During a recent government meeting, city commissioners engaged in a heated discussion regarding the selection process for the next city manager of Miami Beach. The meeting centered around the ranking system proposed for evaluating eight candidates, with various commissioners expressing concerns about the fairness and implications of such a method.

Commissioner Suarez initiated the conversation by outlining the ranking process, where each commissioner would assign a score to the candidates. However, concerns were raised about the potential skewing of results if commissioners chose to rank only a few candidates, which could inadvertently favor those who received fewer rankings. This led to a broader debate about the appropriateness of ranking candidates at this stage of the selection process.

Several commissioners, including Commissioner Fennet and Commissioner Fernandez, voiced their discomfort with the ranking system, suggesting instead that they should simply identify their top candidates without assigning specific ranks. Commissioner Fennet proposed selecting the top five candidates for interviews, emphasizing that the goal was to move forward in the selection process rather than to create a public record of rankings that could unfairly label candidates.

The discussion also highlighted concerns about the quality and diversity of the candidate pool. Commissioner Dominguez noted the absence of female candidates among the eight, suggesting that the search should be expanded to include a broader range of applicants. This sentiment was echoed by other commissioners, who expressed disappointment with the overall caliber of candidates presented.

Commissioner Bot raised the issue of the hiring process being perceived as lacking transparency and fairness, particularly in light of the absence of female candidates. The commissioners debated whether to extend the application period to allow for more candidates to apply, with some arguing that a two-week extension could yield a more robust list of applicants.

Ultimately, the commissioners agreed to move forward with the selection process, with a consensus forming around narrowing the candidate list to three for final interviews. The meeting underscored the complexities and sensitivities involved in selecting a city manager, a decision deemed critical for the effective operation of Miami Beach's government.