Sarasota County commissioners pick chair, vice chair

When the Sarasota County Board of Commissioners met at its annual planning retreat, the five-member board chose its chair and vice chair.

The chair runs the meetings of County Commission and represents it at ceremonial functions, the county’s website explains. The vice chair assumes those duties in the chair’s absence.

Ron Cutsinger represents District 5 on the southern end of Sarasota County, which includes much of North Port, Englewood and Casperson and Manasota Key beaches. Cutsinger was chosen to serve as chair of the board in 2026. First elected in 2020, Cutsinger served as chair in 2023 and vice chair in 2022 and 2025. Cutsinger is a former restaurant owner who went on to become a pastor and Christian school founder. He has been a financial advisor for a little less than 30 years.

Mark Smith, who represents the southern portion of Longboat Key, St. Armands, Siesta Key and downtown Sarasota, was selected vice chair. Smith was first elected in 2022. He is an architect by trade, running his own firm out of Siesta Key Village.