Longboat commissioner picked as president of Manasota League of Cities

Longboat Key Town Commissioner B.J. Bishop has been reelected as president of the Manasota League of Cities.

Bishop, who has served on the Longboat Key Town Commission since March 2020, was picked to continue as president of the organization at a meeting Thursday, Jan. 8.

Bishop said she is humbled that her fellow members have entrusted her with another year-long term as president.

Manasota League of Cities is a group of nine representatives in Sarasota and Manatee counties. The group meets regularly to advocate for policies that would benefit local governments in the state legislature, and hopes to be active in 2026 as proposed state legislation such as changes to property taxes could affect local governments.

“We have a very ambitious calendar for 2026, including primary candidate seminars and educating the communities on the impact of the loss of property taxes,” Bishop said. 

Bishop was also picked by the League to serve as a member of the Florida League of Cities Nominations Committee.

Other members of the Manasota League include Lisa Gonzalez Moore (Bradenton), Terry Schaefer and Charles Salem (Anna Maria), Debbie Scaccianoce (Bradenton Beach), Demetrius Petrow (North Port), Brian Williams (Palmetto), Jen Ahearn Koch (Sarasota) and Nick Pachota (Venice). 

______