This from the St. Petersburg Times May 3, 2007:

SARASOTA – In a professional victory for the woman Steve Stanton hopes to become, the Sarasota City Commission on Wednesday unanimously selected “Susan Stanton” as one of 11 job finalists for city manager.

Stanton, who applied for the job under the name he plans to assume later this month, was one of only three finalists selected by all five commissioners.

That unanimity is expected to help Stanton become one of four to six finalists commissioners will interview privately and publicly May 29 and 30.

Stanton, who served as Largo’s city manager for 14 years, was fired from that job in March, a month after revealing his plans to become a woman. He commended Sarasota’s leaders for keeping his application in the running and not using the excuse of national media attention to weed it out.

“It certainly shows they’re sincerely interested in evaluating my credentials and my experience,” said Stanton, 48.

Largo commissioners, some of whom voted to fire him, said they were pleased Sarasota looked past the gender issue to consider Stanton.

“That means that they’re open, and that’s a good thing,” said Largo Commissioner Andy Guyette, who was among the five commissioners who voted to fire Stanton. Guyette said he would have voted to keep Stanton, but he felt Stanton gave preferential treatment to subordinates whom he told about his plans to become a woman.

Largo Mayor Pat Gerard, who opposed Stanton’s firing, said it was obvious that Sarasota commissioners focused on Stanton’s qualifications.

“He’s got a lot of talent, and I hope he shares it with some other community,” she said.

During Wednesday’s meeting in Sarasota, city commissioners and the city’s headhunter largely sidestepped the issue of Stanton’s upcoming transition, instead focusing on Stanton’s experience.

Sarasota City Commissioner Ken Shelin said there were three things that he found attractive about Stanton: his long career as a city manager of Largo, his expertise in developing a strategic plan and his budget experience.

Sarasota Mayor Lou Ann Palmer noted that Stanton applied for the same job about 5 1/2 years ago and “was very good on paper” but that he eventually withdrew his name at the request of Largo commissioners.

Stanton is still living as a man, but he is undergoing hormone therapy and electrolysis to remove facial and body hair and has filed court papers to legally change his name to Susan Ashley Stanton.

His sandy hair has grown long and is starting to curl, and his body and mannerisms look more feminine.

He will start living as a woman later this month and interview for the Sarasota job as Susan. Eventually he plans to have gender reassignment surgery.

Tom Freijo, senior vice president for Mercer Group, the firm that conducted the job search, told commissioners he had done consulting work for Largo and had an opportunity to see Stanton interact with staff. He described Stanton as someone with “outstanding city manager skills.” He also mentioned the national publicity Stanton had received.

Freijo said he plans to do in-depth background checks on all finalists and trim the list to four to six candidates for the late May interviews. Commissioners plan to pick a new manager May 30.

Sarasota, which has a population of about 55,000, is a wealthier community than mostly working class Largo, with 76,000 residents.

Sarasota boasts cultural amenities like the John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art and the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. The city has 780 full-time employees and a budget of $187-million.

In Largo, Stanton oversaw about 1,000 full- and part-time employees and a budget of about $130-million. Stanton, who made $140,234 annually in Largo, indicated he would expect a Sarasota salary of $150,000 to $160,000.

Stanton’s competition includes two other candidates approved by all commissioners:

Robert Bartolotta resigned his job as town manager of Jupiter in 2004 to care for his terminally ill wife, who has passed away. Jupiter, a town of 45,000, had 400 town employees.

Patrick Salerno serves as city manager of Sunrise, which has a population of 90,000. He oversees about 1,300 employees and a budget of $380-million.

Other finalists include city managers, an assistant city manager and a deputy chief administrative officer.

Stanton lost his job March 24. But last month, after it was discovered Stanton had removed some files from his city laptop before turning it over, officials asked him to turn in the devices used to store the files to make sure no public records were removed. He did so last week. Preliminary inspection suggests the majority of removed files were personal in nature.

The original article is here: http://www.sptimes.com/2007/05/03/Tampabay/Stanton_picked_as_fin.shtml

Although this is a disappointment to many, it is a testament to his uncommon integrity. What do you have to say now Andy Guyette? Mary Gray Black? Gay Gentry? Harriet Crozier? Gigi Arntzen?

Tune in and watch Steve LIVE!

NCLR announces that Steve Stanton and Karen Doering will appear on Larry King Live tonight, Thursday, April 12.

Following an impressive line-up of experts and the words of NCLR Senior Couynsel Karen Doering, Stanton speaks to the Largo City Commission before public comment and their subsequent vote on March 23, 2007. Click on the picture here to watch it.

“I have been following the events in Largo and I fully support the efforts of City Manager Steve Stanton to continue in the profession that he has dedicated much of his life. I have found that by opening a community conversation, we provide the opportunity for growth and building a stronger community. I learn each day how far we are from a truly inclusive country. I am hopeful that this experience is one that we will look back on as a pivotal moment for the transgender community. I personally learn a great deal each day and appreciate the struggles that many in our country face []. I applaud Steve Stanton’s courage.”

As I have continued on the journey to build a more inclusive country, I am amazed at the fear that exists in people. We seem to want to return to an era in America that in many ways never existed. The white picket fences and neat little houses disguised a frightening reality for many. Sadly, many don’t want to sit at the table and discuss these very real issues. While the Steve Stanton case could have been an opportunity for community growth and maturity, it was seized upon by community fear.”

“I have a very real belief that community is the answer and that the Steve Stanton case is a signpost along the road to greater understanding. I trust that this is the beginning of a journey and not the end of a career.”

Please visit SteveStanton.Com for more information about Past President Hunt and Steve Stanton’s Fight For Equality

Today, Friday, March 23, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. in Largo, Florida, City Manager Steve Stanton will appear before the Largo City Commission in an Attempt to Keep His Job. Please renew your contact efforts today and tell the Largo City Commission that you support Steve Stanton and that you believe that gender discrimination is wrong. Visit this link here if you want to know what you can do to help the cause.

 Ken Yeager, the first openly gay city council member in San Jose, CA, history and current county supervisor, announced strong support for Steve Stanton today. Click here. 

NCLR Senior Attorney Karen Doering Arguing to the Largo Commission

Stanton has 9 days to prepare

But his attorney may not be available March 23.

By LORRI HELFAND
Published March 14, 2007

City Commissioners on Tuesday night chose that date for the public hearing because that’s when they’ll all be available.

But his attorney said she might not be.

“They chose to go with the only date we’re not all available,” said Karen Doering.

Stanton, who initially requested a hearing in April, said he wished he had more time to prepare his case, but will make the most of the opportunity.

“I’m still excited about the prospect of being reinstated as city manager,” said Stanton, who did not attend the meeting. “I’ll do the best I can with the cards that have been dealt to me.”

On Feb. 27, commissioners voted 5-2 to place Stanton, 48, who makes $140,234 annually, on paid leave and to begin the process to fire him.

The vote came less than a week after Stanton, Largo’s city manager for 14 years, disclosed that he was undergoing hormone therapy in preparation for gender-reassignment surgery.

Commissioners decided against scheduling the hearing for April 9, when Doering said she would be available. They said they were concerned that day is past the 30-day deadline that the city charter sets for holding the hearing.

Advocacy groups for gay and transgender people have said they plan to help Stanton present his case, but Doering said she must attend an out-of-town conference for litigators on that date.

Doering, senior counsel for the National Center for Lesbian Rights, a legal advocacy group for gay and transgendered people, blamed her dilemma on Commissioner Mary Gray Black, who brought up the concern about the deadline.

“They chose to follow Ms. Black and her irrational fears only based in hysteria,” Doering said. “It is a bit shocking the lack of professional courtesy in scheduling a date as important as this.”

Stanton had requested three hours to present his case. But Black wanted to limit Stanton’s case to an hour.

Commissioner Rodney Woods and other commissioners balked at that suggestion.

“I would hope that he is given the amount of time he feels is necessary to present his case to us,” Woods said.

Once the public hearing takes place, commissioners can vote at any time to make Stanton’s termination official. At least five votes are required to fire Stanton, officials say.

Lorri Helfand can be reached at 445-4155 or lorri@sptimes.com