Nine City Manager Applications, So Far

By Mike Lednovich

There are currently nine applicants for the vacant Fernandina Beach city manager position including three current or former city managers according to information released by the City Clerk’s office.

These candidates’ profiles were written from information available on the internet and their applications.

The candidates thus far include:

Michael W. Lamar, former City Manager of Prescott, Arizona, October 2016 to February 2023.

Lamar began his tenure with the city of Prescott, a city of 43,000 residents, in 2016. He was city manager when in 2017 voters in Prescott approved a measure that will raise the city’s sales-tax rate to help pay down the city’s $78 million pension debt.

Lamar came to Prescott from Morgan County, Georgia where he served as County Manager. He resigned his position this year.

He is currently Vice President of Public Affairs, Data Blanket, Inc., Bellevue, Washington, February 2023 – Present

Lamar was the former City Manager of Trenton, Florida, November 1999 -to July 2005. He was county manager in Morgan County, Georgia.

He holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Georgia.

“I grew up in North Central Florida and my first two local government positions were both within 2 1/2 hours drives of your community; so, I understand better than most the importance of balancing growth/development in sought-after sunbelt communities with environmental protections that make a place like Fernandina Beach unique. In fact, somewhat surprisingly, Prescott faces very similar growth issues that I would be glad to explain to you in an interview,” Lamar said in his cover letter to the city.

“Too often the bureaucratic nature of local governments leads to stagnate and less than creative decision making that frustrates everyone involved. However, at every stop along my professional local government journey, I can point to highly successful projects that overcame this tendency.”

Ronald P. “Ron” Russo, Inspector General, United States Capitol Police, Washington, January 2023 – Present.

The Inspector General reports directly to the Capitol Police Board and heads the Office of Inspector General (OIG). The OIG supervises and conducts audits, inspections, and investigations involving USCP programs, functions, systems, and operations.

According to the OIG website, Russo is a career law enforcement professional with more than 32 years of public service in state and local government. He served as the Inspector General for the Florida Department of Agriculture, the Florida Department of Transportation, and the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

Russo also served in various law enforcement leadership positions at the St. Petersburg Beach Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Florida Department of Motor Carrier Compliance.

Russo led the Protective Operations Section responsible for the security of Florida’s Governor and First Family, ushering in new protocols after the events of September 11, 2001. In addition to having a substantial background in performing audits and investigations,

Russo also served as the Deputy County Manager for one of Florida’s fastest-growing counties where he oversaw the Departments of Public Works, Environmental Services, Parks and Trails, Housing and Human Services, Veteran Affairs, Library Services, Transit Services, Probation, Facilities Management, Fleet Management, and Legislative Affairs. Additionally, while serving as a state agency Deputy Secretary, he led the Divisions of Education and Testing, Regulation, Real Estate, Certified Public Accountancy, Florida State Boxing Commission, and the Office of External Affairs

Robert J. Reinshuttle, Deputy County Administrator, Manatee County, Bradenton, Florida June 2021 – February 2023.

According to the Bradenton Times, Reinshuttle was fired in February after the disclosure of questionable text messages with the County Administrator, county directors and contractors. He was one of four deputy administrators for the county.

“As a former resident of Fernandina Beach, I know that your city deserves an individual with leadership abilities who can communicate and work with a diverse Board in order to achieve the mission of the organization and assist you with serving your constituents. As Deputy County Administrator in Manatee County, I strived to fulfill that role and brought to the table a high degree of morals and ethics,” he said in his cover letter.

“It would be my intent to work every day to build communication with each of you, ensure that we all have the same set of information and facts to move forward, and make sure that our positive outcomes will make the folks of Fernandina Beach, a community that I love, proud of our work.”

He was Chief Operating Officer for The Florida Association of Community Health Centers, Inc. (FACHC) from January 2007 to June 2021.

Reinshuttle served as National Director of Government Relations with the American Society of Extracorporeal Technology. He served as Director of State and Congressional Relations for Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission from 2001 to 2003.

He was Director of Health Policy (2001) and Chief of Staff (1998-2000) at the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration.

Reinshuttle served six years as Senior Budget and Policy Chief/ Intergovernmental Affairs Director Executive Office of the Florida Governor Office of Policy and Budget from 1992 to 1998.

He holds multiple degrees from Michigan State and Florida State Universities.

Patrick S. March, City Manager Fernley, Nevada, September 2022- December 2022.

Fernley is in Lyon County, Nevada and part of the Reno-Tahoe-Sparks metropolitan area. The city was incorporated in 2001 and has a population of nearly 20,000 people.

Marsh, who was appointed to the post in September, was fired in mid-December. The City declined comment on a reason for the dismissal. Marsh was hired last January as deputy city manager, then was appointed acting city manager following the resignation of Daphne Hooper last May. Marsh was hired as city manager September 13, after being chosen over six other applicants for the job.

Marsh was the City Administrator for the City of Fitchburg, Wisconsin for six years.

But his image was tarnished in November 2020 when he was arrested on alleged public intoxication, disorderly conduct and assault, as well as battery by Myrtle Beach, South Carolina police, according to WMTV-15 news.

According to WMTV-15, police spoke to a witness of the incident who said Marsh came through the front door and was told that there was a 35-40 minute wait at the restaurant. They also reportedly told Marsh he had to wear a mask due to a city ordinance, to which Marsh allegedly said he did not have to.

Police said then Marsh allegedly began to hit the victim. Marsh, the victim and a witness all reportedly ended up on the floor when staff and restaurant patrons began to intervene. Staff were then able to get Marsh out of the restaurant prior to police arriving and the incident was captured on restaurant cameras.

Marsh resigned, pre-empting an investigation by the Fitchburg City Council into his conduct following the arrest.

Marsh has 20 years total executive city administration experience.

Marsh was City Administrator and Economic Development Director for the City of Monona, Wisconsin from November 2007 to September 2015. He served nearly eight years as City Administrator and Economic Development Director for the City of Monona, Wisconsin from November 2007 to September 2015. He held the Assistant City Manager position with the City of Eldridge, Iowa from December 2002 to June 2003.

He holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Northern Illinois University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business/Public Administration from Augustana College.

He has unsuccessfully applied for at least four city manager positions in Florida in the past several years.

Michael A. Giardino, Interim Airport Assistant Director, City of Brownsville, Texas, April 2023 – Present

In February 2023, by a vote of 4 to 1, the Peninsula Airport Commission voted to terminate Airport Executive Director Giardino, effective immediately. The airport is in Newport News, Virginia. Giardino had been the airport’s executive director for five and half years.

He was Director of Aviation / Administrative DirectorDirector of Aviation / Administrative Director Greater Rochester International Airport / Monroe County Airport from March 2012 to Oct 2017.

“I am an achievement-oriented manager with 37 years of progressively increased leadership experience and 16 solid years of municipal government services leadership experience as an Airport Chief Executive Officer, Village Manager/Treasurer and as second in command of Naval Air Station Key West (NASKW),” he stated in his cover letter.

“I am collaborative. I encourage teamwork, empowerment, and cross-functional training techniques. I am experienced in working in complex, multijurisdictional geographic areas. I ask for advice and can admit when I am wrong. My door is always open, and I expeditiously answer correspondence. I am experienced in multiple forms of governance. In the past 12 years, I have secured, administered, and executed $150,000,000 in federal and state capital and operations grant funding.”

Giardino served as Village Manager / Treasurer for the Village of Brockport, New York from October 2011 to March 2012.

A graduate of the State University of New York at Brockport, with a degree in meteorology, Giardino earned two Defense Meritorious Service Medals for service in Afghanistan and an Air Medal and Humanitarian Service Medal for 110 rescues off rooftops, flooded farmlands and backyards after Hurricane Floyd. His last naval post was as executive officer at Naval Air Station Key West.

Philip A. Sherer, Manager, TFC Consulting, Inc., Rockville, Maryland, 2021 – Present

Sherer was a program manager for the Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago, Illinois; a remote 6-month assignment in 2021.

He ran a family-owned business Sherer Family Hardware, Inc. and a family real estate company in Warrenton, Georgia from 2017 to 2020.

The majority of his experience, 14 years, was his involvement in transit authority projects and operations in Baltimore, Maryland.

Charles Anthony Hammond, City Manager of Archer, Florida since June 2018.

Archer is in Alachua County southwest of Gainesville and the city has a population of 1,118. He graduated with an MPA from Troy University in 2001. He also has a degree in health care administration management from Southern Illinois University.

“I was born and raised in Fernandina Beach, after graduating from FBHS, I joined the United States Navy. I have been married for 53 years, have two children and three grandkids. While serving in the U.S. Navy I completed a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Care Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration, choosing the latter as my chosen career after leaving the Navy,” Hammond wrote in his cover letter.

“As you can see from the accompanying resume my experience and qualifications are exactly what my hometown of Fernandina Beach needs. As a Fernandina Beach Native, I feel my outstanding military background, 25 years municipal work experience and excellent educational credentials qualify me for the position.”

Freddy L. Howell, Director of Emergency Services, Bryan County, Richmond Hill, Georgia, 2012 – Present.

He worked in various roles for four years at the King’s Bay military base and previous to that served in various fire department and emergency services positions in Waycross and Kingsland. He was fire chief in Waycross and also Perry. He holds a degree in fire science from Columbia Southern University.

Michael A. Szlosek, Business Operations Manager, Public Works, Enfield, Connecticut, 2016 to Present

He has worked as town manager of Athol since September 2013 but left to become Southhampton administrator in July 2013. He then became town adminstrator for Sterling leaving in 2016. He worked as town manager in Uxbridge from 2009 until 2011, when the town’s Select Board voted not to renew his contract. After serving on boards and committees in Ludlow, he served as town administrator from 2004 to 2008.

“I am experienced in budgeting and financial management. In every community in which I have worked, I was primarily responsible for the preparation and presentation of the Town Budget. Each of the communities that I have worked in have benefited from an active and involved citizenry. I have enjoyed working with many citizen committees to improve the quality of life in these communities, and I am proud of the important work that we accomplished,” he stated in his cover letter.

Szlosek has a bachelor’s degree in English literature and a master’s degree in business administration in finance, both from the University of Massachusetts, as well as a law degree from Boston University.

After serving on boards and committees in Ludlow, he served as town administrator from 2004 to 2008.

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The statewide city managers association – FCCMA – posted the Fernandina Beach city manager position two weeks ago on its website.

The ad states: “The Commissioners are looking for someone to work with them as a partner, a supporter and a trusted advisor while recognizing he/she is their employee. The individual will ensure the Commissioners are all treated equally, receive the same information at the same time and that there will be no surprises. The ideal candidate will help the Commission to find creative solutions to the challenges it faces. At the same time, he/she will need to be able to speak up diplomatically when something is not realistic or achievable – of course, after thoroughly researching every reasonably possible option and avenue.”

The only other Florida city manager listing on FCCMA is for Atlantic Beach.

The Fernandina Beach job is not listed on the International City/County Managers Association website. The Florida League of Cities is listing the job, but does not state when the position was originally posted.

ZipRecruiter, one of the top online job boards in the U.S., began listing the opening on June 16, 2023.

All of the listings state that applications will close July 7.