Search committee recommends three finalists to Fort Lauderdale city commission

The Fort Lauderdale City Manager Search Committee recommended three finalists on a committee vote Friday, sending Raquel Williams, Matthew Bonderhagen and Jason Davis to the full city commission for interviews and possible selection.

The recommendation came after the seven-member committee narrowed a list of seven finalists that had been interviewed last week. Chair Bauker said the committee’s purpose was “to narrow down from the 7 candidates to a smaller number that will then be interviewed by the city commission on the conference agenda on Tuesday, February 4th,” with a meet-and-greet for finalists planned the night before, on Monday, Feb. 3.

The committee spent the meeting discussing each finalist’s experience, public records and any media items that might require further explanation. DeLay Lohman, the search consultant from MGT, told the committee that “in putting the candidates forward … I believe that there are, in a couple of instances, some that warrant further discussion and explanation,” and said he had brought media items of concern to the committee’s attention during the recruitment.

Committee members identified candidate strengths and limits related to municipal size, budgets and prior roles. Several members praised Raquel Williams, currently an assistant city manager in Miami Beach, for what they described as a detailed knowledge of Fort Lauderdale and strong interview performance. Matthew Bonderhagen (listed on materials as Matthew Bonderhagen) drew comments for subject-matter expertise and creativity, though committee members noted he lacks Florida municipal experience. Jason Davis, deputy county administrator from Pasco County, was described by members as a candidate with a “wildcard” set of ideas and experience in grant work and homelessness responses.

Kristen from staff read the committee’s tallies: “So only 2 people received a majority. That is Raquel Williams who received 7 votes. Matthew Vanderhagen received 4 votes. We then have a tie with David Cook and Jason Davis for 3 votes each.” Because David Cook and Jason Davis tied for the remaining slot, the committee held a follow-up vote between those two candidates; that roll-call vote selected Jason Davis as the third finalist.

Committee members also discussed process items. City staff relayed guidance from the city legal office (Dwayne Spence): notes taken during the interview day (the committee’s 9 a.m.–5:15 p.m. interviews) are not automatically public, but “if any of the notes that you took from 9 AM to 5:15 PM are going to be used today and your deliberation in this session, they are discoverable,” meaning they must be provided to staff if relied on during deliberations. Several committee members said they would turn in notes; others said they would not rely on notes taken during the interview day.

The committee heard brief public comment; a speaker representing the Central Regional Alliance thanked members for their work and diligence. After the vote the chair confirmed the committee’s recommendation to the commission: Raquel Williams, Matthew Bonderhagen and Jason Davis would advance to the Feb. 4 commission conference agenda for interviews.

The committee’s recommendation is advisory; the city commission makes the final hiring decision and may choose to interview more candidates or return to the larger applicant pool.