By the time the application deadline passed at the end of July, 140 people had applied to be the next city manager in Flagler Beach. A divided commission decided in June to cull through the stack themselves, without help or recommendations from consultants. Commissioners and the mayor have done that, each choosing their top 10 favorites.
That first cut accomplished, the list is down to 35 names, 19 of whom were picked by two or more commissioners or the mayor.
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On Aug. 12 (Thursday), commissioners at a public meeting will discuss those 35 and likely pare down the remaining applicants to a short list of those who will be invited to interview.
All but 11 of the candidates either live or work in Florida. Just five are women. Two are from Flagler Beach: Bruce Campbell and Michael Evans. A third, Caryn Miller, works for Flagler Beach and lives in DeLand. Only one other candidate from Flagler County made the list—Jim Manfre, the former sheriff, though he appeared on just one of the lists.
The list of 35 names points to favorites, including seven names making at least three commissioners’ top-ten lists. That’s seven names with a majority of three votes to be invited in for interviews.
Only one candidate appeared on four lists: Campbell, who lives in Flagler Beach and works for the Flagler Beach public works department, and on whose behalf Flagler Beach residents are mounting an advocacy campaign. Campbell presents a combination of qualifications and affinities for Flagler Beach, which commissioners are holding at a premium. But the campaign on his behalf could backfire if commissioners begin to feel that Campbell is developing a following so strong that he’d amount to a quasi-elected manager. Commissioners might bridle at the prospect of hiring a manager with his own political base, though such dynamics are not unusual in a city where politics saturates the air as much as the salt in the ocean breeze.
Evans and Miller each appeared on three short lists. Miller had initially applied but withdrew on June 16 “due to recent events within the city and after careful consideration.” She re-applied on July 11, stating: “I had to resolve some personal issues that were impeding me from making a firm commitment to the city at that time. Since then, those issues are no longer a factor and I stand ready and committed to the city which includes me moving into the city should I be chosen.”
Many of the applicants are from coastal cities, especially those from Florida. Commissioners hope to have interviews lined up by September. It’s not clear whether they’ll be able to fill the position by Oct. 1. That’s when current City Manager Bernie Murphy leaves. Officially, Murphy has been an “interim” manager since 2006, though no one buys the commission’s pretense anymore. Murphy, who lives in Ormond Beach, had to keep the “interim” in his title so as not to run afoul of the city charter, which requires the city manager to live within the city limits. The commission has pledged to make that part of its charter stick with the next manager.
The meeting takes place at 5:30 p.m. in the commission’s chambers at 105 S. 2nd Street.
Flagler Beach City Manager Candidates: The Preliminary Short List
| Name | Current location | Current employment | Number of times short-listed* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bruce Campbell | Flagler Beach | Building maintenance worker, City of Flagler Beach | 4 |
| Michael Evans | Flagler Beach | Historical interpreter and operations director, Florida Agricultural Museum. | 3 |
| James Gallagher | Winter Haven, Fla. | No current employment listed. Was Dundee town manager, 2004-2006 | 3 |
| Caryn Miller | DeLand, Fla. | Community Redevelopment Director, Flagler Beach | 3 |
| Gary Rawlings | Charles Town, WV | City manager, Charles Town, W.Va. since 2008 | 3 |
| Edward Sealover | Fernandina Beach, Fla. | Not currently employed. Was county coordinator, Nassau County, Fla., until April 2010 | 3 |
| Gary Word | Miramar Beach, Fla. | Town manager, Surfside, Fla, since 2008 | 3 |
| Matthew Brock | Patrick AFB, Fla. | Not currently employed. Was city manager, Live Oak, Fla, 2003-2005 | 2 |
| James Bursick | Vero Beach, Fla. | Town Manager, Melbourne, Fla. (since June 2006) | 2 |
| James Coleman | Lady Lake, Fla. | Not currently employed; was city and airport manager in Williston, Fla, until 2008 | 2 |
| John Drago | Apopka, Fla. | Not employed. Was city administrator, Longwood, Fla., 1999-2009 | 2 |
| Jim Gleason | Atlanta, Ga. | City manager, Chamblee, Ga. | 2 |
| Cindy Hall | Eustis, Fla. | Not currently employed, was county manager, Lake County, until 2009. | 2 |
| William Scott Janke | Tarpon Springs, Fla. | self-employed as a financial services consultant. Was town manager in Fort Myers, 2008 to 2009 | 2 |
| Craig Lonon | South Padre Island, Texas | Not currently employed. Was city manager of Harlingen, Texas, 2006-2009 | 2 |
| Dale Martin | Linden, Mich. | City Manager, Davison, Mich. | 2 |
| Joseph Miranti | Saint Cloud, Fla. | Not currently employed. Was operations manager at the Florida Department of Children and Families | 2 |
| Michael Stampfler | Portage, Mich. | City manager of Talladega, Ala. | 2 |
| Gregory Wood | Surfside, Fla. | Not currently employed. Was county administrator, Holmes County, Fla, until 2009. | 2 |
| Robert Bannister | Cincinnati, Ohio | Village Manager, Village of Lincoln Heights, Ohio | 1 |
| Everette Basford | Massena, NY | Village administrator of Massena, since 2002 | 1 |
| Bruce Behrens | Groveland, Fla. | Not currently employed. Was town manager in Summerton, SC, until 2009. | 1 |
| Alton Brown | Edgefield, SC | County administrator, Edgefield County, since 2010 | 1 |
| H. Randall Dilling | Port Charlotte, Fla. | Not currently employed. Was Miami Springs police chief until 2008 | 1 |
| Catherine Harding | Tequesta, Fla. | No current employment listed. Was community development director, Tequesta. | 1 |
| Bernard LaPira | Old Fort, NC | No current employment listed. Was village manager, Islamorada, Fla., 2003-2006 | 1 |
| Therese Leary | Hilton Head, SC | General manager, Indigo Run Community Owners' Association, since 2002 | 1 |
| Jim Manfre | Palm Coast, Fla. | Attorney in private practice since 2006 | 1 |
| James McCroskey | Daytona Beach Shores | Asst. city manager, Daytona Beach Shores | 1 |
| John McCue | Orange City, Fla. | Not currently employed. Was Orange City city manager until 2008 | 1 |
| Margaret Mullendore | Buchanan, Mich. | City Manager, Buchanan, Mich. | 1 |
| B. Roger Pulley | Port Charlotte, Fla. | In business and government consulting since June 2009 | 1 |
| Richard Reade | Auburndale, Fla. | Public information officer and "sustainability officer" (i.e. green policies), Delray Beach, since 2009 | 1 |
| Keith Robbins | Fernandina Beach, Fla. | Not currently employed. Was town manager, Winchester, Conn., 2008-09 | 1 |
| Michael Standley | Freeport, Fla. | Not currently employed. Was president and general manager of the Florida Community Services Corp. in Walton County. | 1 |
kmedley says
I’d like to recognize the city commissioners for going through the applications themselves rather than hiring a consultant. I don’t live in Flagler Beach; but, I hope the person named for the City Manager is the person best qualified for the position and not a “favorite”. It would be nice to see a local get the job.
mjw says
Both our city commission, and our residents have a unique opportunity before us at this time, that is to place one of our own, into the position of city manager, this opportunity may not avail itself to us again soon.
Of course, we also must also expect, that this person possess a solid administrative background, including the necessary qualifications, ability, and common sense etc , to do the job.
As you well know, for many years now, we have had a succession of city managers come and go through our doors, with little to show for it.
Now is the time to strongly consider someone with roots here,( a person who lives, owns property, pays taxes and has family here ) there is such a person.
In short, we as a city, are in great need of someone to fill this most important leadership position, hopefully, a person that truly cares what happens to our city, and a person who intends to reside here for the long term.
Our city has been in constant limbo with managers rotating in and out from around the country,often with little understanding of our local concerns, or our goals.
We can do better, as an example, it is my understanding that during the past four years now, we paid our current (interim) city manager $600.00 dollars a month, just to drive his car into town from his home in Ormond Beach every day, outrageous don’t you think ?
This of course is in addition to the generous pay, and benefit package he recieves.
Now is the time for us, to consider some real change in this manager “merry go round” process.
We must at the very least, try as Mayor Baker said, to bring stability to our special little city of 4500 people.
I ask you, who better to be at our helm, than someone familiar with our city, who after all will work harder to improve it, than one of our own ?
Thank you
Jay Ell says
The time is closing in for the City to make a responsible decision as to who will assume the post of Flagler Beach City Manager.
You may be receiving the same information that is being voiced around town by many of the voters who are adamant that the new City Manager should not be chosen because of a personal relationship. In short, the voters are fed up with same old way of doing business by selecting an individual on the basis of personal contacts or on the basis of popularity, or who makes friends of all the staff and puts personalities before the interests of the City.
The word around town is that the electorate prefers a person with a fresh new approach to City Business, a person preferably who is familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of Flagler Beach politics, who will be fiscally conservative, and above all will put the interest of the residents as a major priority. In other words, the time of the big spender is over. This Election in November will demonstrate that fact in no uncertain terms.
Of the local candidates who are in contention, there is a person who appears most qualified to fulfill the wishes of the electorate. We, the voters of Flagler Beach know that our Commissioners will perform a thorough and serious study of the qualifications of the best candidates whereupon it will be obvious who is most qualified for the job of City Manager. Thank you.
Anonymous says
What we need is the right person for the Job, Male or female, local or non local but willing to move to our city. Make sure, the person is qualified, not just a friendly city worker. If you want a professional job done
hire a professional to do it.
Observant citizen says
I sit in shock and wonder at the antics of this Commission as to their “top” local picks for city manager. Does anyone think a maintenance worker is qualified? Or for goodness sake, is the other inside candidate really what we want to portray as the image of our city? Hint: NOT me! Wise up people. Whether you do it yourself or hire a consultant to conduct the screenings, at least put a professional in the seat. You’ve played loosey goosy too long.