After just a brief discussion and a unanimous vote, she now is the first female city manager ever.
By Ramon Lopez
Host: Last Friday, Feb 27, Karie Friling was chosen to be Sarasota’s next city manager. She will become the first woman to serve in that position, arguably the most powerful at city hall. Ramon Lopez has the details.
Ramon Lopez: The city commissioners’ vote was unanimous to extend a conditional employment offer to Friling. Her annual salary is expected to range between $225,000 and $305,000, reflecting the scope of the job. The appointed executive oversees departments, prepares budgets, negotiates contracts and implements the commission’s decisions.
Mayor Debbie Trice said, “It has been a long journey to today’s selection of a new city manager. But, I sincerely believe that it has been worth the time and effort.”
“It became apparent, Sarasota is in the midst of a transformation. It is critical that the city get out in front and guide that transformation. Our selection is a well-rounded, highly-experienced city management professional from Illinois. She has the background to respond to any challenge she might face as our city’s leader. The other factor in her selection was the easy rapport she developed with city staff and with members of the public.”
A supermajority, a 4-1 vote, was required for the hiring. But it took only a half-hour for the commissioners to reach a unanimous consensus.
Under grilling from the city commissioners, Friling was asked how she would draw up the city’s next budget.
Karie Friling: Budgets are difficult. Not just in the State of Florida, there’s less revenue. Period. There’s less money coming from our state. There’s less money coming from the federal government. There’s less grants available. I am very much aware, I think the entire country is very much aware, of what is pending in at your state capital right now. I heard it on the Chicago News. I heard it yesterday, when I was getting ready to come and meet with you guys. It was the top of the story. What’s happening? I don’t have a solution for you because I don’t know what the outcome is going to be. But I do know if this does go forward, that not just you, but every community in Florida is going to have a problem financially. So it’s going to be a dual approach. It’s going to be, ‘Okay, let’s look at how we operate. Are we efficiently providing those services? Are there savings there? Are there revenues that we can tweak and increase if this happens?’ And lastly, I hate to say it, but ‘What services can be cut?’
RL: Friling was asked if she is the right ‘fit’ for Sarasota.
Friling during a meet-and-greet event at Robert L. Taylor Community Center. Photo: Lopez
KF: And so, if you’re looking for a steady, experienced, trustworthy leadership where someone who can mentor your staff and help your staff – your staff is your most important resource you have. It’s not the money, it’s the staff.
RL: Friling says she believes in ‘big picture’ planning.
KF: I really want to get in on the strategic planning, because I am a big proponent of plans, plans that can be implemented, not put on the shelf
RL: On the day of her selection, Commissioner Liz Alpert explained why she supported Friling:
Liz Alpert: Her attitude, her answers to the questions – she was open, she was approachable. All the candidates have the technical skills, but I think it takes more than technical skills to be able to work with staff, work with the community, work with each of us as commissioners, and yet be strong enough to make the hard decisions.
RL: Commissioner Kyle Battie was equally effusive in backing Friling.
Kyle Battie: I really liked Karie because she did her research, she did her due diligence. She told me in our meeting that she spent a lot of time in my district and I took that to heart, that she would take her time to get out into the community and see what it’s like.
RL: As was fellow Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch.
Jen Ahearn-Koch: She was the common denominator in all the different groups and in all the different processes. And that gives me a lot of confidence that people in the community were looking at her and gave me feedback. I thought that she would fit in well with staff. And I heard that from community members. And I had staff talking about her and how she would fit in with the commission. You could clearly see that people were looking at this, not from me, myself and I, but from us as a community. She was the one that rose to the top.
RL: Mayor Trice did the honors.
Debbie Trice: It passed unanimously. We have selected Karie. That’s our next name. [applause]
RL: This is Ramon Lopez for WSLR News.
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