LAKE WORTH — www.miamiherald.com- Susan Stanton, [pictured] the former Largo city manager who drew national attention after being fired for announcing plans for a sex change, was selected as Lake Worth’s city manager Tuesday.

City Commissioner Suzanne Mulvehill said she liked Stanton’s approach to marketing the city and her ability to work for such a long time in Largo. The commission hired Stanton by a 4-1 vote.

”I thought she had the right temperament for our city and, truthfully, I learned a lot from her,” Vice Mayor Jo-Ann Golden said.

Stanton, 50, was fired by Largo commissioners in February 2007 after announcing plans to undergo a sex change.

Later that year, Stanton appeared as Susan Ashley Stanton while lobbying for transgender rights in Washington, D.C. She finished third in the competition for the city manager’s job in Sarasota in May 2007.

The national discussion that followed Stanton’s firing led the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council to persuade West Palm Beach, Tequesta, Lake Worth and Palm Beach County to add provisions to their codes that prevent discrimination based on gender identity.

City Attorney Larry Karns will negotiate a contract with Stanton. The city is offering Stanton an annual salary of $150,000, a $500-a-month car allowance and other benefits.

She has offered to start work two weeks after her contract is final, said a spokeswoman for The Mercer Group, which conducted the city manager search.

During an interview at City Hall on Monday, Stanton said she would work to educate city staff members, spend a lot of time communicating with commissioners and would focus on the “three Ps — pride, passion and professionalism.”

Asked who she would be working for if hired as city manager, Stanton said she would work for four groups: the City Commission, city department heads, residents and city employees.