Staub announces retirement

County Commission Shannon Staub surprised her fellow commissioners late this morning when she told them that she was about to publicly announce her retirement.

“The news came as a shock to us,” said Commissioner Jon Thaxton.

As the afternoon session of the Sept. 15 commission meeting began, Staub let county residents know about her plans.

“These 14 years of public service have allowed me to help with projects and issues beyond my wildest imagination,” she said.

Staub said she made the decision to leave, in part, because she wants to spend more time with her adult son, who lives out of state.

She plans to step down at the end of December.

The replacement process begins with the governor accepting applications and then appointing one of those people to finish out Staub’s term, which runs until 2012.

The commission will be losing its longest-tenured member currently on the board.

“Thank you all for allowing me to serve you for these many years. It has been such an honor and privilege.”

Read more on this story in the Sept. 16 edition of The Sarasota Observer.

Contact Robin Roy at [email protected].