34 Apply So Far for Flagler Beach Manager, 13 of Them Unemployed

One of them is a flight attendant. Another is a pastor. One is a part-time truck delivery man, though he was formerly the public works director in Bunnell. Many have at least a master’s degree in business or public administration, most have worked or are still working in city or county administrations, and 13 are currently unemployed, not counting one who’s applying from retirement.

In all, 34 people — 27 men, seven women — have applied so far for the county manager’s position in Flagler Beach. Bernie Murphy is leaving the post after serving almost four years as an “interim” manager–longer than most managers, interim or not, in the city’s recent memory.

The thickening pile of resumes will thicken further: resumes are being taken until the end of July.

The list breaks down further this way: So far, exactly half of the applicants are from out of state. Of the 17 from Florida, five are from Flagler County, including Catherine Brewer of Palm Coast, Eric Crandall of Bunnell (he’s the former Bunnell public works director), and Bruce Campbell, Tom Garris and Leah Sebag of Flagler Beach. Sheri Barrow lists a Valdosta, Ga., address on her resume, but says in her cover letter that she lives in Flagler Beach. John Tahlier lives in Daytona Beach, but he’s a bookkeeper with the city of Flagler Beach.

Other than Tahlier, Volusia is offering up four other candidates. Two are from Jacksonville, one each from Orlando, Apopka, Tequesta, Sarasota and Winter Haven. The 17 other candidates are spread around 11 states, four of them from Georgia, three from Texas, two from Virginia, and the rest from elsewhere around the Union.

Remarkably, some applicants did not list their education. Just as remarkably, some applicants seemed to have an unusual idea of what it takes to run a city. “I suspect you’ll find very few candidates with a background such as mine, and it’s one I’d like to put to work for the City of Flagler Beach,” Christopher Johnson of Portland, Ore., wrote in his cover letter. My experience with the executive-level administration of a large network of paid staff and volunteers is something the city would profit from greatly in your next city manager.” But he’s been a pastor at two churches, a delivery truck driver, a teller, and an after-school worker.

Michael Kane of Snellville, Ga., a flight attendant with Delta with an MBA from Columbia Southern University, wrote: “I’m currently in the airline business partly as a sabbatical, but also to experience the vagaries of a business that’s in constant flux be it from fuel prices, schedule adjustments, or weather. The ability to direct decision making to alter track and respond to these forces is not unlike dealing with the economic and political forces at work on a municipality.”

A minority of commissioners didn’t want to take on the entire stack of resumes, preferring that the first cut be done either by a consultant or by an independent group. But other commissioners prevailed, saying they wanted to be involved at every step of the hiring process.

Whether it’s as wide-open a process as it appears is open to question: The Flagler Beach candidates may have an inside track, based on the number of commissioners who said they want a candidate closer to home who won’t use the city as a stepping stone to bigger markets. But their worry that the recession would generate a large number of stellar, overqualified candidates appears, so far, to be misplaced.

Flagler Beach City Manager Applicants

Applicant	Location	Current Employment	Highest Degree
Thomas Avant	Sandersville, Ga.	Not currently employed. Last worked as a temporary environmental, health and safety manager at KaMinn LLC in Sandersville	MBA, Georgia State University
Scott Banninga	Muskegon, Mich.	Substitute teacher	MPA University of Nebraska
Robert C. Bannister	Cincinnati, Ohio	Village Manager, Village of Lincoln Heights, Ohio	MPA, Xavier University
Sheri Barrow	Valdosta, Ga. (cover letter says she’s living in Flagler Beach)	Not currently employed	Associates degree in library sciences, Georgia Southern College
Everett Basford	Massena, NY	Village administrator of Massena, since 2002	MBA, Clarkson University
Amanda Beauchamp	LaGrange, Ky.	Health plan advisor with Blue Cross & Blue Shield since 2010	BS in management, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
Bruce Behrens	Groveland, Fla.	Not currently employed. Was town manager in Summerton, SC, until 2009.	BA, Rollins College
Austin Bleess	Blaine, Minn.	Community development director, Wells, Minn.	MPA, Walden University
Richard Blumenfeld	Atlanta, Ga.	Founder of Family Circle Communities, non-profit for affordable housing.	BS in marketing and finance, University of Alabama
Terrell Brannon	Tallahassee, Fla.	Facilities instructor, Florida Department of Education	MPA, Florida Atlantic University
Catherine Brewer	Palm Coast	Tapestries of Life, co-founder and CFO, Sept. 1988-Nov. 2007	No education listed
Matthew Brock	Patrick AFB, Fla.	Not currently employed. Was city manager, Live Oak, Fla, 2003-2005	Master's in administration, Central Michigan University
Terra J. Brock	Daytona Beach	Research Analyst, Cunningham Research Group, Ormond Beach, since March 2010	BS in Psychology, Embry Riddle Aeronautic University
Alton Brown	Edgefield, SC	County administrator, Edgefield County, since 2010	BA, University of Tennessee
Steven Burch	Beverly Hills, Fla.	Mentor and tutor, Community Action Foundation of Citrus County	MBA, Florida Metropolitan University
James Bursick	Vero Beach, Fla.	Town Manager, Melbourne, Fla. (since June 2006)	MA in engineering, University of Colorado
Jack A. Butler Jr.	Orlando, FL	Central Improvement Program Manager, City of Ocoee, since 2006	No education listed
Richard Cannone	Miami, Fla.	Development services director, Hallandale Beach, Fla.	MS in public management, St. Thomas University
Nancy Carolan	Sarasota, FL	General Manager, Sarasota Sailing Squadron, since Dec. 2008	MBA from St. Johns University, NY
Bruce C. Campbell	Flagler Beach	Building maintenance worker, City of Flagler Beach	Executive MBA from Kent State.
Martin Cass	Palm Coast	Facilities accountant, Daytona State College	MA in accounting, University of North Florida
Lawrence Cavallaro	Lakeland, FL	Not currently employed. Was chief of police and interim city manager in Mulberry, 2005-09.	MBA Warner Southern College
Lee Chastain	Marietta, Ga.	City planner, Thomasville, Ga.	BA , Fort Hays State University
Kirk Chong	Flagler Beach	Counter man at Napa Auto Parts, Ormond Beach	BA from UCF
David Clabo	Jefferson, Ga.	Clerk at US Census Bureau since February 2010	BA, Augusta College
James Coleman	Lady Lake, Fla.	Not currently employed; was city and airport manager in Williston, Fla, until 2008	BA, UCF
Cole Copertino	Weston, Fla.	Assistant city auditor, Fort Lauderdale	Law degree from Nova Southeastern University
Eric Crandall	Bunnell	Part-time delivery man, Lowe’s of Palm Coast, since Dec. 2009 (former public works director, Bunnell)	Plumbing apprenticeship from Daytona Beach Community College, 1990
Angela Crawford	Cuba, Missouri	Not employed (last worked as community services and economic development intern at the City of Chesterfild, Mo, until April 2010.	MA in social work, Washington University, 2010
Andrea Curtis	West Bountiful, Utah.	Not currently employed. Was in undefined community and economic development post in the Salt Lake City Corporation until 2009	MPA, Brigham Young University
Davis Dautreuil	New Iberia, La.	Partner in Three D Information Technology LLC, public consulting firm	MA in management and administration, University of Louisiana
Edward Clark Davis	Woodstock, Ga.	Georgia Army National Guard, Counterdrug Task Force Member since 1990.	MPA Columbus State University
Andrew T. DeCandis	Jacksonville	Senior director of planning and government relations, Orange County Board of Education, since Set. 2006	Master of Public Administration (MPA), Marywood College/University
James DeCuzzi	Ft. Meyers, Fla.	Founder, The Jamus Group, investment consulting firm	Juris Doctor, Rutgers University
David Denman	Boca Raton	Accounts payables, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue	MPA, Florida Atlantic University
Alice Derian	Hilton Head, SC	Contract and services administrator for Hilton Head since 2008	BA from California University of Pennsylvania
George Calvin Dickens III	Savannah, Ga.	Fireman-Driver	MPA, Georgia Southern University
Francenina Diedrich	Mary Esther, Fla.	Not currently employed. Was administrative services director of city of Fort Walton Beach	MPA, University of Central Florida
Randall Dilling	Port Charlotte, Fla.	Not currently employed. Was Miami Springs police chief until 2008	MPA, Columbia Pacific University
Jackie Disher	Deerfield Beach, Fla.	Deputy director of recreation, Deerfield Beach	MPA, University of North Florida
John J. Drago	Apopka, Fla.	Not employed. Was city administrator, Longwood, Fla., 1999-2009	MBA in management, Georgia College
Sean Dunagan	Brownsville, Texas	Senior intelligence specialist, US Department of Justice	MPA, Valdosta State University
Jim Duryea	Kennesaw, Ga.	Owner, Jadco networking Partners, real estate financing and consulting company	BA in finance, Tennessee Technological University
James R. Elium III	Port Isabel, Texas	Not currently employed (was general manager for Olmito Water Supply Corp., 1994 to Sept. 2008)	Did not complete a degree at the University of Texas, Arlington
Ernest Elizardo	Allen, Texas	Account operations leader, Dell Trinity Industries	BS from the University of Texas
Tonya Elliott	Lakewood Ranch, Fla.	Program management specialist, Progress Energy, since September 2008	BA in advertising and public relations, University of Central Florida
Michael Evans	Flagler Beach	Historical interpreter and operations director, Florida Agricultural Museum.	BA, University of North Florida
Michael Frederick	Beaver Falls, Pa.	Manager, Steak ‘n Shake	BS, Slippery Rock University
David Fuqua	Cushing, Okla.	Self-employed marketing consultant since 2008	MPA, University of Oklahoma
James P. Gallagher	Winter Haven, Fla.	No current employment listed. Was Dundee town manager, 2004-2006	MPA, Nova Southeastern University
Tom Garris	Flagler Beach	No current employment listed; was business manager and regional controller, WCWJ and WRBL, Jacksonville broadcast stations	BS in business administration from the University of Florida
John Garvison	Washougal, Wash.	CFO, Clackamas County Soil and Water Conservation District, since 2009.	MBA, Upper Iowa University
Edward Geppner	Palm Coast	Not currently employed. Was director and chief operating officer at Mylliard Holding Corp., until 2009.	CPA, Chapman College
Wil Giron	Opelousas, La.	Executive director of New Horizons Youth Services Bureau since 2009.	BA in sociology, Gambling State University
James Gleason	Atlanta, Ga.	City manager, Chamblee, Ga.	MPA, Webster University
Jeffrey Gorley	Waynesboro, Va.	Housing Authority director of public safety, Waynesboro, Va. Since Nov. 2009	Associate’s degree in public administration, Miami Dade Community College (1991).
Virginia Haas	Titusville, Fla.	City clerk, Oak Hill, Fla.	BA, Mississippi State University
Cindy Hall	Eustis, Fla.	Not currently employed, was county manager, Lake County, until 2009.	Masters in applied economics, UCF
Brian Hammons	Lady Lake, Fla.	Planning and development services director, Putnam County	MA in geography and urban planning
Catherine Harding	Tequesta, Fla.	No current employment listed. Was community development director, Tequesta.	BA from Fairleigh Dickinson University
Charles Hardyman	Summerfield, Fla.	General manager, Patrick Industries, since 1983	Attended Ivy Tech Vocational College
Tom Hartley	Griswold, Conn.	Director of parking, city of Middletown, Conn., since March 2010	MBA from the University of Connecticut
Judith Ann Heenan	Montgomery, Ala.	Not currently employed. Was a business analyst with Electronic Data Systems, 1998-2001	MPA, Auburn University
Peter Herbert	Vernon, Fla.	Not currently employed. Was county manager, Washington County, Fla, from 1998 to 2010	MBA, State University of New York
Jacklin Henning	Ormond Beach, Fla.	Registrar, Halifax Medical Center	AA in business administration, Kaiser College
Michael James	DeLand	Founder and president, PGB International development	MBA in international business and finance, Western International University
William Scott Janke	Tarpon Springs, Fla.	self-employed as a financial services consultant. Was town manager in Fort Myers, 2008 to 2009	BA in economics and geography, University of Florida
Michael Jara	Aiken, SC	Assistant chancellor of facilities, University of South Carolina-Aiken	MBA, University of Phoenix
Christopher B. Johnson	Portland, Ore.	Senior pastor, Bethany Baptist Church, Portland (since 2008).	BA in theology, Andersonville Theological Seminary
Patrick S. Jordan	Hurst, Texas	Records manager for the Tarrant County Clerk, since August 2008	MPA from Western Michigan University, June 2000
Mike Judd - WITHDRAWN	Bunnell, Fla.	Senior director of school operations, Flagler County Schools.	MA in education leadership, University of Central Florida
Michael P. Kane	Snellville, Ga.	Flight attendant, Delta (dates not provided)	MBA from Columbia Southern University, Alabama
Hugh J. King	Duluth, Ga.	No current employment listed. Was city manager, Monticello, Ga.	MA in city management, East Tennessee University
Matthew Kline	Sandusky, Ohio	Not currently employed. Was Sandusky's city manager, 2007-09	MPA, University of Akron
Steven Kotsatos	Akron, Ohio	Substitute teacher	BA, University of Akron
Bernard C. LaPira	Old Fort, NC	No current employment listed. Was village manager, Islamorada, Fla., 2003-2006	MPA from Florida International University
Therese Leary	Hilton Head, SC	General manager, Indigo Run Community Owners' Association, since 2002	MA in management, Antioch University/New England Graduate School
Anthony Licciardi	Hammond, La.	Manufacturer's representative	BA from Southeastern Louisiana University
Craig Lonon	South Padre Island, Texas	Not currently employed. Was city manager of Harlingen, Texas, 2006-2009	MPA, University of North texas
Jim Luebbering	McDonough, Ga.	Building and development services division director, Henry County, Ga.	BS in civil engineering from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, BS in finance and banking from U. of Mo.-Columbia.
Craig MacLeod	Palm Coast, Fla.	Not currently employed. Was hedge fund manager, RCM Marketwise, 1993-2010	MA in business, Brigham Young University
Dale Martin	Linden, Mich.	City Manager, Davison, Mich.,	MPA, Oakland University
James Manfre	Palm Coast	Attorney in private practice since 2006	Doctorate of law, St. John's University
Wayne Martin	Cherryville, N.C.	President and CEO, Kingdom properties	Masters of Science in Executive fire service leadership, Grand Canyon University
David Marcus	Lake Almanor, Calif.	Lassen County, Calif., public defender, since 2005	MPA from California State University
John A. McIntyre	Orland Hills, Ill.	Not currently employed. Was economic development coordinator, Beach Park, Ill.	MPA, Troy State University
Stewart Meek	Bloomington, Indiana	Not currently employed. Was program manager, civic engagement team, City Year Cleveland	MPA, Indiana University
Robert A. Morris	Covington, Va.	Community development director, Clifron Forge, Va., since October 2008	BS in business leadership, Bluefield College, Va.
Tarek Moneir	Roanoke, Va.	Deputy director of community development, Roanoke	MA in community planning, Kansas State University
James A. McCroskey	Port Orange, Fla.	Assistant city manager, Daytona Beach Shores, since January 2006	MA in urban and regional planning, University of Mississippi
Kenneth D. McKeown	Jacksonville, Fla.	Deputy Comptroller, City of Jacksonville	BS in business administration, University of Southern Mississippi
Ricardo Mendez	Miami, Fla.	Vice president, RA Consulting Engineers, since 2007	MBA, University of Miami
Brent Morrow	Barstow, Calif.	Community development director, Barstow, Calif., 2007-2010	MPA University of Montana
Greg Moyer	Broken Arrow, Okla.	Middle and high school teacher since 2007	MPA, Jacksonville State University, Ala.
Luke B. Olson	Kearney, Neb.	No current employment listed. Was a management assistant, City of Kearney, Neb., Jan. 2008-Jan. 2010.	MPA from Florida State University
James Perkins	Selma, Ala.	Self-employed as consultant and public speaker since 2009	BA in mathematics, Alabama A&M
Gary Rawlings	Charles Town, WV	City manager, Charles Town, W.Va. since 2008	MPA from the University of Hartford
Keith Robbins	Fernandina Beach, Fla.	Not currently employed. Was town manager, Winchester, Conn., 2008-09	BA in business administration, Eastern Connecticut State University
Arthur Roberts	Wantage, NJ	Not currently employed. Last employed as an internet researcher, Retail Placement Solutions, 2001-2008	BA, Montclair State University
Mark Robledo	Ontario, Calif.	Police department management analyst, Pomona, Calif.	MBA, University of La Verne
Russell L. Roebuck	Deland, Fla.	Retired from the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority’s construction services, where he was a construction services support manager, in 2009.	MA from Barry University
Denise Rose	Willingboro, NJ	Township manager, Deptford Township, NJ, since 2007	BA from St. Michael's College in Vermont
Leah Sebag	Flagler Beach	No current employment listed. Last worked as president and mortgage broker at Lonesome Pine Mortgage in Flagler Beach, 2002-2008	Expecting to graduate from Daytona State College in August with a BAS in supervision and management.
Gary Alan Shuler	Flagler Beach	President and general manager, Shuler Tidewater & Sandpiper Contracting, since 1994	BS in business administration, the Citadel military college
Dennis Sparks	Hopewell, Va.	Self-employed management consultant since 2005	MBA from Virginia Commonwealth University
Michael Stampfler	Portage, Mich.	City manager of Talladega, Ala.	MA in international studies and MPA from Western Michigan University
John P. Tahlier	Daytona Beach	Bookkeeper, City of Flagler Beach, since Sept. 2009	BS/BA in accounting, University of Arkansas
Anthony Troiano	East Sandwich, Mass.	Not currently employed. Former town manager, Hopkinton, Mass., from 2006 to 2008	MPA, Western New England College
Tom Vanderhorst	Dayton, Ohio	axation and billing administrator, Springfield, Ohio	MPA Wright State University
Cooper Whitman	The Dalles, Ore.	Not currently employed. Was a bank teller from 2008 to 2009.	MPA, Portland State University
Brian Wilson	Milan, Ohio	City administrator, Milan, Ohio	MA in administration
Jim Wilson	Austin, Texas	Administration supervisor, Travis County Juvenile Probation Department, Austin, texas, since 2004	MPA, Texas State University
Craig Zins	Cincinnati, Ohio	Not currently employed. Working temp jobs since 2007; was public service director, Green, Ohio	MPA, University of Cincinnati