The Flagler County Board of County Commissioners voted 5-0 Thursday, July 17, 2025, to appoint Michael Rodriguez as the county attorney after a special meeting and public comment period. Commissioner Hansen moved to appoint Rodriguez; Commissioner Carney seconded the motion, and the board took a roll-call vote that resulted in a unanimous yes.

The appointment follows a day of interviews and public comment in which supporters urged the board to choose Rodriguez, citing his courtroom experience and willingness to review pending lawsuits. A resident who spoke during public comment said Rodriguez "has the experience" and urged commissioners to select him and ask him to review ongoing litigation.

The board clarified several procedural points during discussion. A county staff member stated that residency is not required for the county attorney position, noting that only the county administrator must reside in Flagler County. Commissioners also agreed that salary and start-date details will not be determined by the board during the appointment vote but will be negotiated between the successful candidate and the county's human-resources department.

Several commissioners said both candidates were strong. Commissioner Hansen, who made the motion, said Rodriguez "packs all the gear" needed for the office and that he planned to vote for him. Commissioner Carney seconded the motion and recorded a yes vote during the roll call. Commissioner Pennington, Commissioner Richardson and the board chair also voted in favor; the motion carried 5-0.

During the meeting commissioners asked for assurances about continuity with current assistant attorneys. One commissioner requested that the incoming county attorney commit to collaborating with existing staff, specifically naming two assistants (Sean and Sarah) and asking that any concerns about their performance be raised with the board before formal corrective action. County staff present indicated they did not anticipate problems with collaboration.

Public commenters urged a prompt appointment so county legal work could proceed without added strain on staff. One speaker, Perry Mitch of London Drive, told commissioners that further delay would "hurt the county in the long run" and urged them to finalize a hire so staff could get direction from a chief legal officer.

Outgoing county attorney Al Hadid was thanked during the meeting for his years of service. The board also thanked staff member Charlie and others for organizing the recruitment packet and for work the board said saved the county an estimated $50,000 to $60,000. The new county attorney's start date and contract terms were not specified; commissioners said those details will be handled through HR and the candidate's negotiations.