The ongoing search for a Flagler County administrator has drawn 30 applicants in a week, with several weeks to go before the application window closes.
On Monday, the commission established a timeline that would end with an appointed manager by mid-August. But the commissioners did not have the applications available for their–or for public–inspection. The administration did not make those accessible. The commissioners have asked for a running batch of qualified applicants weekly. (The list will not include applicants who don’t meet the minimum requirements of the job).
Commissioners may also choose to wait: they’ve have tasked a committee of the Florida Association of County Managers to study, shortlist and rank the applicants according to Flagler County’s job description. That’ll be done by mid-July.
The three-member association committee includes Sumter County Administrator Bradley Arnold. He’s been the administrator in Sumter County, home of The Villages, for 20 years. Michelle Lieberman has been the Alachua County administrator for eight years. Taco Pope has been serving for six years as Nassau County’s manager.
“So we think that some of those experiences that we have, specifically Taco and I can help review those applicants on who might be comparable for a good fit to serve the board,” Arnold told commissioners at a Monday workshop, when he held the lectern for half an hour. The committee’s shortlisting will give it substantial influence on the outcome. The shortlist won’t preclude Flagler’s commissioners from adding candidates of their own from the pool of applicants, assuming they get their colleagues’ consensus.
The county’s Human Resources Department will screen the complete pool of applicants starting at the end of June, turning over applications to the three-member committee to review the applications and shortlist them. Lieberman will present the tentative shortlist to the commission on July 13. The candidates will be backgrounded the following week. Depending on whether the commission wants to take up the rest of the search from there on, or still rely on the three-member committee, the finalists would be presented on July 24.
Being formed of county managers or administrators, the committee is prickly about any negative remarks regarding any of the candidates, which may constrain the commissioners’ freedom to discuss candidates’ liabilities openly and weigh potential negatives in the candidates’ histories–most candidates have baggage–against the benefits they may bring to the job in Flagler. Twice Arnold cautioned against negativity.
“The intent of the presentation is not to go through or why candidates were not selected, because we’re certainly not trying to disparage anyone,” Arnold said. “It would really be focusing on those shortlisted candidates and again, trying to emphasize how they fit the criteria that you’re looking for to be able to serve you.”
The commission would then conduct its interviews with the candidates. In the first two weeks of August.
In the meantime, Arnold cautioned commissioners against interacting with potential candidates should local commissioners attend association meetings (one such meeting is scheduled in early June). “I would not view that as favorable. There’s a due process that you established. Somebody is moving outside the due process, then that is being unfavorably viewed,” Arnold said. “It’s very possible that an applicant may approach you, and they may hit you up for–we’ll call it insider information.”
Arnold was also dismissive of Commissioner Andy Dance’s suggestion that candidates who are not aware of Florida’s Sunshine Law should be informed that their names and applications would be public records, and that their current employers could find out that they’re looking. “Having a good idea of what the laws are in Florida is, again, one of those indicators,” Arnold said.
He then spoke inaccurately. “Sometimes there’s this reason why some counties will use an executive search firm, because they, on their side, will take the applications,” he said. “They keep that hidden to be able to protect that information from getting out to press until such time as you get to the short list.”
In fact, even if Flagler County–or any local government–were to delegate to an executive search firm to conduct the process, the applications generated by the search would all be public records (as was the case in 2018 and 2024 searches by the Palm Coast City Council, when it hired one such firm.)
Dance subtly cautioned his colleagues to guard against the sort of behavior that has repeatedly given the commission black eyes over the past couple of years. “Not only are we interviewing applicants, they’re interviewing us on a day to day basis, so they’re watching the meetings,” Dance said. “I think it’s important that during this process, we’re on our best behavior as well.” Candidates, of course, can google and watch previous meetings.
Heidi Petito’s five-year tenure as county administrator ended last month following a series of public meetings when the commission did not rise to Dance’s standards of exemplary behavior. Adam Mengle, the county’s growth management director, has been the acting administrator.
Candidates, Arnold said, “may do their own homework, not just looking at the videos, but they may interact with some of the existing employees to get a feel for what’s happening behind the scenes, to make sure that the board is representing themselves as a policy board solely.”
Jay Tomm says
2 of those are red counties, 1 is blue.
R. Thomas Wilton says
Seriously, this feels like the same playbook the county rolls out every time. Are residents really expected to believe this will be a fair and impartial selection process? Especially if Charlie Picano who is suspected of being hired and overstepping other qualified candidates because he was related to Petito. It was astonishing watching him make his presentation before the county. I cannot believe they were buying his double talk.
There’s already widespread speculation that Adam Mengle a favorite of the development clique of Flagler will be the “wink-wink” choice. If that’s the case, then why go through the motions at all? It only reinforces the perception that decisions are being made behind closed doors rather than through a transparent and merit-based process.
The community supported the commission’s decision to part ways with Heidi Petito because of concerns over cronyism and management missteps. That should have been a turning point—an opportunity to reset and restore public trust.
If the commission is truly serious about bringing professionalism and accountability back to county leadership, then the logical step is to conduct a genuinely open search and consider qualified candidates from outside the existing circle. A fresh perspective isn’t a risk—it’s exactly what’s needed to evaluate longstanding issues objectively and get the county back on track.
I remember Flagler County says
Anyone familiar with the “who you know” hiring culture in Flagler County can see what’s happening here. Adam Mangal, appears to already be the Commission’s preferred candidate, and the so-called nationwide search led by Charles Picano feels more like a formality and a waste of money than a genuine effort.
Mangal, has long been viewed as a favorite among developers, known for being a sympathetic ear and a consistent advocate for large-scale real estate projects.
At the last Commission meeting, Picano presented what sounded like layers of double-speak regarding how the HR search is being conducted, raising more questions than answers.
It’s hard to ignore the perception that Mangal is the pick at all costs—and that key stakeholders like the Flagler Home Builders Association, developers, and contractors are counting on that outcome.
Another lawsuit against Flagler says
Flagler County appears rife with friends-and-family hiring. It’s hard to find a department that doesn’t have employees connected through relatives, close friendships, or political relationships. Charlie Picano is just one example people continue to question, considering his close family ties to the Petito circle and what many believe was limited HR experience compared to other applicants.
So the public is expected to believe that out of numerous qualified and experienced applicants, the county just happened to select the person connected to the right people? That’s a coincidence many taxpayers simply no longer buy.
Maybe it’s time for the commission to authorize a truly independent investigation into county hiring practices — including who was hired, who was passed over, what qualifications existed, and whether personal relationships influenced decisions.
If the process was legitimate, then transparency should clear the air. But if not, the results may finally explain why incompetence, waste, and public distrust continue to grow throughout county government.
Jay Tomm says
Actually she was whacked because the golden girls didn’t like her….They also do not like Holly. The golden girls are the problem here. They have no business in these positions & have zero understanding of the duties & lack any real experience to do their jobs.
VOTE them out!
Connie says
If you read the Commissioners reviews of Petito, which is their job, it offered a roadmap for Heidi to keep her job. The only review that was absolutely worthless was Hansens. There is no one who believed Ms Petito was doing a perfect job.
Petito didn’t want to do what was asked of her. She was defensive, secretive and lost Commissioner support. In the end, it was Petito who decided to leave.
The County has outgrown the nepotism and good ol boy network this county has been known for. That time is over. If you want a perfect example, Clerk of Courts Tom Bexley created a new position for Petito and is paying her six figures. That is a problem.
We need a new Administrator that has experience with growing and knows how to manage it. This is a great opportunity for us.
I would be incredibly upset if new blood isn’t hired.
Ringmaster wanted says
Just wondering 🧐
Does the job posting say
NEEDED. New ringmaster for a three ring circus ?
If not isn’t the ad somewhat misleading?
Tell us the truth says
Curious, does Flagler County HR use recruiting software with specific algorithms to exclude applicants they feel are unqualified?
If so, those algorithms could easily be adjusted to favor a predetermined outcome. By changing filters involving education, certifications, years of experience, keywords, management background, internal government experience or even “preferred qualifications,” the applicant pool could be narrowed in a way that conveniently leaves certain candidates at the top while eliminating others before human review ever occurs.
Most people never realize modern HR systems can automatically rank, score and reject applicants long before interviews begin. If the criteria are manipulated narrowly enough, a “competitive search” can appear legitimate on paper while the final shortlist is effectively engineered in advance.
That doesn’t automatically mean corruption occurred, but transparency matters. The public should know:
• What software is being used
• Who sets the screening criteria
• Whether outside consultants are involved
• How many applicants were automatically rejected
• Whether internal or preferred candidates were identified beforehand
• And whether commissioners or senior administration had input into the process
Otherwise, people are left wondering whether the hiring process is truly merit-based or simply a sophisticated version of “business as usual.”
It’s about time says
It was amazing watching our elected officials finally see through the polished presentations and rehearsed talking points coming from county management at last week’s meeting.
A lot of people are criticizing the three lady commissioners, saying they don’t know what they’re doing or calling them “mean” for how they handled Heidi Petito’s situation. But maybe what really happened is they recognized the same old bureaucratic double-talk and condescending explanations that residents have been hearing for years.
Instead of simply nodding along, they challenged Mengle and Picano directly and asked the uncomfortable questions many taxpayers have been asking all along. Whether people agree with the commissioners or not, at least they showed they were willing to question the narrative instead of rubber-stamping it.
Whoa says
How did Picano get hired in the first place ? Rumor has it he’s related to or a family friend of Heidi Petito ? Were there more qualified candidates who weren’t considered because of a rumored family connection ?
Erod says
Here’s the irony: Adam Mengel is currently serving as interim county administrator while Charlie Picano oversees Human Resources. Mengel is Picano’s direct superior and ultimately has influence over his employment status, while Picano oversees the hiring process that could shape how candidates for the permanent administrator position are presented to the commission.
Mengle and Picano, one cannot live without the other.