Daytona Beach commission selects Abenet Belichu as city auditor after interviews

The Daytona Beach City Commission voted 5-2 on June 1, 2025, to select Abenet Belichu as the city’s next auditor after interviewing two finalists during a special meeting.

Commissioners conducted 30-minute interview blocks with each finalist and asked detailed questions about auditing standards, performance audits, ethics and communicating findings to elected officials and the public. The two finalists were Abenet Belichu, identified in the meeting as currently with USAID and applying for the city auditor/internal audit director role, and Roy Galder, identified in the meeting as an audit manager with the City of Dallas.

The choice matters because the city auditor’s office will set priorities for audits that can affect departmental operations, city spending and public trust. Both candidates emphasized independence, evidence-based recommendations and communicating findings to elected officials.

Belichu described more than 20 years of government auditing experience and multiple professional credentials, saying, “I have been in government more than 20 years… I am a certified public…