City runs local help wanted city manager ad with must have local government experience requirement
- Mike Lednovich
- Jun 21, 2023
- 1 min read
Just how many candidates with local government experience for the vacant Fernandina Beach City Manager position reside in the circulation area of the Fernandina News-Leader?
Zero is the most likely answer.
According to the Florida Press Association the News-Leader has a circulation of 9,500 subscribers.
Previously City Commissioner Darron Ayscue insisted the search for the new city manager include placing an ad in the local newspaper. At Tuesday night's commission meeting, Ayscue spoke about next year's budget using the "roll back" rate with no tax increase. Yet, here the city spends taxpayer money for an ad that will likely result in no qualified candidates applying for the position.
In all fairness, I think it is good to support our local newspaper as we search for our next city manager.
It’s a good CYA move as the ad cost is minimal and to not do so only opens the Commission to criticism as to why didn’t it look in its own backyard. Who knows there might be someone qualified and interested that reads the Observer.
My School Board insisted that I l place an ad in a local newspaper for all vacancies up to and including Superintendent of Schools. It wasn’t worth arguing over. There’s so much more about the hiring process to focus on than a cheap advertisement in the News Leader.
Some always said that they had a candidate in mind...... this might support that theory. Need some serious citizen vetting.