Dear John,

Ruth’s List is excited to announce our latest endorsements – Liz Barker, running for the Sarasota County School Board, and Deborah Figgs-Sanders, running for re-election to the St. Petersburg City Council! These are two important down-ballot candidates running for local offices in Sarasota and Pinellas counties, and they need your help. 

There are currently NO members of the Sarasota County School Board with children in the public school system, and Liz Barker is running to change that. Deborah Figgs-Sanders currently serves as the Chair of the St. Petersburg City Council, so it’s critical that she is re-elected to continue serving and leading in St. Pete.   

Liz is an involved parent with children in the Sarasota County public school system. She is an active volunteer, leads the PTO at Lakeview Elementary, and contributes to the School Advisory Committee (SAC). She also served on the book review committee for math books for the county. Drawing on her experience as a school psychologist, Liz possesses expertise in various educational areas, from cognitive assessments to positive behavior interventions. She is running to focus on student achievement, teacher support, and keeping culture war distractions out of the boardroom to make sure the district's priorities are the focus of each board meeting. As an active and involved parent with young children in the public school system, Liz knows firsthand the real-life frustrations of parents, teachers, and students in Sarasota and will be a dedicated advocate for a better educational experience for all families and educators.

Born and raised in the Sunshine State, Council Chair Figgs-Sanders was first elected to the St. Petersburg City Council in 2020. As the Chair of the St. Petersburg City Council, Deborah Figgs-Sanders is a strong and passionate leader who works hard for the people of her city. She is a tireless champion for critical issues like affordable housing development, economic workforce development, and a clean and healthy environment for all, so it is essential that she is re-elected this fall.  

Will you contribute to Liz Barker and Deborah Figgs-Sanders’ campaigns to help them raise the resources necessary to run strong campaigns this August and November?

Both Liz Barker and Deborah Figgs-Sanders will have a tremendous impact on Tampa Bay Area families as local government officials. Both of these women stand with the majority of Florida voters on the need for women’s reproductive freedom and access to good healthcare – and Ruth’s List is so proud to be behind these two incredible women.  

Together,

Cassidy Whitaker

Political Director, Ruth's List Florida