The search continues for a new Manatee County administrator

Manatee County's search for a county administrator doesn't appeared destined to end any time soon.

While District 5 Commissioner Vanessa Baugh said May 15 that she would like to see the position filled by the fall, fellow Commissioner Jason Bearden said he could see the position filled early in 2024.

Bearden's projection could cause consternation among a public that already has witnessed strange circumstances since former Administrator Scott Hopes resigned under fire in February.

At the time, the commissioners named Lee Washington, who was the director of Community and Veterans Services, to be the interim administrator while a national search was taking place. Washington received glowing reviews from the commissioners who said he could calm the environment among staff members who had been uneasy since Hopes took over in 2021 with a mission of cleaning house. He lasted 22 months after replacing former Administrator Cheri Coryea.

A red flag emerged in April, when commissioners decided to offer Jon Mast, the CEO of the Manatee-Sarasota Building Industry Association, a contract to replace Washington as the interim CEO.

Considering Hopes had been hired as the interim administrator, then quickly was offered the permanent job after the national search was canceled, it appeared commissioners were again repeating their previous pattern.

However, commissioners balked when County Attorney Bill Clague reported that Mast had been offered a contract with a proposed salary of $225,000 a year. Hopes was making $215,000 a year when he resigned.

Mast was offered a renegotiated contact of $195,000, but took himself out of consideration for the job.

What is left is Washington still acting as interim administrator, even after commissioners made it apparent they wanted him replaced.

File photo

Commissioner George Kruse was somewhat relieved that the attention is focused once again on a national search.

“People have been burned before here, and I was on the board," Kruse said. "I made votes to support a national search last time this came up and lost. You can excuse people if (they are angry the national search was canceled when Hopes was hired). Their comments are based on facts. Their comments are based on history, and we build the history that they base their impressions of this board on.”

Baugh would like to move swiftly forward to find a new administrator, and perhaps calm the waters. She said she would be willing to meet with potential candidates after the commissioners' one-month summer recess begins in mid-June.

"I'm open to whatever we need to do to expedite it," Baugh said. "But then again, I'm only one commissioner. There's seven of us, but I'm sure that it's safe to say that all commissioners know the need and that we need to get this done as soon as possible." 

Bearden offered another viewpoint.

“If we can pull from a larger pool of people, then we’ll be able to pick the best person for this particular job,” Bearden said. “We need to hire a county administrator, but we’re not in so much of a rush that we need to have someone right now, due to budget season and things of that nature.” 

Budget season will begin when Washington delivers a recommended budget to county commissioners sometime between now and June. Bearden said a county administrator would most likely be hired at the beginning of the new year.

To help with the search, Manatee County has assigned staff members to the search and have hired the search firm Colin Baenziger & Associates.

"We will be addressing appropriate ways for the public to interact in the search process as we move forward, but nothing has been finalized yet.” said Bill Logan, Manatee County's information outreach manager. 

Founded in 1997, Colin Baenziger & Associates is a consulting and municipal recruiting firm with clients in 34 states. The firm’s website offers “personal testimonials,” and at the top of the list is a reference from Tom Barwin, Sarasota’s former city manager.

“CB&A’s recruitment brochures are terrific, the best in the business,” Barwin wrote. “They just flow and convey the lay of the land so well for potential candidates — or for anyone else who just might want to learn about a community. So good, even though I am retired, I am tempted.” 

Colin Baenziger told the commissioners the flyers are positive but realistic. Because people are busy, the approximately 10-page flyers save the candidates time by offering a full picture of not just the job, but the local area, too. Among the information is the salary, weather, cost of living, school district and challenges that come with the job. 

Manatee County has had three county administrators over the last four years. Considering the turnover, Baenziger said filling the position comes with challenges. He said those who apply for such a job are confident they can fix any current problems.

“It’s just a different situation, so there’ll be some who will be discouraged by it, and there'll be some who will be thrilled by it because they like a challenge,” he said. “We’re looking for the ones who are thrilled by it and looking for that next challenge.” 

To cast a net for candidates, the firm begins with an internal email list of about 13,500 people who are interested in public sector management. They advertise with trade publications and simply “look for people.” Baenziger said his firm has performed two-thirds of the searches when a city or county in Florida has hired a recruiting firm over the past 26 years. 

The municipality gives the firm search criteria, and typically, with a position like this, the firm comes back with six to eight candidates. Baenziger said the job is likely to be posted by May 23, which was pushed back from an earlier date due to the commission’s upcoming recess.