Fort Lauderdale finalists interviewed for city manager; Raquel Williams receives five first‑place votes in preliminary ranking

Fort Lauderdale City Commission members interviewed two finalists for city manager at a conference meeting on Feb. 4 and, following private ranked ballots, the clerk announced Raquel Williams received five first‑place votes. The commission said it will hold a formal vote on appointment at the regular meeting later the same day.

The interviews gave commissioners a chance to question the finalists on priorities including smart growth, infrastructure, emergency management, economic development and affordable housing. Raquel Williams, assistant city manager for the city of Miami Beach, told the commission she hoped to bring stability and consensus building to the manager’s office: “it is my hope that I would be able to fill this role and to promote consensus building, promote staff development, and also push Fort Lauderdale to its next level of success,” she said.

The search process began with a larger applicant pool. Melinda, chair of the city manager search committee, said the city retained consultant MGT and that the firm and the committee screened 94 applicants down to a short list; the committee interviewed seven candidates, narrowed the field to three and one of those three later withdrew, leaving the two finalists who appeared on Feb. 4. Jason Davis, identified in the interviews as assistant county administrator for Port St. Lucie, and Raquel Williams each made opening remarks and answered commissioners’ questions.

Commissioners pressed the finalists on issues City Hall is actively debating. Topics raised during the interviews included: how to manage growth while preserving infrastructure and mobility (the candidates discussed “smart growth” principles and transit), how to advance affordable and workforce housing and neighborhood revitalization, how to manage continuing and upcoming infrastructure projects including stormwater and consent‑decree work, and how to minimize disruption during emergencies. Jason Davis discussed his emergency‑management experience and said he runs tabletop exercises and builds mutual‑aid agreements; he also described his approach to elected officials, saying, “When I do say no, you’ll know why I say no,” and that he tries to lay out a path forward.

Both finalists described experience negotiating public‑private partnerships and working with redevelopment tools. Williams described past projects that combined workforce housing, cultural space and supportive facilities and said leveraging partnerships, workforce development and targeted economic marketing were key to diversifying a local economy. Davis described targeting industry‑specific economic development and managing rapid growth pressures in Port St. Lucie and St. Lucie County.

After the interviews commissioners privately submitted ranked preference forms. The clerk announced, “The numbers are in. 5, first place votes for Raquel Williams.” Commissioners said the result would be formally recorded and voted on at the commission’s regular meeting later the evening of Feb. 4.

The conference meeting record shows the commission used a structured interview format: each candidate gave opening remarks and then answered questions from commissioners in turn. City staff identified in the meeting included recruiter Daley Lohman of MGT and Jerome Post, the city’s human resources director; the search committee chair noted assistance from the women’s club in hosting a public meet‑and‑greet the night before.

The appointment outcome announced during the conference meeting is preliminary: the commission said the formal appointment vote will be held at tonight’s regular meeting, and the clerk will announce that result in the public record.