The City Commission Monday selected six finalists in its search for a new city manager.
Only one of the seven semifinalists selected earlier in the month, Doug Adkins, city manager of Middletown, Ohio, didn’t make the final list. Adkins voluntarily removed himself from the running, Doug Thomas, an executive recruiter with Strategic Government Resources (SGR) said.
The commission enlisted SGR to handle the search in mid-July. SGR beat out firms Slavin and Associates and Colin Baenziger and Associates for the contract. The group said the search will cost the city at least $23,000, but guarantees an applicant will stay with the city at least 18 months or it will restart the intensive process under the same contract.
Finalists for the position include Jamie Croteau, management services director of Boca Raton; Jeff Brown, city manager in Panama City; Jonathan Evans, former City Manager of Riviera Beach; Bob Middaugh, Loudoun County, Virginia’s assistant county administrator; Shawn Sherrouse, current assistant city manager of Lakeland; and Plant City’s assistant city manager and former police chief, Bill McDaniel.
“This is the most important decision the commission makes,” Mayor Rick Lott said.
During the semifinal stage, the candidates submitted resumes, cover letters, responded to a 19-point questionnaire and submitted a short video interview. Thomas said SGR also conducted a “stage 1” media search on the candidates that included three to five years of media coverage.
Now that finalists have been selected, Thomas said a more intense background check will be conducted. The finalists will also visit Plant City over a three-day period in January for a tour of the city with department heads, in-person interviews with commissioners that will include an outline of their first-year plans and a meet-and-greet session with members of the public.
Finalists are expected to meet with members of the public during an open house January 17. Commissioner Nate Kilton said he’d like to see a strong public turnout to help guide the city’s decision.
“We certainly don’t want to do this in a vacuum. I know we’ve all been soliciting feedback as much as we can, begging people to tell us, give us thoughts and opinions, not just about individuals, but also about qualities,” Kilton said. “I can’t stress enough to our audience and anyone you can share with that we need you to be part of this process. Because if we do it on our own, we’re less likely to make the best decision.”
While the commission came to a consensus on allowing all six candidates to move forward, Commissioner Michael Sparkman, one of the city’s longest serving commissioners, said he would not support Evans moving forward. Evans was abruptly fired from his post in Riviera Beach after the Riviera Beach City Council voted 3-2 to remove him. The decision has led to multiple lawsuits in the east-coast city, including cries of corruption against the council members who voted to fire Evans.
“It wasn’t settling and it wasn’t quick. I was disappointed in his candidacy and I will not support his candidacy.” Sparkman said. “I don’t know if this is an issue — it’s something that I noticed — he is of color. I don’t know if it’s Hispanic or black, but the lead commissioner was a black gentleman that was adamant for him to leave. A black female commissioner also supported that and a white female commissioner supported. One comment I thought was interesting, I think they said they should’ve done a better background check. I don’t know what that means, but the media is on top of it down there. They’re making an issue out of it and I don’t want to see us get tied into that.”
Riviera Beach citizens have been demanding council members explain their reasoning for firing Evans. At this point, none have complied and communities have begun petitioning for their ousting. Councilman Terrance Davis accused Evans of poor job performance, though his personnel file contains no evidence to support it, according to a September investigation by a local news outlet. The same outlet also found that Evans had asked for a currently ongoing investigation into Councilwoman Lynne Hubbard for use of public funds on private property before he started and told Councilwoman Dawn Pardo she could not use public money and equipment on a private xeriscape project. Both Pardo and Hubbard joined Davis in voting to remove Evans.
Thomas, who was the city manager of Lakeland, said Evans was a victim of “political turmoil.” Thomas said he selected Evans as one of two finalists for the assistant city manager position in Lakeland, later recommending him for an assistant city manager role in Haines City, where he later became city manager.
Evans, however, wasn’t the only candidate whose application disclosed “press coverage that may be controversial or of concern to the city.” McDaniel disclosed coverage of a “Federal investigation of the Plant City Police Department from 1999 to 2005, during my tenure as Chief of Police.”
Beginning in 1999, the Plant City Police Department was investigated for officers lying, stealing from crime scenes, searching homes illegally and misleading judges. Several officers were prosecuted and some cut deals, accusing McDaniel and then-mayor Sparkman of being in on the corruption. Sparkman and McDaniel denied involvement and were never charged.
McDaniel did not respond to multiple requests for comment as of press time.
Since leaving PCPD in 2012, McDaniel has served as Plant City’s assistant city manager, which includes overseeing police and fire departments. In recent months, Leinbach said he’s “leaned on” McDaniel while he dealt with personal issued that took him out of the office. Leinbach said McDaniel’s support and leadership has been invaluable since he stepped in as interim manager.