Veteran politician files for Sarasota City Commission

A Sarasota newcomer has tossed the first hat in the ring for next year’s City Commission at-large election, seats currently held by Vice Mayor Debbie Trice and Jen Ahearn-Koch.

Although a recently minted city resident, Michael Bennett is far from new to the area. A Bradenton resident for 30 years, the 79-year-old has a long history of state and local government representation. Bennett represented District 67 in the Florida House of Representatives from 2000 to 2002 and District 21 of the Florida Senate from 2002 to 2012, his last two years as president pro tempore of the senate.

Then, for 12 years, he was Manatee County Supervisor of Elections, his final term ending in November 2024.

“I told my wife I was going to retire four different times,” said Bennett, a Republican. “I've never done it. Then I've watched some of the some of the problems at Sarasota City Commission and someone told me, ‘You really ought to do it.’”

Soon after leaving his most recent post, Bennett and his wife, Dee, moved into Plymouth Harbor on Coon Key after seven years on the waiting list. He then immediately transferred his voter registration from Manatee County to Sarasota County.

“The things that really bothered me was that there is such a disparity between the growth and the no-growth groups, the people who want the performing arts and the people who don’t, and not being able to hire a city manager after all that fiasco,” Bennett said, the latter referencing the appearance of dysfunction among the city commissioners as they restart the process to replace the retired Marlon Brown from scratch after several months.

“I just felt maybe with a little senior leadership we might be able to do something,” Bennett said. “I want to do it and see if I can help the city that I love.”

Bennett doesn’t lay blame for the city manager search complications completely at the feet of the City Commission.

“One of the best things Florida ever did was govern the sunshine, and one of the worst things that Florida ever did was govern in the sunshine, because it's so difficult to come to a deal when you don't get to talk to each other,” Bennett said. “Unless you can talk to each other, it's very difficult to solve problems.”

A Minnesota native, Bennett moved to Sarasota at age 10, graduating from Sarasota High School in 1962. After being away for 25 years, he returned to the area, settling in Bradenton. His local business history includes former ownership of Linger Lodge in eastern Manatee County and the Ellington Ice and Sports Complex. 

He was also principal and president of Aladdin-Ward Electric and Air of Bradenton. Formerly a professor at Iowa State University, he returned to the area in search of more lucrative and challenging career opportunities.

“I loved teaching, but it wasn't enough to keep me challenged and keep me going, so I started looking for businesses to buy,” Bennett said. “When we came back to Sarasota, I got in the electrical business. I know nothing about electricity. I couldn't wire a flashlight, but I surrounded myself with good people and empowered them to do their best.”

Ironically, Bennett said his father was the electrical foreman of Plymouth Harbor when it was built in 1965-66.

Bennett describes himself as a fiscal conservative who is moderate on social issues. It’s that kind of balance, he said, that helps him rise through the ranks of the state Senate. In addition to president pro tempore, his leadership positions included chairman of Community Affairs and the Senate Policy and Steering Committee on Commerce and Industry committees.

His other Senate committee memberships included Banking and Insurance, Finance and Tax, Health Regulation, Military Affairs and Domestic Security, Policy and Steering Committee on Governmental Operations, Policy and Steering Committee on Ways and Means, Reapportionment, and Select Committee on Florida's Economy.

“I've always been a deal maker and try to bring people together for consensus,” Bennett said. “My approach is ‘I can't give you everything that you want, but let's find out what I can help you with, and then let's go to the other side. I can't give you everything that you want either, but we do have some consensus.’

“That's what I've been known for, as a person who solves problems. I love solving problems.”

An added benefit to the city, Bennett said, is his experience — and connections — in state government.

“I have all the connections in the county, I have all the connections in the Florida Legislature,” he said. “My phone calls get returned. That’s a big thing for the city of Sarasota.”