A New Mayor and a New Attitude

The mayor is having lunch at Popi's Place, a popular Palmetto restaurant that is full of eager eaters and greeters.

Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant is tackling a huge Mexican-style salad.

Appearing at the mayor's booth is a large blonde woman, with an even larger smile. She greets the mayor.

"Thanks for feeding Della," Bryant says.

Della, the mayor's 14-year-old Boston terrier, is a frequent recipient of Gay's neighborly attentions.

Gay is introduced to the mayor's luncheon companions and answers the question: what's her full name? "Gay Queen is my name," she says, as she introduces her significant other, Jim.

After finishing the conversation with Gay, Bryant remarks, "I greatly enjoy being mayor." Of her constituents, she says, "I'm humbled by their approval."

Moments later, the police chief marches up and joins in the chatter, shakes hands and exchanges comments with the mayor before leaving.

Bryant is no slouch. Attentive brown eyes. Gold eyeglasses. Short blond hair, impeccably in place.

In addition to working full time as mayor, Bryant also serves as the chief financial officer for Manatee School of the Arts. She is a Florida Southern College graduate and used to attend  the First Baptist Church, and still participates in the county fair board and 4-H programs.

Bryant presents a cool and comfortable demeanor, a demeanor that belies the tough decision maker who is tasked with managing a $29 million city budget while striving to retain Palmetto's small-town appeal.

In her first year as mayor she has revived the openness of City Hall, where a resident can get a hearing from the town's CEO.

What's the mayor's secret?

"I want to treat people the way I want to be treated," Bryant said, echoing the Golden Rule she learned from her mother and father, who raised six children in Palmetto during the depths of the Great Depression. "They taught me to do good unto others."

Bryant was raised on "this side" of the river, attending Palmetto Elementary School and Palmetto High School.

Her pride and joy are her two sons, Chris, 35, an environmental consultant, and Patrick, 32, an attorney. Both live minutes away from their mother, the mayor.

"I try to set an example how to treat people," Bryant said. "I try to work with staff. And all of them know I will follow up what we have discussed."

Why was she elected mayor over Chris Lukowiak and Eric Ball?

"The voters know of my deep roots and commitment to Palmetto," she said. "I strive to make a difference, a message I am proud my two boys believe in."

Tackling the issues

Bryant denies that she is timid and has not done enough to reform how business is done in City Hall.

"We have been forceful by bringing the Public Works and Parks Departments together," Bryant said. "To be effective you don't need to walk around with a big stick to get things done. We set benchmarks, which everyone knows I expect will be met."

The mayor became uncharacteristically grim when she was asked about the allegations of sexual harassment of former female Public Works Department employees by a supervisor.

"If I am brought allegations of sexual harassment, heaven help that individual," Bryant warned. "The full force of an investigation will find out the facts."

And what of the allegations of department heads not putting in a full day's work for the city?

"All supervisors," the mayor said, "are expected to be at work just like all the other employees. They know I expect results."

The mayor answered allegations about whether the city has accurate "As Built" infrastructure records of buried pipes and cables.

"I've been told we do have the ‘As Built' software," Bryant said. "We have started a review of all infrastructure records, and with the coordination of Manatee County, I am determined to have accurate and up-to-date records of all infrastructure projects in the city."

That's an ambitious goal, considering it is alleged that there are buried pipes and cables in the city without the necessary documents attesting to their accuracy required by ordinance.

Additionally, there are Environmental Protection Agency mandates that must be complied with, or the city can be subjected to fines of $25,000 a day.

The mayor's optimism is also tested by the remnants of the boom and bust times. A weathered billboard on U.S. 301 announces: "Palmetto is booming: 650 new businesses." Not quite.

Massive condominium projects were canceled and the city of Palmetto laid off employees. This resulted in the city expenditures getting greater scrutiny by the accountant/mayor.

Another constituent advances and shares the weather forecast with the mayor before telling her he's still bothered by a pothole in front of his home. Seconds later, a smiling homeowner thanks the mayor and rejoins his friends.

Another day as mayor of Palmetto, and even with the challenges set before her, Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant is doing what she believes is the best job in the world: helping her community.

Previously:

The Mayor's Aide - Service academy veterans find their place in Palmetto

The Works in Public Works - Chris Lukowiak quits Newark for new horizons - in Florida

Animal House - It seemed like the perfect job. Come in late and leave early. It is another tough day at the office, and the gang at Palmetto Public Works is rockin'. Golf clubs are packed in city trucks, tee times have been reserved and brews are chilling. Life is good.

Sexual Harassment Allegations - She thought she had found that perfect job, and she was admired by the people who worked with her. But there was a problem.

The Mother of all Sweetheart Deals - The cable company wants to know where they can bury their new line. No problem - except in Palmetto, where town officials have no idea where all the pipes and cables are buried.

Larry Bustle Speaks Out - Larry Bustle is not in a playful mood. He's defending his seven years as mayor of Palmetto.