Thaxton among Planning Commission applicants

Former Sarasota County Commissioner Jon Thaxton and recent County Commission candidate Ray Porter are among applicants for the Planning Commission, along with the five previously-reported advisory board hopefuls.

County commissioners will consider nominations for a vacancy on the Planning Commission tomorrow following the resignation of Mike Moran, who is running for County Commission in 2016. 

Thaxton, Porter and Englewood resident Ron Cutsinger join Kevin Cooper, Mark Hawkins, Roland Piccone, Lourdes Ramirez and Andy Stultz to round out the pool for the board, which advises the County Commission on Comprehensive Plan and development issues.

Though the Planning Commission often serves as a springboard for future political careers — two current county commissioners did their time on the planning board — the rebounding economy means there will certainly be more development and re-zone applications, making even one vacant seat an important cog in local government.

The last round of Planning Commission appointments drew 12 applicants in the summer of 2013. Commissioners chose Michael Beaumier and Paul Bispham for four-year terms.

Cutsinger, owner of Waypoint Advisors, said he is "not opposed to growth — just that we should carefully consider how best to commodity it in what is sure to be intense development in the next decade,” according to an application packet.

Porter, who is coming off an unsuccessful bid for the County Commission, said he believes he "can bring a reporter’s perspective to the post – investigating all aspects of proposals made to the board, and helping to better inform the county commission’s future decisions on land use, zoning changes, comprehensive plan amendments, and more.” He is currently director of communications for the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee.

And Thaxton, who served as a popular county commissioner for 12 years and spent another four years on the Planning Commission said he possesses a "comprehensive understanding of the Planning Commission's role, and the ability to hear both sides of the issue before making a recommendation.” He currently works as director of community investment for the Gulf Coast Community Foundation.