This story was updated on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2:26 p.m.
ANNA MARIA – On Monday, Sept. 28, City Administrator and former City Clerk Amber LaRowe informed Mayor Mark Short of her intent to resign, according to Short, who spoke to The Sun on Thursday, Oct. 1.
Thursday morning, LaRowe sent a letter to the mayor and the city commissioners thanking them for her time with the city. She began her tenure as city clerk in March 2025.
Her letter says, “Good morning, Mayor and Commissioners,
“As I prepare to close this chapter with the city of Anna Maria, I wanted to personally thank each of you for the opportunity to serve this community and the confidence you placed in me, my experience and the direction I hoped to help bring to the city.
“Serving Anna Maria has meant more to me than simply holding a position. I truly believed I would continue growing here, eventually leading the organization and serving this city for many years to come. Saying goodbye is therefore bittersweet, and certainly not how I imagined this chapter ending.
“I am incredibly proud of the work I have done, and of the knowledge, experience and commitment I brought to the city each day. I am also very grateful for the conversations, encouragement and support I received from members of the commission along the way.
“As I begin looking toward what comes next professionally, I would be very grateful for any letters of recommendation or support that you would feel comfortable providing. At a time when there has been public discussion surrounding my departure, having those who worked alongside me speak to my professionalism, integrity, leadership and service would mean a great deal to me personally and professionally. If possible, I would be grateful to receive any letters by tomorrow, my last day in the office. If your schedule does not permit that, please send them to my personal email address.
“Thank you again for allowing me to serve the city of Anna Maria. Despite the sadness I feel in leaving, I will always value the opportunity I had to serve this community and the relationships I built while doing so,” LaRowe’s letter says.
In late-March/early-April, LaRowe’s husband, Ryan, was hired to serve as the city’s vacation rental program manager and code enforcement administrator. As of midday Thursday, it was not known if he also tendered his resignation.
Past actions and complaints
On Aug. 27, the city commission unanimously approved Short’s request to create the city administrator’s position, and his subsequent request to appoint LaRowe to serve in that role, effective Oct. 1.
On Sept. 8, the commission unanimously approved Short’s request to appoint Deputy Clerk Barbara Jeffries to serve as Anna Maria’s next city clerk, effective Oct. 1.
LaRowe tendered her resignation slightly more than a week after four employee complaints previously sent to the mayor on May 14 resurfaced in an email finance department assistant Jeff Charles sent to Short on Sept. 22.
That Sept. 22 email exchange and the attached employee complaints addressed the workplace behavior of Amber LaRowe, Ryan LaRowe and Code Enforcement Manager Tom Collins.
The May complaints were filed by Charles, City Planner Ashley Austin, Public Works Manager Dean Jones and former city employee Leigh Fuller.
Related coverage: Employee complaints resurface in Anna Maria
