As head of the Florida League of Cities, Michael Sittig strives to ensure that municipal leaders are given the respect and authority to do their jobs well. Since the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, Sittig has been responsible for ensuring the groups members, who cover most of the states 410 cities, get the information and money they need to keep their beaches clean.
The second-generation leader of the municipal advocacy group took a break from his duties to speak with Sunshine State News about his life and career.
What is your profession? Executive director of the Florida League of Cities.
What is your age? 56.
Where were you born and where do you live now? I was born in Italy, where my father was stationed in the U.S. Navy. He was stationed in Afragola, Italy, during the Korean War; then, he moved to Michigan for five years.We moved to Jacksonville in 1959, and I grew up in Jacksonville. I moved to Tallahassee in the fall of 1971.
Where did you go to college? I went to Tallahassee Community College, and then I went to Florida State University and got my bachelors degree in political scienceiIn 1978.
What did you do before this job? Ive always worked here. I worked for the League of Cities after high school. I started as the janitor, the printer and the errand boy. I ran to pick up people at the airport and stuff like that.
Ive held almost every job at the league over the years, but I grew up as the bosss son -- my father was the director before me. I did leave once: After I got my degree in 1978, about a year later I left. I was a city manager in West Palm Beach, and I was there from 1979 to1981.
I became executive director of the League in 1995.
What are the League of Cities priorities when responding to the oil spill? Theres a lot of bureaucracy and theres a lot of coordinating that needs to be done. Were trying to help our cities better understand what is expected of them, and were trying to represent their interests in this bureaucracy to make sure their claims get paid by BP and decisions arent made that usurp their abilities to keep their beaches clean.
What has been the biggest oil-spill-related success the league has achieved? I think the biggest success is that, because of our reputation, we have been invited to meetings like those of Gov. Charlie Crists Gulf Oil Spill Economic Recovery Task Force. Weve been able to advocate for our cities and been heard so far.
Whats the biggest disaster of the oil spill response? The biggest disappointment so far is that it hasnt worked its way through the bureaucracies. It seems likes the oil is moving quicker than the claims are being paid.
What has been your biggest success in your career as executive director? To an outsider, weve had many successes. But I think the thing Im most proud of is the people who work here.We deal with so many different subject matters, my biggest success is creating a working atmosphere to make really sharp, intelligent people want to work here.
What has been the biggest disappointment of your career? I think my biggest disappointment is my inability to convince conservative lawmakers that Big Government is not where decisions ought to be made that affect people and the services they need from government. The smaller governments, the city governments, are those closest to the people. And its a philosophy that you'd think would be consistent with people who are elected that call themselves conservatives.
What was the best advice youve ever gotten, and who gave it? Probably the best advice Ive ever gotten would be from my father, Ray Sittig, who was my mentor and my boss for all those years. And that was just: Follow the Golden Rule. Have integrity. Represent your membership.
Whats your most embarrassing moment in the capital? Im not sure Im embarrassable. You have to have pretty thick skin to do this. If you get embarrassed, you wouldnt last very long.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time? Im a runner. I ran eight miles this morning. I like to run in my neighborhood, in Betton Hills. Ive never run a marathon. Most Ive ever run is 20 miles. Maybe next year ...
Reach Alex Tiegen at atiegen@sunshinestatenews.com or at (561) 329-5389.
