Democratic politico nabs bank board post

SARASOTA — Prominent area banker and politician Christine Jennings has been named to the board of directors of The Canandaigua National Trust Co. of Florida.

An affiliate of Canandaigua National Corp., Canandaigua National Trust Co. of Florida, based in Sarasota, handles wealth management, trusts and estates for clients. Canandaigua National Corp. is based outside Rochester, N.Y.

Jennings was elected chairwoman of the Sarasota Democratic Party in February. Jennings ran for Congress against U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Longboat Key, in 2006 and lost in one of the closest elections in Florida.

Prior to politics, Jennings helped launch two community banks. She founded Sarasota Bank in 1992, and was president and CEO there for more than a decade. Colonial Bank bought Sarasota Bank in 2003 for $40.5 million. Jennings also co-founded Liberty National Bank in Bradenton, where she was a senior vice president, chief lending officer and director, according to a release from Canandaigua National.

After banking, Jennings was the CEO of the West Coast Black Theatre Troupe in Sarasota, where she helped the organization develop a strategic plan.