Sarasota Observer 08.30.12

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FREE • Thursday, AUGUST 30, 2012

preview 2012

IN THIS ISSUE

NEWS

South Palm Avenue receives new look for season. PAGE 5A

by Kurt Schultheis | City Editor

Police chief list down to 13 New Sarasota City Manager Tom Barwin is expected to choose a new police chief this fall. Interim City Manager Terry Lewis handpicked the 13 finalists from 98 applicants.

Nick Friedman

Bonnie and Harvey Sussman

+ Anniversary party is a golden one Harvey and Bonnie Sussman celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Friday, Aug. 24, at Temple Sinai. In celebration of the occasion, the couple provided wine and cheese for the temple’s popular Rhythm and Jews service.

+ Sarasota gal plans homecoming Sarasota resident Karee Hackel is currently serving as one of three students leading the Homecoming Steering Committee at the University of Missouri, Columbia. With the help of her two colleagues, Hackel is leading the committee of 34 students to plan the university’s homecoming celebration. MU is often credited as hosting the country’s first homecoming celebration, and Hackel says the position has given her a connection to the school that she might not have otherwise had as an out-of-state student.

+ Biography channel taps local company The Biography channel commissioned Sarasota-based InterMedia Productions to film an episode of “Mobsters.” Jim Flyn, owner of InterMedia Productions, filmed Lindley “Lynn” Devecchio, a former FBI agent, at Hyde Park Steakhouse in March. Devecchio handled Gregory Scarpa, a Colombo capo, who was also known as “The Grim Reaper.” For 30 years, Scarpa was a mafia hitman and an FBI informant. The episode of “Mobsters” airs at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 4, and midnight Wednesday, Sept. 5.

Interim City Manager Terry Lewis’ final assignment for the city of Sarasota this week is to pare down a list of police chief candidates for new City Manager Tom Barwin to review. On Wednesday, Lewis whittled that list down to 13 top candidates for Barwin, who starts Monday, Sept. 4. The short list

doesn’t include any internal police employees. A list that once stood at 98 applicants was reduced to 24 applicants last week. Barwin will review the final list when he moves into his office next week. The new police chief will replace Police Chief Mikel Holloway, who retires in October.

Lewis, along with city Human Resources Director Kurt Hoverter and former Florida Department of Law Enforcement Assistant Commissioner Jim Sewell, reduced the list for Barwin. The list doesn’t include current Sarasota captain and Public Information Officer Paul Sutton and retired Sarasota Capt. Thom-

THE END — FOR REAL

as “Stan” Duncan. “They are great police officers for this city and outstanding candidates, but they just didn’t make the cut when you reviewed the qualifications of the entire pool,” Lewis said.

SEE CHIEF / PAGE 2A

by Kurt Schultheis | City Editor

‘Officially retired’

Terry Lewis is going to try retirement — again — for the third time in less than two years. But this time, he promises it’s going to stick. The interim city manager for the city of Sarasota since January, Lewis will serve his last day Friday, Aug. 31. New City Manager Tom Barwin’s first official day at City Hall is set for Tuesday, Sept. 4. “I don’t know how many times I have said goodbye to everyone,” Lewis said. “They can’t get rid of me.” Seven months ago, Lewis ended a seven-month stint as the interim Sarasota County administrator on a Friday and came to City Hall at the request of Sarasota city commissioners the following Monday. Lewis accepted the interim city manager position Jan. 20 after the Sarasota City Commission unanimously agreed he should take the helm after City Manager Bob Bartolotta’s forced resignation. Bartolotta lost the confidence of the majority of commissioners in the wake of a forensics computer investigation that is still the focus of two criminal investigations. It’s the third time elected officials have appointed the former North Port police chief to help guide their government during

SEE LEWIS / PAGE 2A

Interim City Manager Terry Lewis will walk out of City Hall Friday afternoon and take a bus home to Venice to start his retirement.

“My job was to keep the wheels on the bus moving forward ... ” Terry Lewis said.

Kurt Schultheis

INDEX Briefs.................... 4A Classifieds..........23A

Cops Corner.......... 9A Crossword...........22A

Opinion................. 8A Real Estate.........20A

Sports.................17A Vol. 8, No. 44 | Three sections Weather..............22A YourObserver.com


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