Commissioner Knight wins support for amending board’s 2026 Legislative Agenda to seek state action regarding safety of elected local government leaders
With Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier having affirmed that the open carry of firearms is legal statewide, in the aftermath of a First District Court of Appeal decision earlier this month, Sarasota County Commissioner Teresa Mast won full support of her colleagues this week to direct county staff to research safety measures for commission meetings and county advisory board meetings.
She mentioned the potential use of metal detectors as an example.
“Come back to us as quickly as possible on that [report],” she told County Administrator Jonathan Lewis and County Attorney Joshua Moye.
Commissioner Mark Smith seconded Mast’s motion, and it passed 4-0.
Commissioner Ron Cutsinger was not present for the Sept. 24 board meeting. When Chair Joe Neunder announced Cutsinger’s absence, Neunder did not provide a reason for it.
In a companion motion, Commissioner Tom Knight — the past three-term sheriff — made a motion asking that Rob Lewis, the county’s director of governmental relations, work with Lewis and Moye on crafting an amendment to the commission’s 2026 Legislative Agenda. That would ask the Sarasota County Legislative Delegation to try to secure an amendment to state law to allow members of local government boards and advisory boards to “carry their weapons in a manner to defend themselves.”
Mast seconded Knight’s motion. It passed 4-0.
The Sarasota County Legislative Delegation is scheduled to meet on Dec. 13, Lewis told the commissioners. During that event, the legislators who represent parts of Sarasota County will hear from local government leaders and others seeking specific action, funding or other assistance from the Legislature next year. The Legislature will convene on Jan. 13, 2026.
On Sept. 10, a three-judge panel of the First District Court of Appeal, which is in Tallahassee, “ruled that any restrictions on the open carry of firearms in Florida is unconstitutional,” Florida Politics reporter Jacob Ogles wrote. The panel agreed “that the state’s statutory limits on carrying arms for self-defense violates Second Amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution,” Ogles added.
The judges cited three U.S. Supreme Court decisions since 2008 that, they said, strengthened individuals’ right to bear arms, Ogles explained.
Commissioner Mast brought up Uthmeier’s decision — without naming him — during her report to her colleagues as part of their Sept. 24 meeting.
“We all have been following very closely some safety concerns from a public perspective in county buildings,” she began. Therefore, she said, she wanted to ask the other commissioners “to really think about” directing the Office of the County Attorney to research what steps could be taken “in regards to a safety perspective …”
Mast added, “I know all of us attend lots of public events and try to be thoughtful of the public [attendees, as well].”
County Attorney Moye responded that, if it were the will of the full board for his office to pursue the research, he and his staff would do that, “just so I don’t step on Jonathan’s toes.” He was referring to County Administrator Lewis.
“I didn’t mean to step on Jonathan’s toes, either,” Mast noted.
If the commissioners provided the direction through a motion, Lewis said, “That would be a good board assignment for us to do.”
He added, “I am giving staff direction across the county” in the wake of the First District Court of Appeal ruling. His goal, he stressed, is not to take any action that might end up involving the county in litigation.
Mast emphasized her desire for protection of the county’s numerous advisory board members, as well as the commissioners. “I think it’s so important,” she said, “that we be inclusive …”
After she made her motion, Commissioner Mark Smith seconded it, and it passed 4-0.
‘I have no problem defending myself’
As the Reports Section of the meeting continued, Commissioner Knight referenced Mast’s comments after Chair Neunder called on him for remarks.
“Now, we have two deputies in this room with us,” Knight pointed out of the Sheriff’s Office personnel in the Commission Chambers of the County Administration Center standing at 1660 Ringling Blvd. in downtown Sarasota. He added that he has no idea how much expense the county shoulders for their presence during meetings.
He also expressed worry about the cost of metal detectors and law enforcement personnel to man them.
Yet, Knight continued, “We’re kind of sittin’ up here,” in front of everyone, in Chambers. (It was not until after Lewis became county administrator in 2018 that a barrier was placed in front of the commission dais at both the downtown Sarasota facility and within the Chambers of the R.L. Anderson Administration Center in Venice. He told The Sarasota News Leader in January 2018 that it was his decision to have those barrier installed, to prevent anyone from just coming up to a board member seated at the dais.)
“Things are different now,” Knight continued, noting, “I have full trust in these two gentlemen [from the Sheriff’s Office].”
He pointed out that no deputy was required to be in Chambers until after his first election as sheriff of Sarasota County. Knight added that he believed it was around 2010 or 2011 when the Sheriff’s Office began assigning a deputy to the meetings.
“I would much rather they be out serving the public instead of protecting us,” he said at one point.
“Why [are elected] local government [leaders] prevented from being able to defend themselves?” Knight asked.
That was when he raised the idea of seeking legislative action next year, in response to those elected officials’ vulnerability.
In fact, he pointed out, “People in politics now have bodyguards around them,” though he quickly acknowledged, “It’s a sad situation to discuss.”
Further, Knight stressed that he was not calling for the County Commission to craft any safety regulations that would pre-empt state law.
Since the First District Court of Appeal ruling, Knight continued, “We’re hearing a lot of different things from a lot of different, high-level elected officials in Tallahassee …”
“I have no problem defending myself,” Knight told his colleagues. “I’ve done that, and I’m pretty good at it.”
When he served with the Florida Highway Patrol earlier in his law enforcement career, he said, he participated in providing protection to the legislators when they were in session. “We harbored around that Capitol. Nobody got through. … Why should I knot have my gun [for protection as a commissioner]? That’s all I’m trying to say.”
“I completely support your endeavor,” Chair Neunder responded, referring to the proposal regarding the county Legislative Delegation.
Yet, Neunder added, “It’s unfortunate that we even have to have this conversation, to be honest with you.”
Then County Administrator Lewis proposed the motion to amend the commission’s 2026 Legislative Agenda, so it could include the request regarding local government safety.
Noting that the Delegation will not meet until Dec. 13, Neunder added, “We have a little bit of time to wordsmith [the amendment to that agenda].”