Government Digest: May 28 - June 3

St. Pete sports alliance forms to promote city
ST. PETERSBURG — Mayor Bill Foster, aiming to make his city the “Sports Capital of West Florida,” appointed a new community group, the St. Petersburg Sports Alliance. Mike Alstott, popular former fullback of the Tampa Bay Bucs, agreed to serve on the panel along with former Olympians, Major League baseball players, sports organization representatives and business leaders. In all, 10 sports are represented on the 42-member Alliance. One of the first tasks is to bring international baseball to Al Lang Stadium and the Walter Fuller Complex, which became available when the Tampa Bay Rays moved spring training to Port Charlotte. Jim Neador, a local sports consultant, is coordinating the effort.

McCann qualifies for District 67
MANATEE COUNTY — Dr. Bob McCann, an osteopath and attorney, has qualified by petition to run in the Republican primary for the Florida House District 67 seat.

The seat, occupied by term-limited Speaker Pro-tempore Ron Reagan, R-Bradenton, now has four Republican candidates, one Democrat and one with no party affiliation in the race. McCann, of Lakewood Ranch, has lectured on medical investigations, including bioterrorism and counterterrorism, on medical ethics, and on proper prescriptions of controlled substances. He owns and operates McCann Medicine & Law, P.A.

Keeney receives national honor
PUNTA GORDA — The American Public Works Association selected Punta Gorda Public Works Director Richard Keeney and nine other recipients as winners of its Top Ten Public Works Leaders of the Year for 2010. Marking the 50th anniversary of the award, the honor is among the most coveted and prestigious presented by the association. The recipients will be honored during an awards ceremony as part of the organization's 2010 International Public Works Congress and Exposition in Boston in August.

Ludwig appointed to Sports Authority
TAMPA — Brown and Brown insurance executive Dana Ludwig will fill the seat on the Tampa Sports Authority vacated by former Tampa City Councilman Bob Buckhorn. Buckhorn vacated the seat after announcing he is running for mayor of Tampa. Ludwig, a vice president of the Pinellas division of Brown and Brown, fills the remaining four-year term of Buckhorn. Established May 28, 1965, the TSA is an independent special district created for the purpose of planning, developing, and maintaining a comprehensive complex of sports and recreational facilities. The TSA is governed by an 11-member board, and its main responsibility is to manage Raymond James Stadium and three city golf courses.

MEETINGS

PASCO COUNTY
The county commission will hold a workshop meeting to discuss the draft business plan for the 2010-11 fiscal year at 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 1, at Pasco-Hernando Community College, East Campus, 36727 Blanton Rd., Dade City.

CHARLOTTE COUNTY
The Economic Development Working Group will meet at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 3, at the economic development office in the SunTrust Building, 18501 Murdock Circle, Suite 502, Port Charlotte. For more information, contact Simone Petche at (941) 627-3023.