LGBTA caucus backs Ruta Jouniari to keep Dem ‘winning streak’ alive in HD 72

Rita Jouniari background

Sarasota businesswoman and community activist Ruta Jouniari has won the endorsement of the Florida LGBTA Democratic Caucus in her bid for the House District 72 special election.

“Democrats across the country, and especially here in Florida, are on a winning streak, and we intend to keep that going by electing Ruta Jouniari,” said Caucus President Terry Fleming. “Ruta’s business background and experience in health care will bring needed leadership in Tallahassee for her Sarasota constituents.”

Jouniari faces Sarasota attorney Margaret Good in the Democratic HD 72 primary, which takes place on December 5.

Jouniari co-founded Universal Crescent Clinic, a nonprofit to provide free medical care to uninsured people in Sarasota, Manatee, DeSoto and Charlotte counties.

The primary winner will then advance to the general election February 13, 2018.

A special election was called after Republican Alex Miller unexpectedly stepped down from the seat in August; she had served less than a year in office.

In the GOP primary, Realtor James Buchanan, the son of Congressman Vern Buchanan, is running against Alexandra Coe. Libertarian Alison Foxall is also in the contest.

Mitch Perry

Mitch Perry has been a reporter with Extensive Enterprises since November of 2014. Previously, he served five years as political editor of the alternative newsweekly Creative Loafing. Mitch also was assistant news director with WMNF 88.5 FM in Tampa from 2000-2009, and currently hosts MidPoint, a weekly talk show, on WMNF on Thursday afternoons. He began his reporting career at KPFA radio in Berkeley and is a San Francisco native who has lived in Tampa since 2000. Mitch can be reached at [email protected].



#FlaPol

Florida Politics is a statewide, new media platform covering campaigns, elections, government, policy, and lobbying in Florida. This platform and all of its content are owned by Extensive Enterprises Media.

Publisher: Peter Schorsch @PeterSchorschFL

Contributors & reporters: Phil Ammann, Drew Dixon, Roseanne Dunkelberger, A.G. Gancarski, Anne Geggis, Ryan Nicol, Jacob Ogles, Cole Pepper, Gray Rohrer, Jesse Scheckner, Christine Sexton, Drew Wilson, and Mike Wright.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @PeterSchorschFL
Phone: (727) 642-3162
Address: 204 37th Avenue North #182
St. Petersburg, Florida 33704




Sign up for Sunburn


Categories