Former Sarasota Mayor Suffers Medical Emergency

SARASOTA, FL — Former Sarasota Mayor and current Commissioner Willie Charles Shaw said he suffered a medical emergency on the road earlier this week.

“Following Monday night’s City Commission meeting on the way home, I had a medical emergency resulting in a minor traffic incident," Shaw said in a statement released Thursday night. "I would like to express my deepest gratitude to those who have reached out, called and prayed for me and my family over the past several days."

A former Postal employee, Shaw said no one was hurt during what he described as an "episode." He said he was feeling better as he rested at home.

"I’ve been undergoing medical tests, which hopefully, will shed light on what happened and provide future guidance," said Shaw, who served as mayor from 2014 to 2017, is seeking reelection to his District 1 seat.

"Diabetes runs in my family, and I hadn’t eaten much that entire day which, in hindsight, may have been a contributing factor," he said.