Snyder announces commission candidacy

Two days after Mayor Kelly Kirschner revealed he would not seek re-election in the spring, a candidate announced he’d seek Kirschner’s District 3 seat.

Shannon Snyder, currently a Charter Review Committee member, said he wants to bring more accountability toward the city’s budget.

“We need to bring in actual business people to analyze everything, from the Van Wezel to parks,” he said. “We need to make sure our budgets are as efficient as possible.”

Snyder, a Sarasota native who has lived in District 3 his entire life, is a retired deputy with 25 years of service at the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office. He also served as Arlington Park Neighborhood Association president, Planning Board member, Transportation Board member and Sarasota Memorial Hospital Neighborhood Advisory Committee member.

Snyder said it’s important to bring development back to the city.

“I’ll talk to anyone who wants to develop in Sarasota,” he said.

The only other candidate to officially run for District 3 is retired acupuncturist Pete Theisen, who ran for an at-large commission seat in 2009.

Contact Robin Roy at rroy@yourobserver.com.