photo credit Sarasota Times newspaper Photo above Sarasota County Times Newspaper issue Thursday June 16, 1921 after vote to separate Sarasota from Manatee County. Sarasota County Centennial will be July 1st 2021. Mayor Harry Higel Murdered on Siesta Key He Pushed hard for Separation of Sarasota County From Manatee County in 1920. Florida Governor Cary A. Hardee signs "Special Act Senate Bill 126" the creation of Sarasota County in June 1921. Harry Higel was everywhere to be seen in Sarasota, prior to his murder Jan 1921, then still a part of Manatee County but pushing hard to break away and chart its own course. He pushed for the City of Sarasota to incorporate and, when it did, Higel became mayor. Higel served on the town council in 1902, serving as Mayor of the City of Sarasota when it was incorporated.  It was no slam dunk vote in the city of Sarasota for a break from Manatee County. In an unofficial vote June 16, 1921, 406 residents were f...