Ross is the LWR post front-runner

Longboat Key Assistant Town Manager Anne Ross is the front-runner for the Lakewood Ranch Town Hall executive director role.

A list of 34 candidates for the East County position was whittled to two finalists by the Lakewood Ranch Inter-District Authority Board Sept. 30.

Ross and Highlands County Assistant County Administrator Randy Vosburg were the only candidates invited to a 6 p.m. meet-and-greet Wednesday and a 10:30 a.m. public interview Thursday at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall.

Lakewood Ranch Inter-District Authority board members noted in a Sept. 30 meeting that one candidate, on paper, “shoots high above the rest,” referencing Ross, who has worked for the town since 2004.

Ross, a resident of Panther Ridge, said she’s had her eyes on becoming part of Lakewood Ranch’s governmental organization since moving to the area and that her educational and professional experiences make her a good fit for the executive director post.

“My experiences with my engineering background align nicely with the jurisdiction the IDA has, which is over infrastructure, and I have a vested interest in the community,” said Ross, whose children attend Nolan Middle and Willis Elementary schools.

For the last three years, Ross has played a critical role in the government of Longboat Key, overseeing the town’s budget of approximately $15 million, working with the Longboat Key Town Commission and implementing its policies and working with the town’s department heads, for example.

“One of the similarities between Lakewood Ranch and Longboat is people choose to live there because it’s a beautiful place,” Ross said. “They expect and want a high quality of service and excellent customer service.”