Sarasota renews ties with Scottish sister city

The city of Sarasota renewed its 22-year Sister City partnership with the city of Dunfermline, Scotland, during a small ceremony at City Hall on Wednesday.

Dunfermline’s mayor, Jim Leishman, was on hand to meet and exchange gifts with Sarasota Mayor Liz Alpert.

Leishman presented Alpert with a vintage brooch that he said would give her luck.

“You’ll never have bad luck again,” he said.

“I could use some good luck,” Alpert replied.

The Sister Cities International program promotes peace, mutual respect, and global cooperation through city-to-city partnerships and international cultural exchanges. Sarasota and Dunfermline have participated in several educational, cultural and business exchanges over the years.

Leishman, a former professional footballer in Scotland, has been mayor of Dunfermline for the last 12 years. In his first visit to Sarasota, he said he’s enjoying the weather. 

“At home, it’s been raining for three weeks. It’s annoying,” he quipped.

Sarasota enjoys a Sister Cities partnership with four other locations: Perpignan, France; Tel Mond, Israel; Xiamen, Siming District, China; and Merida, Mexico. The City Commission has suspended its relationship with Vladimir, Russia, due to the war in Ukraine.

Sarasota has Friendship City relationships with Rapperswil-Jona, Switzerland, and Busseto, Italy.