The Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council elected new board officers for 2021 at its meeting on February 8. The leadership reflects the Council’s wide geographic reach, with leaders hailing from Manatee, Pinellas and Pasco counties.
Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano is the new chair of the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council board. St. Petersburg City Council member Brandi Gabbard is vice-chair and Manatee County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh is secretary-treasurer. Bradenton City Council member Patrick Roff is immediate past-chair.
Jack Mariano, Chair
First elected in 2004 to the Pasco County Commission, Jack Mariano is currently serving his fourth term. He is a past chair of the Pasco County board of commissioners as well as of the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council.
Brandi Gabbard, Vice Chair
A St. Petersburg City Council member since 2017, Brandi Gabbard has been involved with the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council since 2018. She is part of the steering committee for the Tampa Bay Regional Resiliency Coalition, and served as Chair of the Board of the Pinellas Realtor® Organization in 2014.
Vanessa Baugh, Secretary/Treasurer
First elected in 2012, Vanessa Baugh is the 2021 Chair of the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners. She is a member of the board of Manatee Port Authority and Sarasota-Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization. She is chair of the TBRPC Covid-19 Recovery Task Force created to assist local governments in recovery and CARES Act funding.
Patrick Roff, Immediate Past-Chair
Patrick Roff is serving his fourth term on the Bradenton City Council. He is also vice-chair of the Manatee-Sarasota Metropolitan Planning Organization, and serves as secretary-treasurer of the Manasota League of Cities. He also serves on the Florida League of Cities board of directors and the advisory board of the Sarasota-Bradenton Regional Airport.
Mariano and Roff are among the four elected officials in the 59-year history of the Regional Planning Council to serve twice as Chair.
