Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/143399
Sarasota News Leader July 12, 2013 Page 16 ry election bid for supervisor of elections in proposals and be able to review them based August. on the adopted Comprehensive Plan and be able to provide a thoughtful position." The former commissioner said he plans to keep busy at his job with the Gulf Coast Com- Bispham, 59, wrote in his application that he munity Foundation helping working homeless would "stay open, informed, and unbiased in families find housing and homeless people helping the bcc (Board of County Commisfind jobs. sioners) make zoning and future growth deWhile serving on the County Commission, cisions." He added in his application that he Thaxton, an environmentalist, managed to had attended about 40 public meetings on the combine his environmental focus with a Sarasota 2050 Plan. He has also been an Argus pro-business mindset, winning a juxtaposition Foundation board member and is a past presof awards such as recognition from the Coali- ident of the Citizens Advisory Committee of tion of Business Associations and a Lifetime the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program. Achievement award from the Venice Audubon Robinson also noted that Bispham's father, Society. the late Cyrus Bispham, had served on the In addition to Thaxton, 11 other candidates Planning Commission. applied for the pair of open posts on the PlanThe new advisory board members will likely ning Commission. address a full agenda as a multitude of new A FULL AGENDA developments are proposed on the shoulders Beaumier has become a downtown propo- of a recovering economy, and as the county nent for economic development, leading his addresses proposed changes to the county's company's effort to try to bring a pharmacy to 2050 Plan. downtown Sarasota and serving as both vice "I just heard that you denied Jon Thaxton to chairman of the city's Community Redevelthe Planning Commission at a time when the opment Agency Advisory Board and a board Planning Commission would be advising you member of the Downtown Sarasota Alliance. on the 2050 Plan," Dan Lobeck, an attorney Robinson noted there were several well-quali- and president of Control Growth Now, said fied applicants and that Beaumier had applied during the afternoon public comments at the on several occasions to serve on the Planning July 9 County Commission meeting. "It is Commission. "They are all worthy, but we only shocking." have so many slots," Robinson said. Piccone is the only remaining member of the "He has been on the list several times," Rob- Sarasota Planning Commission who worked inson added of Beaumier. on the 2050 Plan upon its inception. Because In his application, Beaumier wrote that "A of term limits, he could not keep his seat on Commission member should be open to all the advisory board. %