Paul Mercier was elected to the Sarasota Board of County Commissioners in 2000. He was appointed to serve on the Airport Advisory Board, the Community Action Agency, the Coalition for the Homeless, the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council, the Enterprise Zone, the Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council, and the Public Safety Coordinating Council.

This is Mr. Mercier's first venture into the politics. A native of Lowell, Massachusetts, he entered the U.S. Army ROTC program while in college. Upon graduation, he was commissioned a second lieutenant and began training as a Ranger. During his military tenure, he moved steadily up the chain of command until reaching the rank of captain. After a stint in Vietnam where he experienced combat, he was honorably discharged in 1975. Upon returning to his hometown of Lowell, he pursued a career in insurance. In 1977, Mr. Mercier, his wife, Elaine and his three sons, packed their belongings and moved to Sarasota. A year later, he opened his own insurance firm, which he operated for 23 years until recently selling it.

During the last two decades while making Sarasota his home, he became an integral part of the community, serving on boards which represent diversified issues. The Sarasota Herald-Tribune writes that he has "demonstrated both business sense and an interest in the county's 'have-nots,' and he appears to have the temperament for building consensus."

Under provisions of the county charter, each commissioner represents a district and must live in that district. Although commissioners represent districts, they are elected county-wide to four-year terms.

Contact Commissioner Paul Mercier
pmercier@scgov.net
1660 Ringling Blvd.
Sarasota, FL  34236
941-861-5344