Sarasota Charter Review Board District 2: Joseph 'Jody' Hudgins

Name: Joseph "Jody" Hudgins

Age: 65

Family: Wife Lisa, daughter Hilary and Mary Catherine

Bio: 

Education: University of Virginia, Graduate School of Retail Bank Management, graduated; Carson-Newman University, B.A. in mathematics, football scholarship, four-year letterman.

Experience: First Florida Integrity Bank, in Naples, senior executive vice president and chief credit officer 2012 to present — managed overall credit administration, credit concentration and credit underwriting for bank ($1.5 billion); First National Bank of PA, in Sarasota, executive vice president, Florida executive 2005 to 2012 — managed F.N.B. Corporation’s return to bank operations in Florida as the senior bank executive in Florida; Fifth Third Bank, in Naples, senior vice president, senior commercial real estate lender, January to August 2005 — managed commercial real estate lenders for Bradenton, Sarasota, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples and Marco Island; First National Bank of Florida (formerly West Coast Bank acquired by FNB Corporation 1998 and Fifth Third Bank 2005), 1991-2005 president and CEO of Sarasota affiliate of FNB-FL a wholly owned subsidiary of FNB-Corporation; SouthTrust Bank – Decatur, Ala., and Sarasota, 1986-1991 president and CEO of affiliate banks in Decatur, Ala., and Sarasota.

Honors: Recent (2015, 2018, 2019) presenter to Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta “Ask the Fed” series and Business Outlook Conference; finalist, Georgia Public Speaking Contest, American Institute of Banking; named Banker of Year for the state of Georgia by the U.S. Small Business Administration; delegate to the White House Conference on Small Business in 1986, chairman of Finance Issues group.

Involved activities: Member – Sarasota County, Florida Charter Review Board; Member – Board of Governors of the Florida Bar Appointed by the Supreme Court of Florida May 2019; past commissioner and past chair of Sarasota County Planning Commission; past chairman of Advisory Board of the Sarasota Salvation Army; past trustee Carson-Newman University, Jefferson City, Tenn.; past member of Executive Committee, Southern Baptist Convention, Nashville, Tenn.; past chair of Sarasota Housing Authority; trustee, past chair city of Sarasota Police Pension Board; past chair Community Housing Trust of Sarasota County; instructor (25 years) Florida School of Banking, University of Florida – courses include Personal Financial Analysis, Commercial Lending, Loan Policy and Review; instructor (13 years) – Graduate School of Banking at LSU, Baton Rouge, La. Currently serving as president of the school.

Why do you want to serve on the Charter Review Board?

I have been a Sarasota resident for more than 30 years, all of which have been while employed in the CEO position or senior executive position with a commercial bank. I was elected to the Charter Review Board in 2016, now serving as vice chair. I have served on the Sarasota County Planning Commission for 12 years, two terms serving as chairman. I have been the chair of the Sarasota Salvation Army. I have served on the city of Sarasota Police Pension Board for more than 12 years, serving three terms as chair. I teach at the Graduate School of Banking at LSU (14 years) and currently serve as president of the school. In May 2019, I was appointed by the Florida Supreme Court to the Board of Governors of the Florida Bar, one of only two that serve as non-attorneys. My business, educational, public service and state of Florida background offer me a unique perspective in serving another term on the Charter Review Board of Sarasota County to insure the continuing financial health and well-being of Sarasota county.

If elected, what will be your top three priorities during your term?

1. Making sure the citizens of Sarasota county have an advocate for hearing and deciding on issues relating to the charter of Sarasota County;
2. Being able to discuss with colleagues on the Charter Review Board in a constructive manner that ensures all decisions are the best for our county; and
3. Being visible and available to the citizens of Sarasota County to consider and champion needed changes to our county charter.

Where do you stand: Should the Charter Review Board be proactive initiating changes to charter, or should the board make recommendations based on voter desires and ideas brought to the board?

The Charter Review Board should always be attentive to needs that are potential conflicts that remain unresolved with our current charter. When an issue arises, it is our duty to have a thoughtful and thorough discussion on the issue at hand and determine if there is reason to pursue a charter amendment.  

What is your position on turning the Charter Review Board into an appointed position rather than an elected office?

The charter of Sarasota County has served us well with elected members that bring a wide range of expertise and diversity to the board. I see no reason to change something that has worked well for us for many years. 

What, if anything, in your view, needs to be updated/changed in the county charter?

I have no proposed changes to the Sarasota County charter that I think are needed at this time.

The CRB has been discussing changes to the charter amendment process. What’s your position on that?

That matter has been studied and an ad hoc committee of the board has made a recommendation to the board that was approved for public notice and comments. I think this process has worked beautifully with all members in agreement.

What are your comments about reforming the CRB, so it mirrors the State Constitutional Revision Commission — appointed members every 10 or 20 years to review the charter, rather than the existing system of elected members who serve four-year terms?

In my opinion, this would not work for the Sarasota charter. It would be too many years between sessions to address issues and debate them properly.