the 941

Sorry bout the lack of links around here today, we’ve been Summer Guiding up the wizzie. Sleep is for the weak.

But until we return to our regularly scheduled programming tomorrow, tide yourself over with Joel’s cover story on Susan Stanton, transsexualism, and the concept of gender as a continuum, not as a pair of fixed points. Here’s the lede, just to get you started:

It was a long list, but distinguished, and Tom Freijo wanted to give each candidate equal weight. As the head-hunter presented his 18 semifinalists for Saraota’s vacant city manager spot, commissioners took notes and crosschecked resumes with all the pious diligence of an Ivy League admissions office: The city manager from Peekskill, NY. A deputy chief administration officer from Orlando. Private-sector applicants from Arizona and Florida.

As commission meetings go, this one was particularly important: By the end of the afternoon, the candidate pool was to be whittled down to a select group of finalists, a short list of the most qualified names for arguably the city’s highest-profile position.

Naturally, the commissioners had specific questions about each: How’s her reputation? Did his background check turn up anything? What did she accomplish in her last job?

Then, toward the end of the meeting, Freijo brought up the one name everyone had been waiting for: Susan Stanton.

Cameramen inched forward. Reporters readied their pens. Let the grilling commence.

Nothing.

The commissioners didn’t bite. After Freijo described the transsexual former city manager of Largo as “a manager of the highest quality,” the five nodded and, without much discussion, moved on to the next candidate.

Keep reading.

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