Only 38 candidates have applied to be Palm Coast’s next city manager. Less than half the applicants (17) have previous city manager experience. Only a handful of those have managed a city with more than 50,000 people. Among the three, only one has managed a city with a population close to Palm Coast’s 107,000 (the current city manager of Edison, N.J.)
The general quality of applicants is not stellar: top-flight candidates are not beating down the city’s door. If the council is to look for candidates with previous city-manager experience, it will for the most part have to take a chance on candidates hoping to leap from smaller managerial jobs into the city’s bigger job. The council would take an even bigger chance if it were to give the job to someone with no city management experience: Flagler Beach tried the approach twice in the past decade and regretted it.
The number of applicants is 16 fewer than when the city conducted a search with the same recruiting firm in 2019-19, when it drew 54 applicants (and ended up hiring Matt Morton), and 53 fewer than when its own administration conducted a search in 2021. That search was flawed as most applicants thought the city was looking for a “manager,” not a “city manager.” The council junked it and named Denise Bevan its permanent manager.
Bevan was fired last March, prompting the new search. Lauren Johnston has been acting city manager since. She has no interest in a permanent appointment. She has not applied for it. Nor has anyone from within the city–or from any local government. The dearth of applicants may reflect some hesitancy among top-flight candidates to apply for a job in a city with an unpredictable city council, though four of the five members of the council are new, and the veteran on the panel, Theresa Pontieri, had opposed firing Bevan.
Nine applicants are applying from Florida, also an unusually low number, three of them from Palm Coast, including Jim Manfre, an attorney and the former Flagler County sheriff who has repeatedly applied to be manager in local cities, with no success. The other Palm Coast applicants are Anna Gibson, who describes herself as “a proud resident of Palm Coast for over ten years” and a n IT professional, and Morris Stowers, who runs his own insurance company and bought a house in palm Coast last year, moving from South Florida. Chris Edwards of Daytona Bach, the former economic development director and community redevelopment agency director for New Smyrna Beach, is also applying.
The opening drew a few odd choices–a middle school teacher, a police commander, an elections office worker, an accounting clerk, and a construction manager. Only eight applicants are women. Most who have managed cities have down so in small towns or townships. Several are currently unemployed after resigning or getting fired. City and county managers have notoriously brief tenures of a few years since they are at mercy of the political make-up of elected boards, and tenures often end simply because a manager no longer clicks with a new majority. In some cases of course, the separation goes beyond politics.
Applicant Patrick Comiskey had been the city manager of Mount Dora (population: 18,000) from 2021 to January 2024 when he was suspended then fired after an internal investigation blistered his tenure there. The investigation cited numerous city policy violations, including malfeasance and neglect of duty–and recommended his firing.
Sharon Kraynik, Mount Dora’s former human resources director (she had resigned a year before he was fired), wrote in a memo about the investigation: “I felt that this report was riff with whining, either misunderstanding or all out lies, and a lot of hearsay. This is coupled with the investigator interjecting her own opinions and asking leading questions. I found numerous untruths in the report and incidents where a situation was taken out of context and made into something it was not.” Comiskey doesn’t mention the controversy in his introductory letter or his resume, but includes the Kraynik and other memos or letters that she some light on it, from his perspective.
Applicant Scott Moye had been the county manager in Ware, Ga. (pop. 36,000) when, according to a local press report, he “abruptly resigned October 14 behind a closed-door, executive session of the commission that lasted nearly three hours. Neither Moye nor commissioners commented on the departure, which was effective immediately. Moye remained, on the payroll until December 31.” Georgia does not have Florida’s open-meeting and open record laws, which would prohibit closed door meetings involving personnel issues or the non-disclosure of decisions to fire or allow a top executive to resign.
Strategic Government Resources, the Texas-based company conducing the search on Palm Coast’s behalf, solicited the candidates in December. The application window was to close on Dec. 29. Apparently without the City Council’s knowledge or approval, SGR–which did not provide the applications until Wednesday, though they had been requested since early January–opted to extend the application window on its own.
“SGR extended the application deadline for the position in response to a number of prospective candidates that we were in contact with around the holidays to enable them to finalize their application materials,” SGR’s Doug Thomas wrote the city manager and the human resources director on Jan. 15, “and I still have one candidate that I am awaiting feedback from later today about his possible interest in the opportunity. Given that we ended up rescheduling the Applicant Triage/Selection of Semifinalists meeting with the Mayor & City Council to January 28th, we believe it was in the best interest of the City to continue to allow as many candidates who we had been in contact with to apply for the position leading up to that meeting. If SGR receives an additional application, we will send that information to you separately.”
The council is expected to draw up a short list at that Jan. 28 workshop. The applicant list is below, with each resume linked from the applicant’s name.
Applicants for Palm Coast City Manager, 2025
| Abby O'Neill | Cleveland, Ohio | Human Capital Systems Director, Dodeca Systems Consulting | |
| Adam Winston | Cleveland, Ohio | VP of governmental affairs, MetroHealth Systems, Ohio | |
| Andrew (Drew) Willison | Washington, D.C. | Attorney, Oldaker & Willison | |
| Anna Gibson | Palm Coast | Graduate Assistant, Gonzaga University | |
| Antonius Barnes | Lynn Haven, Fla. | Middle school teacher | |
| Bradley (Brad) Gotshall | Lower Paxton, Pa. | Township manager, Lower Paxton (pop. 53,000) | |
| Brian Bulthuis | Clermont, Fla. | Not employed. Was Cleremont, Fla., city manager until December 2024. | |
| Brian Geoghegan | Naples, Fla. | Public safety manager, North Naples Hospital | |
| Cesar Garcia | La Marque, Texas | City manager, La Marque, Texas (pop. 19,600) | |
| Christopher (Chris) Edwards | Daytona Beach | Not employed. Was New Smyrna Beach's economic development director until 2024. | |
| Cynthia (Cindy) Raleigh | Palacios, Texas | City manager, Palacios, Texas (pop. 4,374) | |
| Daniel (Danny) Coviello | Landsdale, Pa. | CEO, Goliath Engineering Technology | |
| Darren Coldwell | Page, Arizona | City manager, Page, Arizona (pop. 7,300) | |
| David (Dave) Smolenski | Venice, Fla. | Administrative commander, Venice Police Department | |
| David Strahl | Crest Hill, Ill. | Interim human resources manager, City of Crest Hill (pop. 21,000) | |
| Denise Fitzgerald | Pittsburgh | Township Manager, Scott Township, Pa. (pop. 17,700) | |
| Dicran (Rick) Keuroglian III | Georgetown, Colo. | Not employed. Was town administrator, Georgetown, Colo., until Nov. 2024 (pop. 1,260) | |
| James (Jim) Manfre | Palm Coast | Attorney in private practice | |
| Jerome (Jay) Wilverding | Stockton, Calif. | County administrator, Stockton County, Calif. (pop. 320,000) | |
| John Vonglis | New Rochelle, N.Y. | Founder and chair, NANO Nuclear Energy (since December 2024) | |
| Kara Boyles | Elkhart, Ind. | City engineer, South Bend, Ind. | |
| Matthew (Matt) Rebuck | Whispering Pines, N.C. | Director, North Carolina Department of Public Safety Training Academy | |
| Melissa Davis | Atlanta, Ga. | Interim deputy commissioner, Atlanta Department of Public Works | |
| Michael Reese | Maplewood, Mo. | Not employed. Was city manager, Maplewood, Mo. (pop. 8,000), until 2023. | |
| Mitchel (Mitch) Hammes | Colorado Springs, Colo. | Voter Services Manager, Arapahoe County, Colo. | |
| Morris Stowers | Palm Coast | Founder and CEO of Dolphin Direct Insurance. | |
| Patrick Comiskey | Mount Dora, Fla. | Not employed. Was city manager of Mount Dora, Fla. until Jan. 2024. | |
| Patrick Jordan | Clarksville, Mich. | County administrator, Ionia County, Mich. (pop. 66,000) | |
| Paul Trombino | Greeley, Colo. | Public works department director, Greeley, Colo. | |
| Redmond Jones II | Iowa City, Iowa | Not employed. Was Deputy city manager in Iowa City from 2021 to 2024. | |
| Richard Hough | Fort Atkinson, Wis. | Public works director, Walworth County, Wis. | |
| Robert (Rob) Boswell | Manor, Pa. | Accounting clerk, North Huntington Township, Pa. | |
| Robert Hemminger | Iowa Colony, Texas | City manager, Iowa Colony, Texas (pop. 15,000) | |
| Ryan Sherman | Rochester, N.Y. | Construction manager | |
| Scott Moye | Waycross, Ga. | Not employed. Was County manager, Ware County, Ga. until October 2024. | |
| Sonya Alves-Viveiros | Edison, N.J. | City manager, Edison, N.J. (pop. 106,000) | |
| Tracy Roles | Ada, Okla. | City manager, Ada, Okla. (pop. 16,600) | |
| William (Bill) Lawrence | Leesburg, Fla. | Town manager, Lady Lake, Fla. | |
Joanne C says
Seems that Palm Coast needs a new recruiting firm. SGR has now failed twice in finding a viable candidate for City Manager. The candidate pool list SGR submitted late shows no qualified applicant. SGR extended the application deadline without approval. I don’t know the history of why SGR was chosen, but it looks like the City needs to move on to a different firm.
Billy says
Actually, the new updated population of Palm Coast is 133,000
FlaglerLive says
The latest available figure from the Census for Palm Coast is the mid-year 2023 estimate of 102,000. The latest-available figure from the Census for Flagler County is 131,400.
Dennis C Rathsam says
With the reputation, of the city of P/C! And the baggage it provides all applicants Im shocked you got that many interesting candidates. With that said, its time for another approach, since these people dont check any boxes. Play like the big boys play! Do some research on a great run city, see what the deal is, then take the city manager there out for dinner, {all on the side of course} Bring a few good bullshiters,{ you have the pick of P/C best polititions} show photos, & lie about all the good things we have to offer, And on the 4th martini whip out a contract, & blow him away. WHATTA got to lose? It beats that group of losers!
celia pugliese says
After the debacle and whistle bower letter of Amanda Reese and before that the fate of 3 unceremoniously booted prior managers who want to risk come to work in this city? The city administrations is a disaster for the residents and often our elected flip on us as soon as seated at the dais. Campaign promises forgotten and go back to hit again defeated proposals over and over again…The 5 are always on learning process and residents endure the outcome.
Referendums and residents needs are ignored over “WANTS”. They forget the plats entitlements we were given by ITT when we bought here since 40 years ago. The “Wants: are to park my commercial vehicle in my house on residential zoned area because I am lazy and do not want to have to leave it at the commercial parking and drive my car home or put on and off the magnetic sings or want to save to my business or myself the storage fee. If they plan to pass their wish, better think about first change the city residential to commercial zoning. By the way new state law allowing these vehicles mention only work vehicles very different that commercial vehicles. Want to paint my house like Mayor cheers for any color I feel and if majority vote for it, then we may see houses painted like Navy Blue allover because an affluent lady decided not to repaint one of her many houses abiding the current ordinance, may see pride shown on painted houses like BLM black, or Rainbow rights, or polka dot or yellow and black “don’t tread on me” or even the colors of our flag that I revere but not in the house next door or just plain Barbie because we have girls in the house! Anything goes.. . Includes thinking about selling the PHGC (can do that as a municipal court we battle to get it donated from Centex to us, the city and original platted by ITT that sold us the adjacent lost at higher prices. None Mayor or Council reside adjacent to PHGC…so comes easy to them to try put cell towers defeated by Land Development Attorney Brent Spain twice on it and now more threats including taking it back to outside management like the disastrous Kemper Sports that finally after 10 years city booted! Or even thinking to sell it,,,All because there is someone with connections pushing to buy it not considering the legal implications. All over $438,000 in fleet and equipment charge in 2023 annual report, that we are suggesting to audit the very simple annual financials. to find out why! Developers always drooling for those PHGC 169 acres. Before Mayor and Council move on these things they need to THINK…advise of Mr, Watson to his IBM staff in 1911.
Villein says
Well this bodes well for the City. It would seem there are no strong candidates. I would question the head hunters as to why there were no strong candidates and what can be done about it.
There are big problems in Palm Coast and its going to take a great leader to address them.
ThankGodIDon'tLiveInPalmCoast says
This is hilarious; the word has gotten out that Palm Coast is a cesspool of inept morons who have zero ability to budget, plan or manage anyone who works there properly. Look at your history of elected officials who have left or failed to get re-elected because they didn’t fit in with the horrible culture within city hall. Now you know why the potential candidates aren’t banging down your door.
Standing in the Middle of Palm Coast Parkway says
When I read these comments, I have to laugh out loud. And I thought the Mullins, Danko, and McDonald ‘political’ antics were hilarious. Each commenter demonstrates exactly why smart city manager-type candidates would stay away from Palm Coast. Joanne criticizes the recruiting firm for going beyond the contract to try and find candidates. Billy overstates how many people live here. Dennis just flat-out suggests lying and entrapment. Villein suggests we should ask the recruiting form why there are no strong candidates but points out PC needs a ‘great leader’. Good luck.
Mike P says
It’s like recruiting for a head coach of the NY Jet’s! Who the hell would want to go there!
Callmeishmael says
I seem to recall prior to his being selected as a councilman some discussion among the previous council regarding Mr. Gambaro possibly serving as city manager.
Could be a bargain now, all things considered. Put him there, then designate another unelected councilperson to fill out the term originally vacated by Mrs. Heighter.
Fire the search firm, get a good employment deal with Mr. G, and select a new District 4 representative who can function collaboratively until the 2026 election, when their term will be up.
Then we voters will take the reigns again.
Ed Danko, former Vice-Mayor, PC says
Let’s keep an eye on who councilwoman Theresa Pontieri supports. Let’s not forget that she was the only council person who voted not to fire failed former City Manager Denise Bevan, who without a doubt was the worst City Manager in the history of Palm Coast. Bevan, hand picked by Alfin, was a green new deal liberal with no prior experience as a City Manager who bulked behind the scenes about tax cuts. Beware, whoever “Tax & Spend Theresa” supports will probably be an environmental lib who will want to raise our taxes to save the planet from the farce called climate change.
FlaglerLive says
The vote to fire was 3-2, with Nick Klufas and Pontieri in opposition, Alfin, Danko and Heighter in the majority.
John Stove says
The City’s reputation of disfunction, back room deals and outright lying has preceded itself and no candidate in his/her right mind would apply.
This is why we will be stuck in a doom loop of incompetent government for the City.
We need a change agent who doesnt get canned by the council……
Lois says
It looks like people might be doing back ground checks on Palm Coast? No one with any smarts seem to be not interested in coming here. Can’t blame them, it’s turning into a real shit show in Palm Coast. Sad.
Sick Of It Already says
Its my understanding a head hunter is paid to find the perfect candidate for a position. Looking at the list right off the bat 21 applicants should not have been on that list I mean isn’t that why you pay someone to find you the right fit why on earth would they send a list with 21 NO’s on it makes no sense to me. An interview would be a huge waste of time and money not to mention the money SGR is being paid to find and present applicants with NO experience. The other thing I noticed that some of the applicants are in a much much lower pay scale than Palm Coast City Manager’s pay scale, Accounting clerk, North Huntington Township, Pa. Middle school teacher,Graduate Assistant, Gonzaga University all NO’s with the proper experience. Is that what we are paying a head hunter for. I was an accounting clerk up north if that is the case then I would gladly give up my tiny SS and apply for a job with no experience making over $100K a year. I’m also going to mention that applicants interview expenses are paid by the hiring company and I’m sure if a candidate was chosen from another state hiring companies usually pay for the move as well. In my opinion there is not one person on that list qualified for the job. City of Palm Coast WAKE UP!!!!!! FIRE SGR AND LOOK FOR A NEW HEAD HUNTER STOP WASTING SO MUCH MONEY IT’S NEEDED FOR OUR SEWER SYSTEM AND ROADS AND EVERYTHING ELSE THE DEVELOPERS AND BUILDERS DO NOT CARE ABOUT.
Doug says
Looks like a fine crop to me. I say we go with the middle school teacher ;)
Steve says
This was very predictable. Individuals who work in public service know the culture of most of the regional municipalities. Our reputation precedes us as a difficult environment in which to be successful. It will require many years of political stability before the best candidates will consider joining us. This has nothing to do with the hiring firm. It has to do with who we are as teammates.
Bobby says
Anyone in their right mind wouldn’t want that job. Why put your career into a town that has no clue what their doing.
Jay Tomm says
Same problem as all the .gov job in Flagler. PAY. Flagler wants to be big, too bad pay is so low.
Ben Hogarth says
In reviewing the applicants, I was able to identify only three (3) who are either current or former city managers in the state of florida who would have very critical and relevant history and legal background of Florida law and policies. Of the three, only one who has not recently resigned or left their post due to serious “differences” with their respective councils. I will not make assertions about either of them so as to not unfairly diminish their fitness for the positions without all of the evidence and details…… but suffice to say this is not an ideal pool of candidates. So naturally, let speculation run wild as to why this may be.
As someone who could absolutely do the job and has very relevant experience in not just public administration, and not simply Florida, but to Flagler and Palm Coast itself, I can give you a number of reasons why I would not apply. For one, I have never been a city manager before and would never come up in the rolodex of the headhunter firm. I was a runner up and third choice in my last foray at a Town Manager position between 2019 and 2022. When I was selected second by that town in Florida, the selected candidate ended up reneging on their selection the following day. Instead of positioning myself to be the next candidate, I asked the council to reevaluate what exactly it was they wanted in a candidate. Once they did, they went back out to solicitation and found a new pool of candidates from which they eventually hired a town manager who lasted a couple of years. I realized early on that I was not a best “fit” for their community based on what made those individuals “feel good.”
What I found was that the council members never made a serious effort in the first place to ask themselves what and who they truly wanted in an ideal candidate. They trusted a headhunter (executive recruiting agency) firm to give them a pool of candidates. How does this process work? Well, typically these well-known recruiting firms have rolodexes of “qualified” managers in the state on their rolls who will periodically be available for hire. So they will shoot them emails and the merry-go-round of (often) less than desirable candidates continues. We see the same managers in this state repeatedly recycled from town to town with this “quiet part not loudly said” that maybe the candidate just didn’t fit the “community” or politic of the council / commission. In some instances (perhaps many), the managers are just really bad at managing and look great on paper, but in practice, belong nowhere near an administrative office.
My second reasoning for not applying to Palm Coast is that I’m WELL aware of the current political dynamic. Many GOOD public administrators are leaving the field for private work altogether because of how toxic and unproductive local government political bodies have become. Public administrators like myself can find work in the private sector and get paid (in some instances) double what we would in public sector, for less than half the aggravation and agitation. So why would be put ourselves through hell when the good managers just want to make a difference and positive impact? We would be wasting our time and energy, let alone putting ourselves through serious grief.
I guess one of my points in making this post is a sort of rebuttal on the commentary that Palm Coast needs to find another recruiting firm. For what? Great managers who are looking for a new position already know what jobs are available. Great managers also want to GROW which means they will naturally be looking for a larger community or town than the one they currently manage. So unless you want to hire a near retiree or actual retiree, almost every applicant is going to come from a position, title, or community that is above their current status. It’s a moot point to say that “only this many applicants have managed a town of this size before.” If you are a GREAT manager, and if you are a manager who knows how to manage 5 people, you can manage an organization with 500 or 5000. If you are a GREAT manager, you know how delegation and span of control operate. If you are a GREAT manager, you know how to divide your time between ministerial duties, uplifting employees and growth from within, engaging constituents/residents, gathering feedback from your council members, and most importantly – listening to everyone with an open mind. But as I have followed city and county administration in this state for more than two decades now, you could say I have been rarely impressed at the highest levels. These qualities are just so rare altogether.
My advice? Don’t hire someone who sounds like they have all the right answers. Look for the candidate who asks all the right questions. Best of luck.
K says
None of us are interested in what failed Ed Danko has to say.
Go find another locality that doesn’t know what you are and embarrass and destroy that town.
celia pugliese says
Also former Councilman Danko stop pushing your contact interested in buying our PHGC…is not for sale no matter what Councilman Gambaro said in the meeting. After all Councilman Gambaro is close with Danko that moved first to appoint him. Hope some change is attitude in the council meeting will prove me wrong and give me positive hope. In 2022 the annual financial report showed the PHGC gave a close to 10,000 profit with revenues from golfers paid fees of 1.56 million in 2023 those revenues grew to over 2 millions in golfers fees but city administrators came with a charge for fleet vehicles and equipment of $438,000 and that is the loss the PHGC showed…An audit for PHGC detail expenditures is needed. No other course in Palm Coast has over 2 millions in revenue and Mr. Gambaro wants to sell the course or lease it to a management to have the disaster of 10 years we had with Kemper Sports when booted? Our Golf Course about 169 acres, we the adjacent residents ,affected by its presence and the golfers, fought hard to get it donated to us, the city by Centex and is not for sale or lease because is our original platted ITT entitlement for which we paid our properties a higher price to be on the course! We are ready to battle again if needed. Why council and mayor other than wasting so much time trying to change our ordinances and sell our amenities don’t get to work instead on the Palmcoasters nuisance flight schools bombarding us out of FINN, the flooded homes caused by city approval of higher back filled infill lots, our madness traffic and red lights better programmed, our need for a expanded animal shelter given the growth you all approve with flying colors , what to do about our homeless around us and to stop the frivolous waste of our hard earned taxes and lower utility bills?? Much better issues to resolve for us that commercial semis, etc. parked in our residential homes already overwhelmed with cars as their garages used for storage instead…Paint your house anyway you want it or lease or sale “our” PHGC over inflated unexplained $438,000 fleet whatever charge. All 3 items to affect the value and curve appeal of our once beautiful Palm Coast!
Jim says
Hey, Danko, former city council member, you are good at revisionist history. It seems that former City Manager Denise Bevan was fired by you, Alfin and Heighter in a council meeting with no forewarning nor apparent cause. Even after she was terminated and Alfin tried to justify the action, his explanations were unbelievable. And you say she’s the worst city manager Palm Coast has had? If that’s the case, the three of you who terminated her should have been able to make your case in clear, concise points so all Palm Coast could understand the action. That did not happen.
We all know you’re just full of sour grapes since the council (lead by Pontieri) censured you at the end of your term. So gripe all you want about Pontieri. I think many of us in Palm Coast will look at your whining as more reason to support her. She’s been one of the more stable members of the council (certainly compared to you) and, if I were her, I’d take you little criticisms as a badge of honor.
You didn’t run for re-election as a council member because you knew you’d get beat and couldn’t fool enough people in Flagler County to become a commissioner. But you keep trying. Maybe enough new people will move in the area to put you over the top next time – but I seriously doubt it.
well actually says
Denise Bevan was the best CM since Landon left, she had the support of staff and the best interests of CoPC in mind…her firing was a last ditch effort by Alfin to try and shift blame (scapegoat) in an attempt to salvage his election. You see how that worked out…and Danko fell for the ploy hook line and sinker
Municipal Blvd says
Sonia the BA from Edison where Council recently banned the US Flag and Constitution from meetings….. Sonia the Million Dollar No Bid Contract Scandal at her husband’s place of employment… Sonia who got a temporary order of protection against a resident, after she told him to tell it to her husband in an argument in chambers. Google her name the list is never ending on controversial issues within multiple cities where she worked.
https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/local/middlesex-county/2024/11/26/edison-township-council-bans-american-flag-constitution/76589972007/
Edison Council Bans Flag
https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/local/middlesex-county/2023/05/24/edison-township-council/70247238007/
May 24, 2023
‘You have duped this council’: Edison fireworks after corruption charge in $1M contract
https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/local/middlesex-county/2023/09/30/edison-township-nj/70983212007/
Edison punts shipping container purchase for township departments
https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/local/middlesex-county/2023/09/30/edison-township-nj/70983212007/
Edison punts shipping container purchase for township departments