Commission to reconsider city manager candidates

Sarasota city commissioners unanimously agreed during a special meeting Tuesday at City Hall that they should reconsider the list of city manager candidates they previously rejected.

Commissioner Terry Turner urged commissioners to reconsider the entire list during an agenda item that at first was meant to appoint an interim city manager after Interim City Manager Terry Lewis announced he's leaving Aug. 3.

" We are unlikely to find better candidates," Turner said. "If we don’t change our approach and develop a sense of compromise, we are never going to find a candidate. The turmoil and morale it’s causing our staff is unacceptable."

Turner suggested the commission discuss appointing one of the candidates at the Monday, July 16 regular meeting.

"If we all insist on our first candidate, we will never get there," Turner said.

The rest of the commission agreed to reconsider the candidates Monday at their regular meeting.

"I agree," said Commissioner Paul Caragiulo. "It’s very reasonable and, frankly, I think it’s the right thing to do."

For more information, pick up a copy of Thursday's July 12 Sarasota Observer.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].