City manager candidate list now stands at 5

The Sarasota City Commission whittled its list of eight city managers candidates down to five final choices at its regular meeting Monday at City Hall.

The top picks, which include all three Florida city manager candidates, includes: Daytona Beach City Manager James Chisholm; West Palm Beach City Administrator Edward “Ed” Mitchell; Casselberry City Manager Barbara Lipscomb; McKinney, Texas Deputy City Manager Rick Chaffin; and Oak Park, Ill. City Manager Thomas Barwin.

Search consultant Colin Baenziger of Wellington-based Colin Baenziger & Associates said the choices will be notified and asked to come to Sarasota for a two-day interview process June 29 and June 30.

That process includes candidate one-on-one interviews with city commissioners and a community meet and greet to be held at the Robert L. Taylor Community Center Friday, June 29 at a time yet to be announced.
Then, on Saturday, June 30, candidate meetings will be held with the entire Sarasota City Commission, department heads and the City Manager Citizens Advisory Panel.

In July, the Sarasota City Commission is expected to officially make its final selection and hire its new city manager at its Monday July 2 regular meeting.

For more information on today’s meeting, pick up a copy of Thursday’s June 7 Sarasota Observer.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].

TOP 5 PICKS
The Sarasota City Commission and city residents will have an opportunity to meet the following five candidates for the city of Sarasota’s open city manager position next month:

Candidate; Current Position
James Chisholm; City Manager of Daytona Beach
Edward “Ed” Mitchell City; Administrator of West Palm Beach
Barbara Lipscomb; Former City Manager of Casselberry
Rick Chaffin; Deputy City Manager of McKinney, Texas
Thomas Barwin; City Manager of Oak Park, Ill.