The Tallahassee City Commission is moving forward with three finalists for city’s Manager. But concerns about the timing of the search— months before elections decide the makeup of the commission— continued to surface.
Commissioners voted 3-2 to move forward with the finalists during Wednesday's commission meeting. Those finalists are Scott Andrews, former county manager of Dona Ana, NM, Karen Jumonville, deputy city manager of Tallahassee and Valerie Washington, Assistant City Manager of Fort Worth, TX.
Renee Narlock is in charge of the firm that conducted the search for the city.
“I can say without a doubt, we have a good slate of folks here,” she said to commissioners during Wednesday’s commission meeting.
She did say several people the firm reached out declined to apply for several reasons. One of those reasons is the pending elections. The results of the city races could shift the 3-2 power majority, leaving the future of any new city manager potentially in jeopardy.
“I definitely talked with candidates who said, ‘I don't know. I just don't know. You know, it's a lot of unknown there. You know, Renee, what, Renee? What do you think is going to happen in the election?’ I said, ‘I think we're going to get results. Is what we're going to get. You know, that's about as far as I can predict. And I don't even pretend to know what's going to happen in the last one or the one to come,” she said.
While the commission is moving forward with the process for now, Commissioners Jack Porter and Jeremy Matlow voted against it. Matlow cited concerns about the timing around the elections.
“I would respect and value the type of person who would decide not to apply because of the uncertainty of being put in that position. And I'm worried that our candidate pool missed out on those types of individuals. And it's not to diminish anybody who applied. I think we do have good applicants, but I am interested in seeing who else may be interested in in coming to Tallahassee,” he said.
Commissioner Curtis Richardson was part of the three commissioners that voted to move forward.
“I feel confident, Renee, that based on the work that you've done, the scrutiny that you have put into selecting these three finalists, that we will have an opportunity to do the one-on-one interviews. The community will have the opportunity to scrutinize them as well. That we will come forward with someone who will follow adequately in the footsteps of our current city manager,” he said.
The next stages of the process happen next week. There will be a candidate meet and greet with the three finalists at Parkview at Cascades from 4 pm to 6 pm Tuesday. Then, Commissioners will receive presentations from the finalists on Wednesday.
