Anderson bows out in race for second term

VENICE — Deborah Anderson announced Tuesday afternoon that she will not seek a second term on the Venice City Council.

“I’m very happy to announce that will not be running for election in November,” Anderson said shortly before 5 p.m.

Anderson’s revelation came on the heels of — but was not related to — a Monday decision by her erstwhile election opponent, former City Council member Emilio Carlesimo, to release the findings by the Florida Elections Commission on several complaints filed against him based on the November 2015 election.

He was acquitted on all but two and assessed a pair of $50 fines because of the violations. Carlesimo paid the $100 in fines earlier this month, prior to releasing the commission findings to the media.

Anderson has always weighed the obligations of elected office with enjoying her retirement — including frequent travel — with her husband Don.

An unabashed slow-growth candidate, Anderson said she wanted to be a voice for like-minded residents who she feels are not heard by the majority of the board.

But she also cited continued unfavorable press in the Venice Gondolier, which she said pursued a vendetta against her for those views, as stressful.

“I am looking forward to going back to being a private citizen, and I am looking forward to becoming a retiree,” she said. “As of now, this will be my only term.”

Anderson does expect at least one candidate who shares her views to run against Carlesimo.

Anderson, who filed the 2015 complaints against Carlesimo, said she did so “because he broke the law.” Using her maiden name, Deborah Bloom, she filed complaints in October 2015, alleging:

■ Carlesimo improperly used photos of him with the city’s police chief and fire chief in campaign literature and improperly used a photo of him on the dais as a sitting council member.

■ A disclaimer on one of Carlesimo’s brochure failed to reveal which office he was campaigning for, and his website did not carry a complete disclaimer.

■ Carlesimo improperly represented the occupation of campaign donors as “retired,” when they were working businessmen and improperly represented the “Legal Reform Now Committee” as a business, when it was related to Neal Communities.

Anderson’s initial submissions were kicked back by the election panel because her complaint was not properly notarized.

Another complaint, filed in November 2015, alleged Carlesimo improperly used a city employee for campaign purposes, when he asked Pam Johnson, then the city’s public information officer, to help schedule a Florida Department of Transportation official to discuss the U.S. 41 Bypass widening project to appear at a “meet and greet” event he was attending at Bird Bay Village in October. The panel found that complaint insufficient partly because it was based on hearsay, courtesy of a Bird Bay Village newsletter, and Anderson had no firsthand knowledge of whether the event was related to Carlesimo’s campaign.

Don Anderson later refiled the complaints, partly because the deadline for his wife to file additional information had expired.

Carlesimo, who worked on the failed 2011 council campaign of Don Anderson, said the complaints played no part in his decision to file to run for Anderson’s seat instead of challenging Charles “Chuck” Newsome for the seat that will be open because term-limited incumbent Kit McKeon is finishing his third consecutive term.

“I enjoyed what I was doing; I thought I was effective in it,” Carlesimo said. “I hate to say it’s civic pride but I live in Venice, I like what i’m doing and I want to get back on council.”

Carlesimo, who said he used to socialize with the Andersons before her 2014 election to the City Council, said he thought that Anderson soured on him because he wouldn’t support her council positions.

Ultimately, the elections commission found fault in Carlesimo’s campaign donation reporting and the lack of a proper web disclaimer. He was fined for each infraction and paid the fine March 3.