Florida city manager begins sex change

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla, Feb 23 (Reuters) The city manager of a small Florida town received the support of the mayor and other city officials on to undergo a sex change to become a woman while remaining in his job.

Largo City Manager Steven Stanton told Largo's 1,200 employees of his decision in an e-mail on Wednesday. He said he had wanted to be a woman since he was a child.

Stanton, 48, has been city manager of Largo, a city of 76,000 on the west coast of Florida near St. Petersburg and Tampa, for 14 years. Populated largely by wealthy retirees, the area is generally known for its conservatism.

''This will not be an easy path to travel, but I am excited about the future,'' said Stanton, who is married and has a son.

He said many transsexuals leave their jobs when they have a sex change operation, but he would not.

''It is not my nature to run from difficult challenges. I take tremendous pride in being your city manager and a part of our Largo family,'' he wrote.

Stanton said he has been been undergoing hormonal therapy, electrolysis to remove body hair and psychological testing.

He said he would live as a woman for a year, including changing his first name to Susan, as a final step before surgery.

Largo Mayor Pat Gerard and Police Chief Lester Aradi yesterday said they supported Stanton and wanted him to stay in his 140,000 dollars a year position.

''He's a dedicated city manager and puts his job first,'' Gerard told the St. Petersburg Times newspaper.

''What matters most to me is my boss's skills, knowledge and abilities and not my boss's gender,'' Aradi said in an e-mail to members of the police department.

Aradi said jokes and inappropriate comments about Stanton would be against department policy. ''Please let's not let that happen in the Police Department.'' REUTERS SSC KN0844