Boca Raton council directs contract talks with Mark Soheny after five finalist interviews

After a day of hour-long interviews with five finalists, the Boca Raton City Council voted unanimously on Aug. 12, 2025, to authorize negotiations with finalist Mark Soheny for the city manager role and directed staff to return a proposed employment agreement for the council’s public approval.

Mayor Singer opened the special meeting by thanking the outgoing city manager, George Brown, for “nearly 50 years” of service and explaining the purpose was to interview finalists and identify the person “best suited to lead the organization in the future.” The panel of council members and a Mercer Group consultant put each finalist through a standardized seven-question format covering leadership, infrastructure, public safety, fiscal management and communications.

Mark Soheny, an external finalist who told the panel he has “37 years of experience,” emphasized his leadership of large, parallel infrastructure programs and crisis responses during prior military and base-management roles. Soheny said…