One of the five finalists for Sarasota city manager has dropped out to take a similar job at another city.
Barbara Lipscomb, the only woman in the group, was city manager of Casselberry. From 2004 to 2007, she was assistant city manager of Gainesville.
Sarasota Interim City Manager Terry Lewis said Lipscomb would be taking another city manager job at an as-yet unnamed municipality.
Her withdrawal leaves four men still in the competition: Rich Chafin of McKinney, Texas; Thomas Barwin of Oak Park, Ill.; Ed Mitchell of West Palm Beach; and James Chisholm of Daytona Beach. Chisholm was in the audience at Monday’s Sarasota City Commission meeting.
On Friday, June 29, residents may meet the four finalists at the Robert Taylor Community Complex between 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. On Saturday, the candidates will be quizzed first by a citizens’ panel, then the City Commission, from 8 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. at City Hall. The session will also be televised live on Access Sarasota and streamed live on SarasotaGov.com.