Fearing the worst when called away from a YMCA fundraiser at Snook Haven, Venice Mayor John Holic learned Wednesday he had been named Sarasota’s Best Boss.

“I was out back pulling pork when my assistant (city recording secretary Judy Gamel) had me called up front,” Holic said. “If it were nothing, she would have said so … I was thinking plane crash, fire or something like that. I was dumbfounded.”