County Leadership Continues to Change

Interim Sarasota County Administrator Terry Lewis this week announced three promotions. Bill Little was installed as a deputy county administrator, joining Dave Bullock at the No. 2 level of leadership. Little was the director of Community Services, and had taken an additional role trying to clean up the county’s procurement difficulties. 

Lewis in late July announced his intention to create an ethics and compliance office. “The director will report directly to the county administrator, and have an office adjacent to the county administrator,” he said. On Tuesday Lewis announced his pick for the job – Steve Uebelacker, a Florida Department of Law Enforcement officer based in Fort Myers.

To replace Little, another long-time county employee was promoted. John McCarthy will take over as the head of community services to oversee parks and libraries. 

When McCarthy was pulled from his former job as head of Parks and Recreation a year ago to solicit sports events and facilities, his deputy Carolyn Brown was appointed interim director. On Tuesday Lewis made Brown’s appointment permanent as head of parks and recreation. 

Lewis also appointed Chuck Henry to be head of the health department, a job formerly held by Little before he was moved to Community Services. 

In announcing Little’s appointment as deputy county administrator, Lewis said Little “is perfectly suited. He has about two years left before retirement. When the new administrator comes in, he’ll have about 15 months to rely on Bill and Dave [Bullock].”