Like March Madness, except in summer, the list of candidates vying to be Flagler Beach’s next city manager is down to the final eight, from 140. The Baptist minister, the auto parts clerk, a couple of truck drivers and more than three dozen unemployed candidates (some of them with excellent credentials) have been cut, leaving a field of Florida-only candidates, three of whom either live or work in Flagler Beach, two of whom work for the city. Just one woman made the cut.
The three local candidates are Bruce Campbell, who works for the city as a building maintenance worker but was previously the president of an armrest manufacturing company in Lorain, Ohio; Michael Evans, who works at the Florida Agricultural Museum as a historical interpreter and operations director; and Caryn Miller, Flagler Beach’s community redevelopment director since 2006.
All three are on Thursday’s interviewing schedule.
The fourth candidate on Thursday’s schedule is James Gallagher, who last held a job as tow manager in Dundee, from 2004 to 2006. Dundee, in east Polk County, is a town of about 3,000 people.
Interviews begin Thursday at 1:30 p.m, then again on Sept. 8 at 1 p.m., and possibly on Sept. 9 at 1:30 p.m. When that schedule was set late last month, 12 candidates were still in the running. Four have since either been offered jobs elsewhere or dropped out.
The commission will interview each candidate for 45 minutes. The interview sessions are open to the public, but barring an unlikely change at the meeting, the public will not be allowed to ask questions. (Elected commissions aren’t required to give the public a chance to speak at such meetings.) Thursday’s interviews begin at 1:30 p.m. in the commission chambers on 2nd Street. The line-up is as follows:
- 1:30 to 2:15, Caryn Miller (James P. Gallagher, originally scheduled for the time slot, withdrew).
- 2:30 to 3:15, Michael Evans (if he’s willing to move up his time from the originally scheduled 3:30 time slot).
- 3:30 to 4:15, recess (unless Evans interview takes place at that time).
- 4:30 to 5:15, Bruce Campbell
It’s not clear whether Commissioner John Vath, who has all but vanished from his public duties, will participate in the interviews. He said he may do so by phone.
Below is a chart of the eight candidates, their resumes as they submitted them (click on the name for a pdf of the resume), and how each fared on commissioners’ short lists.
The Managers, Their Resumes and Their Fans
| Candidate & Resume | Current Home | Commissioners' Pick |
|---|---|---|
| James Bursick | Vero Beach | Feind, Vath* |
| Bruce Campbell | Flagler Beach | McGrew, Settle, Vath* |
| Michael Evans | Flagler Beach | Mealy, McGrew, Settle |
| James P. Gallagher | Winter Haven | Mealy, McGrew, Settle |
| William S. Janke | Tarpon Springs | Feind, Mealy |
| Caryn Miller | DeLand/Flagler Beach | McGrew, Settle, Vath* |
| Joseph Miranti | Saint Cloud | McGrew, Settle |
| Gary Word | Surfside | Feind, Mealy, McGrew |
Dick Ricardi says
At last Flagler Beach will be getting its own city manager, at least it looks that way.
City Commissioners received 140 applications for the position and if they can not
provide the citizens with an excellant city manager out of that group, then there is no hope for
them to ever make a decision. I was at the interviews of the first three
applicants and frankly I see no need to look further.
You can read about interviews of Caryn Miller. Mike Evans and Bruce Campbell on Pierre
Tristen’s report of the meeting and judge for youself.
From my observations I have to say, in normal times, Caryn and Mike could get the job done.
But it was obvious that Bruce Cambell was far and away the outstanding applicant. He has the knowledge and experience to bring a whole new level of competency to our city that we have not been exposed to before.
Lets hope our commissioners will take advantage of this opportunity.
Gickino says
As city commissioner contemplate criteria for a new city manager, I hope they will focus heavily on “Management Skills”. “Management ” is the art of getting things done through other people. Having the knowledge and experience to plan, control and direct others with authority and respect.
These qualities are not new to Bruce Campbell, if fact they seem to come naturally. These skills are necessary for success in all management positions whether public or private, Flagler Beach citizens deserve a smooth running and efficient city hall which come only when a staff is content and professionally managed.
Gickito says
While contemplating a vote for new City Manager, I hope Commissioers will remember the qualities of “Management.” Management is the art of getting things done through other people. It involves the skillful handling of people by directing, assigning and controling with authority. Bruce Campbell is the one candidate to whom these qualities come naturally. Citizens deserve a happy city hall.