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Fort Pierce narrows city manager finalists after three candidates withdraw amid off-record calls
Summary
Three external applicants withdrew from the Fort Pierce city manager selection after receiving harassment by phone or text from someone identified by staff; the commission completed three interviews and scheduled one interview and a special decision meeting for the next day.
City staff told the Fort Pierce City Commission that three of seven finalists for the city manager position withdrew from consideration after receiving off-record calls and texts from a person identified as a community member.
HR staff briefed the commission that three external applicants had removed their names from the process following unsolicited contact during the recruitment window. HR said it had contacted each applicant to confirm whether they had been contacted and whether that contact affected their willingness to interview; at least one candidate explicitly cited the outreach and a concern about a possibly tainted process when deciding to withdraw. Commissioners called the withdrawals "counterproductive to transparency and fairness" and said they intended to publicize the reasons so the public understands the circumstances.
The commission conducted three interviews that day and scheduled one remaining candidate to be interviewed the next morning, followed by a special 5:05 p.m. meeting to discuss and decide on the final selection. HR distributed an executive summary and an updated interview schedule to commissioners; HR and legal counsel said staff would be present to answer specific questions related to contact with applicants and to document applicant statements.
Why it matters: Hiring a city manager is a major personnel decision for the commission. The withdrawals—reported to be linked to targeted outreach and harassment—reduced the applicant pool and raised questions about fairness in the recruitment process.
What27s next: One finalist remains to be interviewed the next morning, and the commission scheduled a special meeting later that day to discuss the final selection and any next steps. Staff will provide commissioners with investigation details on the contacts to the extent permitted by applicant confidentiality.
