Marlon Brown Officially Named Sarasota City Manager: Report

SARASOTA, FL — Marlon Brown has officially been named Sarasota’s new city manager, the Herald-Tribune reported.

Sarasota city commissioners unanimously voted to offer him the position Tuesday. He’s been hired at $196,500 a year, reports said.

Brown has been serving as acting city manager since December when Tom Barwin, the former city manager, announced his retirement.

Previously, Brown served as Sarasota’s deputy city manager, a role he took on in 2009, according to a news release from the city.

“I’m honored to receive the support of the commissioners and excited to continue working with them and our fantastic team of employees as we serve this city,” Brown said in a statement from December. “I’m looking forward to a smooth transition as we all work together to help Sarasota remain a world-class community. I’m also grateful for the exemplary leadership and friendship of City Manager Barwin over the past eight years and wish him all the best in the future.”

Originally from the twin islands of Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean, Brown received a bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University and earned a Master of City Planning degree from Georgia Tech.

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He has more than 27 years of local government experience, including positions as transportation planning administrator, Metropolitan Planning Organization administrator and assistant to the city manager with the city of Tallahassee, according to the news release. Before coming to Sarasota, Brown served as county administrator for Gadsden County in Florida.

As Sarasota’s deputy city manager, he has been responsible for daily oversight of the city’s public works, utilities, planning, development services, and parks and recreation departments. Brown has played a key role in developing the city’s annual budget, facilitating meetings with citizens and the local business community, and responding to issues and concerns from the public, among many other duties, the news release said.

He has achieved numerous certifications in public administration and has been active with many professional, public and civic entities throughout his career. He currently serves on the board of United Way Suncoast and chairs the United Way’s Community Impact Committee.