Sarasota's 'Wall of Mayors' has a portrait of every one since the city's inception. Photo by Stan
Zimmerman
The Sarasota City Charter demands an annual
election of the mayor, and it requires the out-
going mayor to deliver a "State of the City
address." It does not say how long the speech
should be, nor does it say what should be cov-
ered, only that it shall be given.
The election and address are scheduled for
Friday, May 16, at noon; first the speech and
then the election of the mayor and vice mayor,
followed by commissioners' remarks. For
this "statutory meeting," no public comment
is allowed.
In his three years on the commission, Shannon
Snyder has been the resident pessimist. His
suspicions of chicanery led to the ouster of
former City Manager Bob Bartolotta. No evi-
dence of any wrongdoing emerged despite
a "forensic analysis" of city staff comput-
ers. Between the cost of the analysis and the
expenses of contract awards for staff dis-
missals without cause and the search for a
new manager, the incident cost the city nearly
$500,000.
Then Snyder feared the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
would hold the city liable for millions in
damages after an audit of the local Man Up
organization found misuse of HUD money. No
THE NEXT MAYOR
ANALYSIS: WITH SNYDER JOINING CARAGIULO IN THE RACE FOR COUNTY
COMMISSION, THE GUESSING GAME PROVES EVEN MORE INTRIGUING
By Stan Zimmerman
City Editor
