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Search committee recommends three finalists for Fort Lauderdale city manager; commission schedules public interviews Feb. 4
Summary
A citizen-led search committee has forwarded three finalists for city manager to the Fort Lauderdale City Commission, which accepted the slate and scheduled meet-and-greet and public interviews Feb. 3–4. Some commissioners said they preferred a larger slate but the committee majority narrowed nominees to three.
A city-appointed search committee on Wednesday recommended three finalists for Fort Lauderdale city manager and the City Commission accepted the slate and agreed to public interviews Feb. 4.
Melinda Bowker, chair of the seven-member search committee, said the panel and consultant narrowed an initial pool of candidates to a final three: Jason Davis, deputy county administrator of St. Lucie County, Fla.; Matthew Vander Heyden, township administrator and director of water and sewer for Stafford Township, N.J.; and Raquel Williams, assistant city manager of Miami Beach, Fla. Jerome Post, the city’s director of human resources, told the commission staff and the consultant supported the process.
The selection committee met six times, broadcast its meetings and used a resident survey of more than 200 respondents to shape interview questions, Bowker said. “Each of these candidates received at least a majority vote,” she said, reporting that Raquel Williams received all seven committee votes in an early round and the other two finalists had majority support after deliberations.
Why it matters: The commission will choose the city’s next chief executive after the incumbent’s departure. The public interview format gives residents a chance to hear candidates and commissioners opportunity to press them on issues the city faces, from infrastructure to budgeting.
The commission set a public meet-and-greet for Feb. 3 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Women’s Club and scheduled individual 30-minute public interviews for Feb. 4 in the afternoon. Commissioners said they will also conduct separate one-on-one interviews to inform their final ranking.
Not all commissioners supported limiting the shortlist to three. Commissioner Ben Herbst said he expected five candidates to be forwarded and urged adding additional names to avoid a shortfall if a finalist withdrew. Bowker said the committee voted 4–3 to forward three candidates and noted the commission retains the authority to interview additional candidates or nominate other names when it makes a selection.
What’s next: The commission will interview the three candidates publicly Feb. 4 and may give staff direction that day to begin contract negotiations with a preferred candidate. City staff said any negotiated employment contract would return to the commission for final approval.
Quotes: “I feel we’ve had a very robust and involved process,” Melinda Bowker said of the committee’s work. Commissioner Ben Herbst said he was “disappointed” the committee limited the slate to three and urged that more names be made available if possible.
Ending: The city will present the finalists in a public meet-and-greet on Feb. 3 and hold interviews Feb. 4; commissioners indicated they plan follow-up one-on-one meetings before finalizing a selection and any contract negotiations.
