Caragiulo submits strong mayor proposal

Sarasota City Commissioner Paul Caragiulo intends to ask his fellow commissioners today at City Hall to place a charter amendment on the November ballot that would create a strong mayor form of government.

In a letter dated July 15 to his fellow commissioners, Caragiulo explains he believes city residents should decide whether the city is ready for a different government structure, which would include a mayor who would be elected citywide and become the chief executive of the city. The mayoral position, if approved, would be in charge of the city’s budget, would not be a member of the commission and would have no vote, except for veto power.

The proposal comes on the heels of another charter amendment being sought by Citizens for a Better Sarasota, which is coming before the commission today to explain a charter amendment that would give the city manager more power than the city auditor and clerk position.

Also at its regular meeting today at 2:30 and 6 p.m. at City Hall, commissioners are set to discuss whether  they should hire one of two city manager candidates who remain from a city manager search.

Caragiulo’s proposal suggests that the strong mayor would still need an administrator or city manager position.

For more information, check www.yourobserver.com and pick up a copy of Thursday’s July 19 Sarasota Observer.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].