Palmetto Commissioner Elected President of Black Caucus

PALMETTO – City of Palmetto Commissioner Charles Smith has been elected president of the Florida Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials (FBC-LEO). 

Smith was elected in a vote among the group's state board of directors on October 25 and will serve until at least August of 2014 and a maximum of three consecutive years. 

Established in 1985, the FBC-LEO consists of all black elected officials: commissioners, mayors and council members from across the state. It is intended to serve as a platform for sharing information and ideas among members in order to improve local government administration. 

Commissioner Smith said that he was honored by the confidence the body showed in him and would not take the position lightly.

Smith was elected to the city commission in 2012, after being appointed in 2011 to fill the seat vacated by Mary Lancaster. He has since filed to run for the Manatee County Commission District 2 in 2014.