Local push for Jody Hudgins as city manager still exists

Sarasota business owner Cathy Layton told city commissioners Thursday she “cannot see any evidence of ‘thinking outside the box.’” And Paul Thorpe, longtime advocate and promoter of downtown Sarasota, said he “was in shock.”

Those were just two of the reactions to the exclusion of Sarasota banker Jody Hudgins’ name from the list of eight finalists recommended by search consultants for the city manager’s position.

In an email sent to the five Sarasota city commissioners, Layton urged the commission to consider adding Hudgins, the executive vice president of First National Bank of PA in Sarasota, to their finalist list at the Monday, June 4, regular meeting (see email below).

Commissioners can add or delete people from the candidate list at Monday’s meeting during their quest to reduce the candidate list from eight to four or five candidates.

Consultant Colin Baezinger told the Sarasota Observer Hudgins didn’t make the list “because there were too many strong candidates.”

“The best way to judge if someone is going to be successful is if they’ve already done that position and have done it successfully,” Baezinger said.

Although Baezinger noted that Hudgins has some government experience from serving as a member of the Sarasota County Planning Commission and Sarasota Housing Authority, he said “a city manager job is unlike any in the world,” adding, “the bottom line is we were hired to find the best candidates for the job, and we’ve done that.”

Baezinger said he talked to Hudgins “only early on in the process.”

Hudgins, whose name was not on the original list of 104 candidates, questions whether he was ever really considered. Baezinger later told the Sarasota Observer Hudgins’ name was left off the long list, inadvertently, but that he was considered.

Hudgins said he was “disappointed” to discover he didn’t make the finalist list.

“At this point, we have to respect the collective wisdom of the commissioners that they will find the right person to address pension needs, employee morale and issues that confront the North Trail,” Hudgins said.

Commissioner Shannon Snyder and others had pushed for the search firm to be open to candidates who didn’t necessarily have prior city manager experience, and Layton said the commission should at least consider one of those types of candidates.

“The fact that Jody hasn’t had a job in municipal government seems to be a big sticking point,” Layton said.

“Well, interim City Manager Terry Lewis (a former police chief with no city manager experience prior to his last couple of interim roles) has stepped in admirably lately with a different type of style that’s helped transform some pretty troubled places.”

Layton said she’s hopeful the commission “has the good sense to consider a talented qualified local person on Monday.”

Although three of the final candidates are from Florida, none are Sarasota residents.

Commissioner Shannon Snyder said he isn’t open to adding Hudgins to the list, although he did say that even though interim City Manager Lewis has no interest in the job, he would push the commission to hire Lewis in a heartbeat if he wasn’t set on retiring.

“Not too long ago, Mr. Hudgins praised (former City Manager) Bob Bartolotta’s leadership skills in a local television interview after he resigned,” Snyder said. “I can’t support a candidate who supported a city manager we got rid of because we questioned his leadership.”

Hudgins said he was only looking to praise the good in what Bartolotta accomplished during his tenure in the interview.

“Would I have done things differently than Bob Bartolotta? You bet I would,” Hudgins said. “But I’m not the type of person to kick a man when he’s down and criticize someone who’s no longer around. It’s not my style, and I try to find the good in everyone.”

Commissioner Paul Caragiulo also said he wouldn’t support Hudgins’ name being added to the list, in part, because the local candidate never approached a commissioner to lobby for the job.

Hudgins called Caragiulo’s statement “an accurate one.”

“To be fair and honorable and equitable to all of the other candidates on the list that I’m pretty sure weren’t allowed to lobby for the job, I didn’t think it would be appropriate for me as a city citizen to lobby for the job,” Hudgins said. “That would be an unfair advantage over the other candidates, and I chose only to talk to citizens, former mayors and former commissioners about my desire for the position.”

Said Thorpe: “Jody Hudgins knows Sarasota. He brings something different to the table, and he has worked with all of our local city and county governments,” Thorpe said. “I think something different than your average, longtime city manager bureaucrat is exactly what this city needs because nothing else seems to be working at City Hall.”

Push for commissioners to consider Jody Hudgins
The following email was sent to Sarasota city commissioners Thursday, May 31:

Dear Commissioners:
With all due respect, I cannot see any evidence of "thinking outside the box" as the commission directed of the search company. I am extremely disappointed, and a bit puzzled, about Jody Hudgins not being in the final pool.

First of all, it is strange that the selection company did not initially even recognize that Mr. Hudgins had even applied. Only after a local newspaper called the principal was it discovered that yes, Hudgins did in fact apply.

Why not have one "outside of the box" candidate? And heck, he's a bargain to consider, as he does not have to be flown in or dined on the public dollar. He can just drive from his home in the city to City Hall, a place he knows well from his many years of service there. Jody might have to come a bit early to his interview, as he is likely to encounter folks in and around City Hall that he knows and has worked with.

Some of our best local leaders were local to begin with -- Dr. Lori White and predecessor Wilma Hamilton; Dave Bullock; Chief Holloway; Diane McFarlin. Why not at least make good on your directions - think outside of the box - interview a local who is such, and is also qualified!

Sincerely yours,
Cathy Layton
City Resident and City Business Owner