The Longwood City Commission voted to submit five external candidates for interviews to fill the city clerk vacancy and set the interview schedule, after human resources reported a pool of 170 applicants.

Maggie Ridhory, Longwood human resources director, told commissioners, "HR received a total of 170 applications for the city clerk position." She said staff divided the applications into three folders: 11 candidates with Florida clerk-related experience (including one internal candidate), 24 candidates who met minimum qualifications, and 135 who did not meet core qualifications but whose materials remained available for review.

The vote to limit each commissioner to five names passed 4-1. Deputy Mayor Shoemaker voted no; Mayor Sackett, Commissioner Boney, Commissioner McMillan and Commissioner Morgan voted yes. The motion instructed HR to tally commissioners' selections and proceed with invitations based on that list.

Commissioners discussed whether to expand the list to six to include the internal applicant; Ridhory had initially recommended six but opened the decision to the commission. After commissioners submitted their five selections, staff read the tallied finalists aloud. The five external finalists identified for interviews were Madeline Buie, Lianne Cartagena, Bonnie Schlocknick, John Brock and Cassandra Kilmore. The commission then resolved a tie for the sixth slot by vote, selecting Erin O'Donnell as the next highest candidate; commissioners voted by roll call in favor of inviting O'Donnell.

Commissioners also approved, by unanimous voice vote, the HR list of invitees (Madeline Buie, Leanne Cartagena, Bonnie Schlocknick, John Brock, Cassandra Kilmore and Aaron/Erin O'Donnell as read by staff) for scheduling interviews.

Ridhory and commissioners settled interview logistics: interviews are tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 9, with a proposed start at 8 a.m. to allow commissioners to finish by 2:30 p.m. Commissioners discussed 45-minute slots (roughly 30–45 minutes for the interview and 15 minutes between candidates) and whether to allow staff to move to the next-highest tallied candidate if someone is unavailable. Ridhory said HR will contact candidates and replace any who cannot attend with the next highest-scored applicant if necessary.

The commission will reconvene for a special meeting at 3 p.m. on Sept. 15 to make a final candidate selection and will schedule the final appointment for the Oct. 6 regular City Commission meeting. Ridhory told commissioners she would send the final interview itinerary and schedule once candidate availability is confirmed.

Discussion items that did not result in formal policy changes included commissioners' comments about the strength and variety of the applicant pool, the need for a future deputy clerk position to build internal capacity, and preferences for local experience. Several commissioners noted they reviewed the top 35 applications closely and said they were comfortable with the finalists chosen. No ordinance, statute, or other legal authority was cited during the discussion.

The commission's decisions on the number of nominee slots, the final interview list, interview date and follow-up meeting were procedural and directed HR to proceed with scheduling and candidate outreach.