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Commission votes to restart city manager search after consultant steps back, directing charter officials to lead new process
Summary
Sarasota commissioners voted 3–2 to abandon the current recruitment path and restart the city manager search, directing charter officials to solicit firms and bring options back to the commission; the decision followed criticism of the prior process and concerns that key steps were mishandled.
The Sarasota City Commission on May 5 voted 3–2 to restart the process of recruiting a new city manager and to direct the city’s charter officials to lead the next phase of the search. Commissioners who supported restarting said the commission must lead and set clearer candidate criteria after internal disagreement and the recruiting firm’s decision to step back from a leading role.
Why it matters: The commission’s choice resets a high‑profile executive search and is likely to delay any appointment by months. Commissioners and staff warned that restarting would risk losing some active candidates; others said the prior process—criticized at an April 11 meeting—had damaged public confidence and warranted a fresh start.
What the commission decided: Following a presentation from HR Director Stacy Mason that summarized the current timeline and 44 active candidates, Commissioner…
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