Episode 34 - Stuart Tettemer

In this episode of The 850 Podcast, we get to know Panama City Beach Mayor Stuart Tettemer beyond the council meetings and public titles. From his early career as a software engineer in Silicon Valley to navigating Florida's COVID response and ultimately running for office in a town he barely knew when he arrived, Stuart’s journey is a testament to transparency, service, and stepping up when no one else will.

We explore:

🧠 Why he walked away from the tech world
💬 How COVID and cultural shifts shaped his worldview
🏛️ What he’s learned about local government, criticism, and accountability
💻 The difference between online narratives and real conversations
🏗️ How transparency, CRA projects, and public expectations shape city work

This is an honest, unfiltered conversation about leadership, learning curves, and the tension between wanting change and working within the system to get it done.