Citizen Beach News

Leadership Shakeups in Pinellas Coastal Cities

Treasure Island’s city leadership is undergoing a major shakeup, raising concerns about governance stability as the 2025 hurricane season nears.

Last night, on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, the Treasure Island City Commission voted 3-2 to place City Manager Chuck Anderson on paid administrative leave, with plans to terminate his role, citing a lack of leadership following the 2024 hurricanes. This decision follows months of debate, as the commission had previously considered his performance in January. At that time, all members of the City Commission, except for Mayor John Doctor, gave Anderson a vote of confidence. Three out of four of those who voted in favor of Anderson in January are no longer on the commission.

Anderson, appointed city manager on June 25, 2024, after a unanimous commission vote, had been a finalist with the least experience among four candidates, having served as an assistant city manager in Bozeman, Montana, and never worked in a hurricane- and flood-prone area like the Gulf Coast cities. It is unclear why he was selected despite numerous more qualified finalists.

At last night’s May 6 meeting, all residents who spoke unanimously supported Anderson’s removal, criticizing his inexperience in Florida’s unique governance challenges, particularly in managing hurricane recovery, lack of transparency and, according to some, willfully misleading statements. Several residents questioned the commission’s 2024 decision to select him, noting he received the lowest votes among finalists during public feedback sessions.

This leadership crisis isn’t isolated to Treasure Island. On May 1 and 2, 2025, Indian Rocks Beach saw the resignations of City Attorney Randy Mora and City Manager Gregg Mims within 24 hours. The timing of these resignations—just weeks before hurricane season—echoes the fallout from last year’s dual hurricanes, Helene and Milton, which tested local leaders and exposed gaps in preparedness across our region.

Treasure Island has appointed Fire Chief William Barr, previously the assistant city manager, as interim city manager while launching a search for Anderson’s replacement. As we brace for potential storms, these changes could impact disaster planning and recovery efforts across our coastal communities.

Stay tuned for updates on how this affects our shared resilience.