City manager candidate: Barbara Lipscomb

Editor's Note: Barbara Lipscomb has accepted a city manager position in another state and is no longer under consideration for the Sarasota city manager position.

“Firm, but fair.”

Many of those interviewed by the search firm, Colin Baenziger & Associates, used those words to describe former Casselberry City Manager Barbara Lipscomb’s management style.

Lipscomb, along with Daytona Beach City Manager Jim Chisholm and West Palm Beach City Administrator Edward “Ed” Mitchell are the three Florida city manager candidates who will come Friday, June 29 and Saturday, June 30, to Sarasota to be interviewed by Sarasota city commissioners and residents.

All three Florida candidates declined to be interviewed by the Sarasota Observer until they are interviewed for the position.

Lipscomb has worked in city administration since 1975, telling her interviewer that she achieved her goal of becoming a city manager, working her way up the public sector ladder that included rungs first as an executive assistant to the Grand Rapids, Mich., city manager in the mid-1980s.

Lipscomb faced shrinking budgets as city manager of Casselberry, where she worked from January 2007 to January 2012, and was able to reduce spending to fiscal year 2005-06 levels without impacting services to the city.

Lipscomb noted in her interview with Colin Baenziger & Associates she prefers to manage a larger, full-service city like Sarasota. She also explained she believes Sarasota is well-placed to meet the financial challenges it faces, in part because of its cultural amenities and natural resources that draw people to the area.

Those interviewed by the search firm explained Lipscomb “is driven, fair and hard-working” and “is a tough leader who creates and fosters an enjoyable work environment.”

At the time of Casselberry’s hire as city manager, the staff didn’t work well together, interview notes explain, and the city had gone through two permanent city managers and three interim city managers.

“She (Lipscomb) quickly made her expectations clear, including that everyone work together,” interview notes state. “She insisted on dedication and set high standards. All departments responded properly and now function well.”

Elected officials interviewed by the search firm called her “a good leader” and explained “she has vision” and said she has “strong budget skills.”

An example Lipscomb used in her interview packet explains that when the city of Casselberry’s property values began to drop, she convinced landowners and residents of 100 acres at the city of Orlando’s edge to annex themselves into the city of Casselberry.

When she became Casselberry’s city manager, the city also had no reserves.

“By cutting unnecessary expenditures, obtaining grants and refinancing city loans, Ms. Lipscomb developed a reserve general fund of $8 million,” interview notes state.

Lynelle Klein, who interviewed Lipscomb for the Sarasota city manager job, had the following to say about Lipscomb: “A strong, caring leader. Confident, competent, calm and friendly. Very knowledgeable and well-educated. Proactive, honest and organized. Follows the codes and regulations, but is not rigid.”

Interim Casselberry City Manager Randy Newlon told the Sarasota Observer he worked with Lipscomb from 2008 until January as her finance director.

“She came to Casselberry when the city had a lack of leadership,” Newlon said. “She made tough decisions and realized the city was heading into an economic downturn before anyone else did.”
Casselberry community activist Dale Christensen stated in his interview with the search firm that Lipscomb is “impeccably honest.”

“Residents have complete faith in her,” Christensen said. “She broke down the good old boys club.”
Former Gainesville Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan called Lipscomb “an extreme professional who treats everyone with an even hand.”

Casselberry Commissioner Sandra Solomon praised Lipscomb’s work ethic and character.

“She makes good decisions and can make quick decisions when needed,” Solomon stated in her interview.

Solomon noted that Lipscomb once pulled money out of a Casselberry city account during her first month on the job, explaining to commissioners she was worried about losing much of the money if it continued to stay there.

“It turns out the city would have lost millions of dollars in that account if it stayed put there during the economic downturn,” Solomon said.

Barbara Lipscomb
City of Sarasota commission finalist votes received: Five

Current position: Former city manager of Casselberry from January 2007 to January 2012

Former Casselberry salary: $144,000

Background check: No records found; one speeding ticket

Past positions: Gainesville assistant city manager; Lakeland assistant city manager

Education: Master’s in regional planning from University of North Carolina

Hobbies: Taking walks, watching movies and visiting with friends