Sarasota Expands Candidate Pool in City Manager Search

During a recent meeting, Sarasota city commissioners engaged in selecting a new city manager, initially aiming to narrow down a list of eight finalists provided by the consulting firm Colin Benzinger and Associates. Instead, they requested the dossiers of all 51 candidates to personally manage the selection process.

The limited pool of acceptable semifinalists fueled this decision. Mayor Liz Alpert noted some positives among the eight recommendations, while Vice Mayor Debbie Trice was excited about three of them. Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch expressed interest in reviewing six from the full pool, with Kyle Battie questioning the low number of applications given Sarasota’s appealing livability and accolades.

Rick Conner, leading the search, mentioned that a national trend of dwindling candidates is one reason for the small applicant pool. “There has been a significant drop in the people who are entering this field,” he explained. His previous efforts to encourage younger candidates have not yet yielded results.

Another significant challenge is the cost of living in Sarasota. Conner identified it as a limiting factor for potential candidates. Despite a competitive salary range of $225,000 to $315,000 for the position, some candidates expressed that they couldn’t afford to relocate.

The commission has been cautioned that any delays in the selection process could reduce the candidate pool since many are actively seeking positions. The recruitment for a new manager began on January 9, after the retirement of Marlon Brown in October 2024, and concluded on February 7. Screening and reference checks were finalized by March 18, revealing nine candidates, one of whom has since withdrawn.

Ahearn-Koch requested access to all backup materials for the candidates. She remarked that her preliminary review indicated varying qualifications among candidates and expressed a desire for an evaluation of a broader pool. “I really wanted to be torn over 10 great candidates,” she said. “I am not there.” This wish will be fulfilled when all commissioners receive the full backup material by early April, ahead of a workshop scheduled for April 11.

During this workshop, commissioners will compile a list of up to 10 candidates for further discussion. A lunch break will be followed by reconvening to select finalists for an extensive public evaluation process, which will include public questioning and input.

If the selection process fails to yield suitable candidates, Trice assured, “If none of these people are a good fit or meet our needs, then we’ll start all over again.”