The Sarasota News Leader reported last
week that the strong-mayor advocacy group
would throw in the towel, having obtained
about 2,000 of the 3,500 signatures needed in
the 180 days allowed for the petition drive.
For the record, this was the first city ballot
measure petition drive allowed to run for 180
days. A charter change in 2012 doubled the
number of days from 90.
The proposed rewrite of the Sarasota City
Charter was drafted by a Cincinnati polit-
ical science professor and backed by City
Commissioner Paul Caragiulo and County
Commissioners Joe Barbetta and Carolyn
Mason. Failed City Commission candidate
Linda Holland was the coordinator of the
effort. It's Time Sarasota's steering committee
included Andy Dorr, former City Clerk Billy
Robinson, David Moriss, Diana Hamilton,
Ian Black, Jason Swift, Mary Slapp, Michael
Barfield, Peter Fanning, Peter Wish and Matt
Woodall.
The City of Sarasota has used a city manag-
er-commission form of government for more
than 60 years. %
The Citizens Voice opposed the petition drive of It's Time Sarasota. Image from the group's Facebook page
Sarasota News Leader July 18, 2014 Page 53
