Commission to pick city manager today

Sarasota city commissioners are set to pick a new city manager for the city of Sarasota this afternoon at City Hall, although they have one less candidate to choose from.

A candidate list that originally was set at five is now down to three. Texas candidate Rick Chaffin alerted the city’s search consultant last night he has withdrawn as a candidate for the position, explaining he didn’t feel it was the right move, “either professionally or personally.”

The list of three candidates left includes former Oak Park, Ill., city manager Thomas Barwin; Daytona Beach city manager Jim Chisholm; and West Palm Beach city manager Edward “Ed” Mitchell.”

The selection could be made at the commission’s afternoon regular meeting session, which begins at 2:30 p.m. at City Hall, 1565 First St., Sarasota.

Also, at its evening regular meeting session, which begins at 6 p.m., commissioners are poised to make pension modifications to the police pension plan. City police officers are expected to fill the commission chamber tonight to express their displeasure with the proposed changes.

For more information, check www.yourobserver.com for updates and pick up a copy of Thursday’s July 5 Sarasota Observer.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].