Derek Gilliam | Suncoast Searchlight

About Derek Gilliam | Suncoast Searchlight

Derek Gilliam is a watchdog/investigative reporter at Suncoast Searchlight. During his career, he has covered courts and crime, mental health, real-estate, economic development and general business issues for news organizations throughout Florida. Most recently, Derek has focused on real estate and development while also covering local businesses for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, where he untangled a particularly egregious example of real estate fraud months before the police arrested the fraudster. That story attracted the attention of a local legislator who then was able to pass a state law to close a loophole identified in his story. A student of the University of Florida, Derek’s work has earned numerous statewide journalism awards. He has lived in Sarasota since 2021. Reach Derek via email at derek@suncoastsearchlight.org

Power and profit: Developers gained government status, then got bonds to build big

A Naples developer had big plans in 2022 to [...]

By |2026-06-23T19:52:30-04:00May 2, 2025 6:16 am|DeSoto, Investigation, Manatee, Sarasota, Suncoast|Comments Off on Power and profit: Developers gained government status, then got bonds to build big
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Ex-commissioner wants city of Sarasota to cover legal fees after ethics complaints

Former Sarasota City Commissioner Erik Arroyo is asking the [...]

By |2025-08-06T12:27:15-04:00April 30, 2025 6:00 am|Sarasota, Suncoast|Comments Off on Ex-commissioner wants city of Sarasota to cover legal fees after ethics complaints
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Gran Paradiso battle reveals how developers control Florida’s fastest-growing communities

Streets lined with lush landscaping wind through what was [...]

By |2025-08-06T12:30:20-04:00April 18, 2025 6:00 am|Sarasota, Suncoast|Comments Off on Gran Paradiso battle reveals how developers control Florida’s fastest-growing communities
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New College communications director charged for exposure of sexual organs – again

Fred Piccolo Jr., the director of marketing and media [...]

By |2025-08-06T12:31:30-04:00April 16, 2025 1:33 pm|Sarasota, Suncoast|Comments Off on New College communications director charged for exposure of sexual organs – again
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Sarasota, Manatee home values tumble, marking one of the biggest drops nationwide

Angie Ramos is concerned.  The Coldwell Banker Realtor has [...]

By |2025-08-06T12:32:05-04:00April 11, 2025 5:59 am|Manatee, Sarasota, Suncoast|Comments Off on Sarasota, Manatee home values tumble, marking one of the biggest drops nationwide
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Passions run high as Sarasota Commission hears public comments on new performing arts center

Dozens of Sarasota residents filled the City Commission chambers [...]

By |2025-08-06T12:35:14-04:00March 18, 2025 2:29 pm|Sarasota, Suncoast|Comments Off on Passions run high as Sarasota Commission hears public comments on new performing arts center
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Questions cloud future of Van Wezel and new Sarasota performing arts center at Bay Park

Sarasota’s Bay Park project was conceived more than a [...]

By |2025-08-06T12:35:23-04:00March 14, 2025 9:08 am|Sarasota, Suncoast|Comments Off on Questions cloud future of Van Wezel and new Sarasota performing arts center at Bay Park
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