit for a vaccination event and was unhappy that his video was not on the City FB page, and Bensel was. He was yelling that the only reason she was there was to get the shot, and the whole event should be credited to him.
The SHT editorial stated that “Brody’s demeaning treatment of staffers reflects a troubling culture within City Hall.”
Moricz
Another notably Brody supporter joining Edwards, Goodwin, Brandt and others promoting the documented violent, toxic, vulgar misogynist, was Zander Moricz who was Brody’s campaign manager.
Moricz has gained the attention of Brody and others as the first Gay class president of the local Pineview High School in Sarasota and for waving the LGBTQ rainbow flag at rally on the Pine View campus in protest of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, "Don't Say" Gay legislation.
The 18-year-old Moricz also gained statewide and national attention by being part of a lawsuit to take down DeSantis's, "Don't Say Gay" legislation. Moricz has also been part of a rally protesting the DeSantis "Don't Say Gay" legislation at Disneyland on DeSantis's birthday.
NEW YORK NATIVE BRANDT MOVED TO SARASOTA WITH FIANCE WELLS 12 YEARS AGO
Brandt moved to Sarasota permanently 12 years ago with her fiancé Jerry Wells and their four children, as Wells and Brandt became active in local politics. Wells unsuccessfully ran for the Sarasota City Commission with Brandt being involved as the Vice President of the Sarasota Woman’s club of Sarasota.
Ramirez
Brandt was part of a slate promoted by Brill, which defeated a slate of officers led by the former President of the club, Lourdes Ramirez.
According to Florida Politics article, Brandt is the incoming President of the Southside Elementary School Parent-Teacher Organization. Also, Florida Politics' Jacob Ogles states Brandt assists with Sunday School lessons at Covenant Life Church, which she attends along with her long time fiancé Wells.
ZIEGLER HAS MADE NO DECISION IN SEEKING HER FOURTH TERM ON SCHOOL BOARD
The seat is up in 2026, with a first election scheduled for next August and a potential runoff expected in November. Brandt will be the first candidate to file for the seat.
According to Florida Politics reporter Ogles, many experts believe that Brandt's potential opponent Bridget Ziegler “will not seek another term." That is inaccurate, as Ziegler has made no such statement and reportedly will make a statemen soon if she runs for re-election.
Contrary to some political pundits thinking otherwise, Ziegler will make a formidable candidate having support in Sarasota County. Ziegler was the recent guest speaker at the over 200 member SW Florida America First organization.
If Ziegler does decide to run, it could be a match between Ziegler, a Democrat candidate and Brandt promoted by Brill and a campaign managed by Brill’s political operative, Max Goodman.
Goodman
BRILL'S POLITICAL OPERATIVE GOODMAN WILL PUSH POSTIVE NARRITIVE FOR BRILL'S HANDPICKED CANDIDATE
Brill's political operative Goodman has already started the Brandt campaign, having Florida Politics reporter, Ogles, writing a favorable article for Brandt. Goodman had Ogles writing favorable articles for the Sarasota Hospital Board, while Goodman managed the SMH campaign.
Schorsch
Goodman's managed SMH had a SMH PAC sending $thousands to the Publisher of Florida Politics Peter Schorsch LLC, which in turn had Florida Politics reporter Ogles writing favorable articles for SMH. So, expect a lot of favorable comments for Brandt and negative comments concerning Brandt opponents from Florida Politics, mainly from Ogles.
Ogles
Goodman spreading the "news" of Brill's handpicked candidate announcing her candidacy for the School Board has had a recent puff piece placed in the Sarasota Herald Tribune to define her, as Ogles has done in a positive manner. The picture of Brandt with her beautiful young daughter is priceless, but where is the picture of Wells and other three older children of Wells.
One item Goodman will need to clear up is whether Wells and Brandt are married or only engaged to be married. In separate media coverage of the couple, one says in 2020 they are married and one five years later in Ogles recent column says Brandt is Wells fiancé.
Wells and Barndt on the left with friends
Goodman could also send along the above picture to Schorsch and Ogles of Wells and Brandt defining how they enjoy the Sarasota Chablis and brie lifestyle having a Chabli before moving on to a School Board meeting. Rumor has it they did not make the meeting, since it is reported Brandt has never attended a Sarasota County School Board meeting.
Stay tuned, as the 2026 Sarasota School Board race in District 1 has begun in 2025.
The Sarasota Phoenix team is the last media guardian in the Sarasota/Manatee area and beyond laying bare for all to see how the Sarasota/Manatee area and beyond is controlled by a UNI Party financed by millionaires and billionaires turning Florida into Paradise Lost.