Shirley Groover Bryant is a native of Palmetto, Florida. She graduated from Palmetto High School, Manatee Community College (now SCF), and Florida Southern College. She studied economics and accounting, which serves her well as she manages a city government with a budget of $32 million. Mayor Bryant worked for 15 years at Manatee County Property Appraiser’s Office. She was the Chief Financial Officer for Manatee School for the Arts. She was City of Palmetto Ward 2 Representative from 1993 – 2004 and in 2008 she was elected as Mayor of the City of Palmetto, where she continues to serve today.