Terry Lewis: '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 a time of both need and upheaval. Lewis wrapped up a distinguished police officer career as North Port’s police chief in October 2010 by moving into North Port’s city manager’s office until a new manager was selected there. From there, he helped out the county during a procurement scandal that cost former Administrator Jim Ley his job, and, then he assumed his interim role for the city.

Lewis downplays his role at City Hall and his past stints as interim managers, saying he only works as a stopgap for a new manager because he doesn’t have the experience necessary to hold the job full time.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here at City Hall because of the quality of people I’m surrounded by,” Lewis said. “I haven’t accomplished anything, but the people who work here accomplished a lot.”

What Lewis does admit to helping create is a short list of new police chief candidates (see story on page 1A) for Barwin to review this fall.

Everything else, Lewis said, involved monitoring City Hall until a new chief executive officer arrived.

“My job was to keep the wheels on the bus moving forward, and I think I accomplished that,” Lewis said.
Challenges that Lewis said need immediate attention from Barwin are “increased issues with the vagrants and the homeless, downtown-parking concerns and an end to the computer investigation so the city can move forward, an end to the Osprey lift-station delays, downtown redevelopment road projects and budget and pension challenges.”

Asked if Lewis perceives a schism between the city manager’s office and Auditor and Clerk Pamela Nadalini’s office, Lewis said, “I would be less than candid with you if I told you it didn’t exist.”

“There is some friction here between employees, and that’s a shame,” Lewis said. “I would hope to think I’ve helped that improve, because as far as working as a team, we all want a better Sarasota.”

Lewis said he believes he built a strong relationship with Nadalini and is hopeful Barwin can do the same.
“I’m an eternal optimist and don’t have a lot of tolerance for petty stuff,” Lewis said. “I believe if that tone is set at the top and people know how you operate, it helps permeate through the organization.”

The day the commission selected Barwin as its new city manager, Lewis packed up what little belongings he had in the city manager’s office and moved into a smaller office down the hall.

“I wanted the staff to know immediately there was a new sheriff coming to town,” Lewis said. “I wanted to set the tone.”

Lewis, who hates attention and goodbyes, said there are no plans for a goodbye sendoff like the one he received at a Sarasota County Commission meeting that was orchestrated covertly by Sarasota County Commissioner Joe Barbetta.

“I’m not shy, but I find it embarrassing, and emotions begin to overload me when those things happen,” Lewis said.

Lewis said he’s “completely flattered” that North Port, Sarasota County and the city of Sarasota thought enough of him to trust him to be their interim leader.

“It’s just amazing,” Lewis said. “I’ve had a ball, but I’m officially retired now.”

Friday, the man who doesn’t like attention or goodbyes, has plans to turn over the keys to his city-owned Toyota Prius and walk down First Street to the neighboring bus station. There, he will board bus No. 17 and ride home, to Venice, after declining ride offers from his wife and some city employees.

“The bus ride will be a good time to reflect on this amazing journey,” Lewis said.

Next week, Lewis and his wife will hop in a rented truck and finally take some of their belongings to their summer home in North Carolina. That trip has already been canceled three times after government leaders kept calling for his assistance. In a month, a trip to Hawaii and Tahiti is planned.

“This is the end of this road for me,” Lewis said. “I’m ready to try this retirement thing everybody keeps talking about.”

Terry Lewis
Age: 60
Family: Lisa; one son, Dan, a prosecutor with the state attorney’s office; and Ike, the family’s English bulldog
Hobbies: Swimming and boating
Residence: Venice
Interesting fact: Lewis’ wife surprised him earlier this year with his dream car, a 1965 Nassau-blue 1965 Stingray Corvette. His wife drives a 1968 Chevrolet Camaro SS convertible on the weekends, so now they both have weekend cars. Said Lewis: “The Camaro is for my wife, the Corvette is my girlfriend.”