By TERRY AGUAYO
MIAMI, Feb. 28 — Steven B. Stanton has been the city manager of Largo, about 25 miles west of Tampa, for 14 years. But he is now facing dismissal after his plans to have sex-change surgery became public.
The City Commission placed Mr. Stanton, 48, on paid leave on Tuesday night after voting 5 to 2 to begin the process of firing him.
Mr. Stanton had recently confirmed that he is a transsexual and announced his sex-change plans after an area newspaper reported that he was receiving hormone therapy in preparation for the operation.
About 500 Largo residents attended the commission meeting Tuesday, and commissioners have received hundreds of e-mail messages, most supporting the resolution to fire Mr. Stanton, which was introduced by Commissioner Mary G. Black.
“I do not feel he has the integrity, nor the trust, nor the respect, nor the confidence to continue as the city manager,” The Associated Press quoted Ms. Black as saying.
Mayor Pat Gerard, who voted against removing Mr. Stanton, said he had been “a pretty fierce defender of the city.”
“He is a great city manager and would have continued to be a great city manager, and we didn’t give him that opportunity,” Ms. Gerard said. Andy Guyette, a commissioner who voted to fire Mr. Stanton, said he backed him until learning that he had shared his secret with some city officials, who offered support.
Mr. Guyette said he feared Mr. Stanton, who supervises about 1,200 employees, could not lead the city without favoring his supporters.
“I’d second-guess every decision he made,” Mr. Guyette said. “There was a lot of hiring and promoting and firing and every one of them could have been influenced by this whole scenario.”
Mr. Stanton could not be reached for comment.
Under the city charter, he has the right to request a public hearing to appeal the decision before commissioners meet to confirm their vote. If the removal becomes final, Mr. Stanton will receive a severance package including a year’s salary, $140,000.