Ross applies for Lakewood Ranch position

Longboat Key Assistant Town Manager Anne Ross has applied for the Lakewood Ranch Inter-District Authority executive director position.

In an Aug. 30 email to the Longboat Key Town Commission, Ross informed commissioners she sees the Lakewood Ranch position “as furthering my career in management and community governing.”

Ross said she wanted to inform commissioners of her decision in case the list of the candidates becomes public later this month.

Ross told the Longboat Observer she sees a lot of parallels between her current position and the Lakewood Ranch job.

“My background in utilities, engineering and my current management experience compelled me to comply,” Ross said.

An added extra bonus for Ross if she were to get the job?

Ross has been a Panther Ridge resident since 2000 and is actively involved in East Manatee. She has a son that attends Willis Elementary School and another son that attends Nolan Middle School.

While her commute to work would also be a huge improvement, Ross said she won’t be disappointed if she doesn’t get the job or even an interview.

“I love my job on Longboat Key,” Ross said. “Either path is good for me in the long run.”

Town Manager Dave Bullock promoted Ross to the newly created assistant town manager position in January 2013.

Ross, who has been a town employee for eight years, previously held the title of town engineer in the Public Works Department. Ross still handles some town engineer work in that department because Bullock never hired a replacement for the engineer position.

Bullock told the commission in December 2012 he was pinpointing Ross as a possible town manager successor.

When Bullock was hired Oct. 31, 2014, he gave the commission a five-year commitment. In February, Bullock told the Longboat Observer he doesn’t have a departure date in mind and will stay employed as the town manager “as long as there’s stuff to do and there’s a lot of stuff to do.”

Applications for the Lakewood Ranch position will be accepted until Sept. 11. Resumes will be reviewed later this month and interviews for finalists will be conducted in early October.

Lakewood Ranch Town Hall Executive Director Eva Rey announced last month she’s leaving at the end of September to become the director of community management for developer The Viera Co., a subsidiary of A. Duda & Sons.

Rey is leaving her $136,500 annual salary for a higher paying job, declining to give salary specifics. Ross’ current annual salary is $114,899.20.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].