Council picks interim clerk Natasha Peacock as full-time city clerk

The Crestview City Council voted to appoint Natasha Peacock, the interim city clerk, as the city’s full-time clerk and authorized the city manager and city attorney to negotiate her employment contract. Mayor Pro Tem Tim Capps put the motion forward and Councilman Hayes seconded; the motion passed 4–0 with one member absent.

Peacock, who the mayor introduced as the interim city clerk, told the council she has worked in the clerk’s office for 13 years and is finishing a public-administration degree and city-clerk certification. She described ongoing work to create standard operating procedures for the office, said public-records transparency is a top priority, and recommended hiring a deputy or executive assistant to ensure continuity.

During questioning, Peacock described a previous bid-opening error she said taught her to check procedures and to ask clarifying questions; she emphasized that public records belong to the public and noted exemptions for active investigations. Councilmembers repeatedly emphasized the importance of public-records expertise given Florida’s robust open-records laws and praised Peacock’s institutional knowledge.

Two other candidates — an in-person applicant introduced by the mayor as Amanda and a remote candidate identified as Nicole — described experience in local government and human-resources and answered council questions about interruptions, priorities and public-records handling. After discussion, councilmembers said Peacock’s institutional knowledge and experience made her the best fit for the office at this time.

The council authorized negotiation of a contract with the city manager and city attorney; further administrative steps including finalizing compensation and formal swearing-in will follow.