Judging Ron Saunders, Village Manager Ron’s past: Ron, an attorney, served in the Florida House, District 120: Nov 1986-Nov 1994; Nov 2006-Nov 2012. While in Tallahassee, Ron served as Chair and Vice-Chair of House Appropriations Committee responsible for State of Florida’s multi-billion-dollar budget.  He was also Chair of the House Community Affairs Committee responsible for local government legislation, including growth management bills.

Ron sponsored major legislation while serving that continue to impact our lives:

Save Our Homes: Capping increases in homestead property tax values  

Everglades Protection Act- Measures to protect the Everglades and Florida Bay        Sadowski Act- Funding measures to provide money for affordable housing

In 2024, Saunders, ran for public office again, vying to become the Supervisor of Elections, but lost.

Then Saunders applied to become the Islamorada Village Manager, and won!  

Going from being an elected official who decides policy to the role of support without policy-making power, is a significant change. Can Saunders take direction from Council?  Can council listen to the will of the residents? 

It takes a trusting partnership to foster alignment between “politics and administration.”  

Getting important things done for the community and achieving critical goals are most successful when there’s collaboration with the manager and the entire governing body, while remembering the will of the constituents in the process. Islamorada has struggled with the management collaboration part of governing.  Will Saunders be the answer?

Ron’s first few months in Islamorada:

The challenge: Can Ron satisfy the will of residents, 139 employees, and the council in his new support role? 

Islamorada is especially difficult, with a history of short-term managers.

How will Saunders juggle management responsibilities, knowing to keep his job he must satisfy the will of council.  And it only takes 3 on the council to end this phase of his career at any time.  

When asked what he considers the most difficult challenge, Saunders focused on the residents - on improving public participation in the Village by creating a more transparent atmosphere.  

Saunders says he is most proud to be enhancing communication with the public in his first few months:

• Improving the Village newsletter that comes out every Monday;

• Creating a Citizens Budget Task Force to address improvements to the budget process, and

• Creating a Citizens Baseball Committee to help with design and policy regarding the high school use of the baseball field at Founders Park.

We’ll see whether the voice of the people is heard.