Jim DeNiro: ‘If there’s a conflict of interest, I’ll exclude myself’

The Sarasota County Commission candidate addresses concerns about his brother-in-law, who runs one of the area’s largest construction companies.

By Ramon Lopez

Original Air Date: October 20, 2026

Host: In his run for the Sarasota County Commission, Jim DeNiro says he feels comfortable about his chances. But how will he navigate conflicts of interest? His brother-in-law, John LaCivita, is the president and CEO of Willis Smith, one of the largest construction companies in the area. Ramon Lopez asked the question.

Ramon Lopez: It’s Republican Jim DeNiro versus Democrat Julie London.

Jim DeNiro (left), Julie London (center) and Joe Neunder (right) | Photo: Ramon Lopez

The tough-talking retired Sarasota PD Sergeant overcame no-name recognition to defeat first-term incumbent District 4 Sarasota County Commissioner Joe Neunder in the primary election. The November 3 general election pits him against London, who had no challenger in the primary.

There are about 81,000 Democrats registered in Sarasota County versus 163,000 Republicans. As a result, political pundits give DeNiro a sharp edge on November 3.

DeNiro rates his chances of gaining his first elected public office as “very good”.

Jim DeNiro: I think we have a very good chance of winning this election. I think way above average. The feedback has always been remarkably positive. Again, I don’t take anything for granted, but as far as the election is concerned, I like our chances in winning this election.

RL: DeNiro recently got the endorsement of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. But not without reservations. The newspaper asked: Would DeNiro, with family ties to a prominent Sarasota builder, prove to be a Trojan horse for local developers?

But the retired cop told WSLR in an exclusive interview he’ll do “everything by the book” and will vote using common sense.

Jim DeNiro

JD: There’s a lot to unpack there, because there’s a lot of things that take place—that process of a county project that any contract goes through Sarasota County. If there’s a conflict of interest, I’ll exclude myself. What I will talk about with conflict of interest is, I will do what the law says I have to do. Fair enough? You’ve got to apply common sense, and you’ve got to try to make the best decision you possibly can. You’ve got to ask good questions.

RL: He’s originally from Bridgeport, Connecticut, but has spent three decades in the Sarasota-Venice area. As a cop, he moved around the Sarasota Police Department: traffic, marine, underwater search and rescue, narcotics and detective in persons and property crimes.

DeNiro does not emphasize his law enforcement background in conversation. He was born into a police family, following in his dad’s footsteps. He says his time on the force was “One of the best things I ever did.”

The Florida Sheriffs Association opposes Florida’s Amendment 3 property tax referendum on the ballot in November. Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt Hoffmann says his department could lose an estimated $54 million over two years if the amendment passes. He’d have to cut services.

DeNiro, the commissioner, sees a way to offset the department’s funding shortfall.

JD: If the county has an investment fund that’s worth over $1 billion and that’s making 6% interest a year—potentially $60, $70 million it’s making on that fund—there you go. Maybe we could use that money to offset some of the shortfalls if Amendment 3 passes.

RL: Hoffman endorsed Neunder in the primary. DeNiro says that won’t get in the way when working with Sheriff Hoffman as a county commissioner.

JD: I’ve already spoken to the sheriff, and there’s no hard feelings whatsoever. That’s a political race. Generally, people in constitutional office and so forth endorse the incumbent anyway. That’s just part of the system. That’s just politics. But no, there’s no hard feelings between me and Sheriff Hoffman.

RL: DeNiro also looks forward to working with stormwater czar Ben Quartermaine.

JD: I hear mixed reviews on Ben, actually, but I hear more positive reviews. There are a lot of projects that need to be addressed in Sarasota County from stormwater. These are projects that have been just delayed or have not gotten the attention they deserved a long time ago—decades ago. Sarasota County’s playing catch-up on a lot of these projects.

RL: DeNiro addressed the hot topic issue: Data centers.

JD: If it’s a negative impact to Sarasota County, then I’m not going to be in support of it. Waste meant where it relates to communities. Is it close to neighborhood? I don’t think it would be, but it shouldn’t be. But the overall impact of our environment, the communities that they’re in—obviously its effects on the grid.

RL: DeNiro’s campaign posters lining county and city streets shout: “Stop Overdevelopment.” He said: “We have to put infrastructure first, whether it’s roads, water, flood mitigation or other areas. We can’t continue to go down the path of just developing without considering the infrastructure to support it.”

DeNiro aims to go from cop to commissioner.

On the campaign trail, this is Ramon Lopez for WSLR News.

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