Photo courtesy of Visit Sarasota.

In any thriving city, leadership matters—and not just at the ballot box. While elected officials help shape and create the vision, it’s the city manager who is often tasked with making that vision real. The city manager is the operational backbone of local government—the one responsible for turning policy into action, leading staff, managing budgets, and ensuring the day-to-day functioning of city services that residents and businesses depend on.

Our city is in the midst of big conversations and even bigger decisions—about affordable housing, infrastructure, economic development, workforce retention, environmental resilience, and the future vision of our downtown. A strong city manager will be the person to navigate those complex issues, work with policymakers to execute priorities, and serve as a stabilizing force when challenges inevitably arise.

For the business community, a capable city manager means predictability, responsiveness, and collaboration. It means permitting processes that don’t drag on endlessly. It means infrastructure that keeps up with demand. It means a clear understanding of the economic levers that drive opportunities.

And for residents, the impact is just as real. A great city manager ensures that the trash gets picked up, the streets are safe, the parks are well-kept, and the city’s growth is managed with integrity and intention.

The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce urges our elected officials to move decisively and thoughtfully in this search. Let’s bring in the right search firm, establish clear qualifications and expectations, and listen to input from the community—while resisting the temptation to let politics override progress.

We need someone with leadership, experience, vision, and heart. Someone who understands how to run a city well—and how to preserve what makes Sarasota special, while preparing it for what’s next. We only get one chance to get this right. 

Heather Kasten is the President/CEO of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce.The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit organization that works to cultivate Sarasota's prosperity and quality of life through our member businesses, for more information please call (941) 955-8187 or visit us at www.sarasotachamber.com

Photo courtesy of Visit Sarasota.