Sarasota City Commission District 1: Willie Charles Shaw

Name: Willie Charles Shaw

Age: 72

Family: The Coleman/Shaw family has lived in Sarasota for 110 years. At least 50 family members, including children, cousins, aunts, nieces and nephews, currently live in Sarasota. My one surviving brother and his wife live in White Plains, N.Y. 

Bio: I was born in Sarasota Memorial Hospital, attended the Booker Schools and graduated. Before joining the military, I attended Gibbs Community College. As a Vietnam era veteran, I attended courses at Texas Christian University and later attended Jacksonville Theological Seminary and Berean Bible College. I am a retired United States Postal Service employee.

Why are you running for office? 

I have a long-term commitment to the health, safety and welfare of Sarasota’s citizens. My constituents have asked me to run to continue to bring knowledge of Sarasota and experience to the commission. In my nine years of experience as a District 1 representative, I have had the pleasure of working with neighbors across the district. We share a love for the community that humbles me, and I want to continue to fight the good fight with them.

If elected, what will be your top three priorities during your term? 

1. Affordable, meaningful, attainable housing;
2. Assuring that all citizens have access to health care facilities and treatment; and
3. Economic development, including job training and job readiness training.

How do you think the city is being managed and governed? What would you recommend be done differently? 

The city has complex problems and needs. I recommend experienced leadership at the City Commission level to address these complexities, balancing proven methods with new ideas.

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being excellent, how would you rate the performance of the city manager? 

The city manager-council form of government is the most appropriate for cities of our size. It is the role of the City Commission to see that the city manager implements policy as directed by the City Commission. Gaps in experienced leadership at the commission level has placed the city manager in a role that should not be his. 

What should be done to address the supply of workforce housing? 

The need in Sarasota is for both affordable and workforce housing. Density bonuses have been ineffective in creating workforce or affordable housing. The workforce housing that has been proposed by some in the development community does not serve Sarasota’s workforce. The cost of these claimed “workforce” units are not affordable to working people. These units are priced to rent or sell to people with higher income than our working and middle-class populations. Development proposals that include the words “affordable housing,” when presented to the commission, often attempt to create incompatible, intensive development; these kinds of developments impose on and threaten neighborhoods that are actually affordable for our workforce. The policies created need to be followed. 

Do you support creating a special tax-increment financing district near the Bay Park to help finance the $200 million project? If not, how do you think the park renovation should be funded? 

Tax increment financing under the definition of the Community Redevelopment Act is for blighted areas and blighted areas only. This legal requirement does not cover the Bay or those areas in this proposed TIF. If this project is to proceed, it must depend almost exclusively on private donations. The city is providing the land for what should be a public park, accessible to all. This is a substantial public investment.

The Van Wezel Foundation is supporting the development of a new performing arts center at the Bay Park. What’s your view of that, and how do you think a center should be financed? 

The Van Wezel Foundation is most accommodating. I support a performing arts center at the Bay. Public funding in light of COVID-19 will be a problem; COVID-19 has changed the outlook for every major project. It is my hope that the city’s commitment for land will be sufficient to make this project go forward with private funds. 

Bobby Jones Golf Club: Do you agree with the commission’s most recent decision to downsize to 27 holes of golf and a 130-acre park? If not, what would you propose differently? 

Yes. Again, funding in light of COVID-19 will be an issue that the city will have to address. 

Where do you stand on the roundabout at Gulfstream and U.S. 41? 

This is an FDOT issue, and the project is well under way. 

The STOP group wanted the city to require public review hearings for large development projects in the city instead of administrative reviews by the city staff. What’s your position on that? 

I agree. 

Many people have complained about all the condos and apartments being developed with little setbacks. If elected, will you initiate a change to the city’s zoning? 

Setbacks provide space for more transportation options, making the city more livable for all residents.

The transportation concerns of the city’s barrier islands don’t always mesh with those of downtown and other portions of the city. What’s the best way to align those competing concerns? 

There have been numerous barrier island studies. As a long-time member of the Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Manasota League of Cities, I feel that the recommendations of those studies should be implemented by the Florida Department of Transportation. Residents of barrier islands might consider a tourist transportation system, including high occupancy vehicle lanes. 

What are your suggestions on a new home for the orchestra? 

I am willing to work with orchestra to locate a home. There are substantial legal obstacles to locating the orchestra to Payne Park. 

If proposed by a commissioner, would you vote in favor of putting a referendum on the ballot to create an elected mayor form of government? If not, why not? 

No. Why? Because this issue has been considered numerous times and has been resoundingly defeated by voters in elections. To ignore this history is to disrespect the wishes of our citizens.