After interviewing eight candidates for city manager over three meetings and two weeks, Flagler Beach city commissioners have each picked their top two choices. Only one name appears on every participating commissioner’s short short-list: Scott Janke, the former town manager of Fort Myers Beach and several other cities and towns in Florida and Alaska. (See Janke’s resume.)
Janke was the number one choice for commissioners Jane Mealy and Joy McGrew. He was the second choice for Commission Chairman John Feind and commissioner Steve Settle. On Sunday, Feind, who prizes consensus (and termed Janke “the most personable”) said, “if three people say Scott Janke, I can easily say the same thing.”
Word and Janke were both among five finalists for the South Miami city manager’s job two weeks ago, though neither made the cut down to the final two. (See Gary Word’s resume).
Commissioner Ron Vath, who took a job with the Federal Emergency Management Agency in mid-August, apparently in Iowa, did not participate in any of the interviews and has not turned in any opinions about the candidates, though the city was making every effort to send him audio recordings of every interview.
The commission’s goal is to name a new city manager by Oct. 1. It agreed last week not to wait on Vath, who may or may not be back by then.
The commission’s choices will surprise a faction of Flagler Beach residents who campaigned strongly for a Flagler Beach resident to have the job–and in particular, for Bruce Campbell, a building maintenance worker with the city who led his own company in Ohio for many years and interviewed assertively last month. Campbell had two strikes against him: no executive experience in public service, and what turned into an unveiled political campaign on his behalf, which turned off commissioners. Campbell’s name appeared on only one commissioner’s final list. He is Settle’s first choice. (See Campbell’s resume.)
No other local candidate–there were two more: Caryn Miller, the city’s community redevelopment director, and Mike Evans, an army reservist who briefly seerved on the commission early last decade–made any commissioner’s short list.
Click On:
- With 4 Out-of-Towners, Flagler Beach Resumes Interviews to Fill Manager’s Chair
- Softball League: Flagler Beach Interviews 3 Hometown Candidates for Manager, Gently
- Flagler Beach Commissioners Pick 12 to Interview for Manager
- Ron Vath Mystery Theater: Flagler Beach Commissioner Takes a Job With FEMA
The candidate with the second-most votes is Gary Word, who is Feind’s first choice and McGrew’s second choice. Edward Sealover made an appearance in second place on Mealy’s list.
Janke and Word clearly outshone the rest of the field with a combination of government experience, professionalism, preparedness and poise. Word, the outgoing town manager in Surfside (which has about the same population as Flagler Beach and is located near Miami Beach), repeatedly emphasized professionalism and a degree of presumed deference to the administration that signaled discomfort at commissioners’ micromanagement.
Word and Janke hardly differ in breadth of experience and familiarity with managing towns the size of Flagler Beach, in Florida and in the public eye. One signal difference, however, is personality. Word described himself as “shy” and less outgoing–more interested in working behind the scenes than seeking the spotlight. His professionalism was evident. But so was his primness. Janke’s personality–at ease with the unexpected or the esoteric–appeared more in sync with Flagler Beach’s, and certainly with its commissioners’ tendency to do the unexpected.
Both Word and Janke also unhappy ends to their last jobs. Word in March told his city commissioners in Surfside that he would resign by fall because, he wrote them in a letter, “”there appears to be a dissatisfaction with Surfside local government at the staff and policy making level. This is a distraction which, in my professional judgment, impacts the essential principles of efficient municipal government management.” Word had been openly criticized by the mayor and some commissioners during meetings.
Janke was fired from his last job on July 21, 2009, when the Fort Myers Beach Town Council learned of Janke’s wife’s occupation as a porn actress. Janke had had a glowing career until then, including seemingly good relations with the town council and the community. Speaking on CBS’ Early Show days after the firing, Janke, appearing on the show with his wife, said the couple had intentionally shielded the commission from her job the way they had from her three teen-age children (from an earlier marriage). The city’s mayor, Larry Kiker, claimed at the time that Janke was not fired over his wife’s job, but over the fallout from the news, which was considered a distraction. Nevertheless, Janke was never afforded a chance to appear before the commission before the abrupt firing, nor to resign.
He has been separated from his wife since January. The incident has dogged his chances at restarting his career.
“It has nothing to do with me, and it shouldn’t affect the commission’s process,” Janke said Monday morning, when contacted by phone. “It certainly doesn’t affect my decision making process. It was an unfortunate knee-jerk reaction and it had absolutely nothing to do with my running a city as a city manager.”
Janke put the incident behind him. Flagler Beach commissioners have signaled strongly that they have no intention of holding the issue against him, once Janke brought it up of his own volition during the interview, and set it aside.
“I actually felt very good about it,” Janke said of last week’s interview. “I thought I connected well with the city commission members, they asked good questions, I believe I answered them to their satisfaction, and I look forward to getting there. I anticipate being hired, and I’m dying to get to work.”
The Flagler Beach City Commission meets Thursday at 5:30 p.m., in its usual chambers, to decide its next move.
Commissioners' Picks
| John Feind | Jane Mealy | Joy McGrew | Steve Settle | Ron Vath | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First | Gary Word | Scott Janke | Scott Janke | Bruce Campbell | |
| Second | Scott Janke | Edward Sealover | Gary Word | Scott Janke |
elaygee says
Hire Janke and get it over with. He’s a great professional and will do the right thing.
Kip Durocher says
You are probably right elaygee. Having come form Lee County/Fort Myers Beach I know he would not have lasted long with his wife ‘s line of work. Still heavy Southen Bible Belt down there, moreso than here even. If he appeared on all four favorites list they were either in cahoots (given their track record almost an oxymoron) or he was, in fact, impressive.
JoAnne Ricardi says
Having attended all of the interviews, I have to say while Mr Janke interviewed very well, has good qualifications and is the only one of the top three who would move here(rent or buy) there are still some unanswered questions before we ink the contract.(Mr Campbell lives in town)
Is there litigation with Ft Myers over his dismissal by the council without a hearing?
He volunteered the infomation that he and his wife are separated, and he was fired because of the interview given on CBS regarding her work. What kind of separation, legal or trying to work things out?
While no one’s future should be held hostage because of a family members image,we have to remember that Mr. Janke knew of his wife’s ponographic business when he choose to marry her. Public scrunity for employment is extreme now and he is a public figure. It was bound to come out. While I am no prude, all of this is uncomfortable.
Perhaps being called back for another round of interviews is in order especially when contracts usually carry a clause that benefits terminatiion, or even a three month trial as was offered by two other candidates? Food for thought as it goes forward.
Lisa Katusin says
The City Manager is not an “elected” position and most of Flaglers residents are aware of that. The Commissioners, who are required to live in Flagler Beach, ARE “elected” and have the honor and privilege of appointing the City Manager who will best serve the needs of the city. Not knowing how much, if any, municipal experience they have had prior to their election, it would be nice to believe that they are open minded enough to listen to the voices of the community. Not consider it a “turn off” when these same voices are the ones who helped them get elected.
Flagler Beach has been down this path before. Flagler Beach is in financial trouble. Not to mention the morale issues of many of the departments. We have been through the outside appointees for City Manager. Most of which are interim’s. We have paid hefty salaries and travel expenses. Now, we are considering it again! Perhaps the next person who is eager to be the interim will live in Flagler Beach, but why then, not just apply for the job?? Or is hiring yet another outsider, who has no knowledge of the city or the people who live here, simply because he has experience and a nice personality, the solution?
I’d like to think that all of the interviewed applicants have some experience and personality!
Isnt’ it really time for a change? Flagler Beach has a resident with no intention of leaving. A resident with a strong resume’ and background. A resident who has gotten to know the city by working here. A resident that some citizens have taken the time to get to know and realize has the complete ability, personality and strong desire to lead our city.
If Bruce Campbell would be given the opportunity to manage the City of Flagler Beach, on his own merits, what is the worst that could happen? NOTHING…….that isn’t worth a chance.
Pierre Tristam says
An anonymous commenter has posted a comment here making allegations about Scott Janke’s connections with his wife’s porn career. The comment is being held back pending the commenter first contacting me ([email protected]), identifying himself or herself, at least to me, and backing up the allegations. Thanks.
George says
The News Journal did a piece on his estranged wife’s profession or former profession. But who cares?!
Joy Murray says
Please appoint a candidate who has GOVERNMENT management experience.
John Smith says
Since when did what a guys wife did have to do with how he can do his job. He seems to me to be the best app and as long as she stays out of the picture I do not see a problem, But the beach is the beach so who knows huh.
Justin Birchman says
What were the odds that he would be a white male, In Flagler Beach about 100 %…..some things never change, and that’s the way they like it…
Brad Janke says
My brother is one of the most honest hard-working professional men that I know his work history speaks for itself every city he’s worked for when he left he left it a better place and it was when he got there and what his ex-wife did for a living should be relevant a bunch of old men on city council obviously went home watch pornos one night and recognize her cuz it’s not like she advertised in the newspaper about what you did for a living they seen her in the movie it’s okay for them to watch one but it’s not okay for her to be in one neither here nor there I think Scott is obviously your number one candidate and I think Flagler Beach be a better place with him there I truly believe a year from now y’all be patting yourselves on the back saying that you made a good choice