Transcript for Hustle & Heat Episode 8
00:00:04
What’s up, guys? This is George from Dubz Barbecue, and welcome back to another episode of the Hustle & Heat Podcast, where we bring the community together—one local official, one entrepreneur, and one restaurant tour at a time.
Today, I’d like to welcome a special guest, a former mayor and a current North Port City Commissioner. Without further ado, I’d like to welcome Phil Stokes. Phil, thank you for being on the podcast. We appreciate you coming on.
Well, thank you for having me. It’s a pleasure, George.
00:00:31
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Well, originally I grew up in the New Jersey area. I went to college down in Washington, D.C., where I earned a degree in Business Administration, majored in Accounting, and did a little pre-law. I then spent about half my career doing financial work, mergers, and acquisitions for a number of companies and small firms.
About halfway through my career, when my boss retired, I went into business for myself. I owned a small residential security company, installing AT&T security systems, and did that until they stopped selling the product at retail.
After that, I bought the licensing rights to a niche newspaper group called The Homesteaders, which were newspapers for new homeowners. I ran those for a number of years until my wife became very ill and passed away, at which point I sold the business.
I went on to work for local weekly community newspapers and later started a publication called Free Time, an arts and entertainment paper focused on places to go and things to do. I ran that until I retired.
After retiring, my wife and I moved to St. Martin in the Caribbean for a few years, enjoyed the beach life, and I even taught myself how to paint. Eventually, when my in-laws reached an age where we wanted to spend more quality time with them, we moved back here—and here we are.
00:02:19
Do you miss St. Martin?
A little bit. I loved living on the beach. It was a relaxed environment with beautiful weather and beautiful people. But I can’t say I don’t enjoy myself here.
This period of my life has been the most fulfilling. I spent most of my life working, trying to earn a living, pay the bills, and make ends meet. Having the opportunity to do public service is a real treat.
I’ve devoted myself to North Port. I love the people here, and any contribution I can make feels extremely worthwhile.
00:02:56
I know you do a lot of community work. Would you like to elaborate on what you do for the city?
As a city commissioner, the five of us are elected by the citizens to give direction to our professional city staff. We set policy and approve budgets, but there’s a lot more to the job.
It’s difficult to represent over 100,000 people when most are busy working and raising families. Many people don’t even know what form of government exists in their community or who their elected officials are. Because of that, it’s important for elected officials to be deeply immersed in the community.
I serve as an ex-officio board member of the Chamber of Commerce. Every Saturday at 5 a.m., I cook for Meals on Wheels and sit on that board as well. I’ve served on the Art Center board, the MP3 networking group, the Sarasota County Tourism Council, and the MPO board, which works on transportation with FDOT.
Meeting people on their own playing field helps you understand how they feel, what’s going on, and what their concerns are. Often, you only hear from the loudest 5% who support decisions and the 5% who oppose them. But what about the other 90%?
00:05:19
How do you reach that other 90%?
Most people, if they really wanted to influence decisions that affect their lives, would get involved in politics, run for office, or join advisory boards. They elect representatives and trust those people to do what’s best for the city.
To understand what people are thinking, you have to go where they are—ball games, theaters, events, community gatherings. You meet people, talk to them, and let them be themselves. That’s how trust is built.
People won’t agree with every decision you make, but trust grows when they know who you are, see that you care, and believe your heart is in the right place.
00:07:26
Life is all about perspective. How do you help people understand the parts they don’t agree with?
I don’t know that you ever truly do. The best you can do is explain it honestly.
For over a year, I’ve hosted monthly town halls at local libraries and community centers. More recently, I’ve been visiting HOA communities—there are more than 70 of them in North Port.
When you meet people where it’s easy for them to attend, they show up. I don’t give speeches. I ask what’s on their minds and listen. Some issues the city can address, others are beyond our control, but listening is the most important part.
I believe in telling people what they need to hear, not what they want to hear.
00:09:04
Local government is the closest level of government to the people. We’re the front line. People may vent about state or federal issues we can’t control, but they need someone to talk to.
We’re regular people. We live here. We pay taxes. The decisions we make affect us just like they affect everyone else. We rely on professional city management—subject matter experts—to educate us, and then we make informed decisions together.
It’s a challenging balance, but it works, and it’s rewarding because you see the impact face-to-face.
00:11:44
North Port is a very residential city. Where do you see it in 10 years?
Hopefully, it will become a small cosmopolitan city that retains its charm and character.
Less than 10% of the city’s revenue comes from commercial development, which puts pressure on residential taxpayers. The goal over the next decade is smart, strategic growth—especially out east—while protecting the environment, preserving green space, and maintaining the residential feel.
The challenge is finding the balance between growth and quality of life.
00:14:08
Retail and commercial services are important, but they’re driven by numbers—density, demographics, and population. Businesses like Costco need customers, and residential growth brings them.
Growth can’t be stopped in a property-rights state, but it can be managed. Developers need to contribute to infrastructure, parks, and community needs. It’s not easy, but the city works to guide growth responsibly.
00:16:17
Apartments and housing density often get criticized, but diversity in housing types is necessary—apartments, condos, villas, and single-family homes. Increased supply can help reduce prices and improve affordability.
00:17:45
Community engagement is critical. People do business with people they know, like, and trust. North Port’s Chamber of Commerce is one of the strongest networking organizations I’ve seen anywhere, and that sense of care shows throughout the community.
00:20:20
After Hurricane Ian, the way residents showed up for one another demonstrated that North Port’s greatest asset is its people. As the city grows, maintaining that sense of connection is essential.
00:20:57
Growth will change the city, but North Port is large enough to offer something for everyone—from quiet rural living in the Estates to more urbanized mixed-use areas. While the city doesn’t have a traditional downtown, it can create multiple smaller community hubs where people can live, work, and gather.
00:24:59
Zoning updates and long-term planning have created a blueprint for balanced growth, but population growth is the true driver of economic development. Businesses follow people, workforce availability, and affordability.
Education plays a key role. Programs like leadership classes, safety academies, and North Port University help residents understand how the city functions and how decisions are made.
00:30:33
Serving as a commissioner can be a part-time or full-time commitment depending on involvement. I’ve declared I’m running again, and I hope to continue serving while encouraging others to get involved for the right reasons—giving back and representing the entire community.
00:35:31
Looking ahead, I hope the citizens feel I’ve served honestly, transparently, and inclusively. If reelected, I’ll continue working to ensure growth is smart and strategic. Beyond that, I’ll stay involved in the community, including continuing my work with Meals on Wheels.
00:36:31
It was a pleasure being here. Thank you for having me.
Thank you for watching. Please like, comment, and subscribe.
