The Gainesville City Commission on Sept. 4 voted unanimously to select Andrew Persons, the city’s chief operating officer, as its interim city manager.
Mayor Harvey Ward began the discussion by commending the current City Manager Cynthia Curry’s impact on the city and jokingly said he wished she’d continue in her capacity.
In an Aug. 8 letter sent to the city, Curry wrote that she will step down from her role effective Nov. 21, and that her decision came after she felt it was the appropriate time to transition new leadership and allow for new vision to guide the city forward.
“It is time to make some considerations about an interim period, which I would hope would begin on Oct. 21, which is a full month prior to Curry’s last day to work side by side and a good transition process,” Ward said at the meeting.
Reflecting on his experience searching for various candidates to serve as charter officers, Ward said he preferred to name a candidate for the interim position at the Sept. 4 meeting and for someone to make a motion to start a negotiation process. While wanting to have an internal candidate for the interim position to help facilitate current projects, Ward added that he would be open to have an external candidate for the permanent position.
Commissioner Cynthia Chestnut agreed with all of Ward’s sentiments and motioned to select the city’s COO, Persons, as its interim manager and authorize the mayor to begin contract negotiations.
District III Commissioner Casey Willits supported Ward’s selection of Persons but expressed concerns regarding a full search for the full-time city manager, especially with the timing of the city’s second referendum on the GRU Authority in November.
“We have an election coming up where might learn something about GRU and, not that I think it’ll drop on our lap on January 1, but crazier things have happened,” Willits said. “If early next spring we are in a position where we are going to be merging two sides of government whether we’re going to still have an interim at that point or we’re well into a search, I’m concerned about that transition.”
With Ward poking fun at Persons’ rare appearance wearing a suit and tie, the COO laughed and thanked the commission for the opportunity.
“I’m up to the challenge. I have complete confidence in the team on the fourth floor, the leadership team at the city and all of the employees that work for us,” Persons said. “I will do you proud and will work incredibly hard, day in and day out as long as you allow me too.”
One of Andrew Persons responsibilties as COO was finalizing the agreement between the University of Florida and its RTS funding.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Gainesville City Commission selects Chief Operating Officer Persons as interim city manager
Reporting by Elliot Tritto, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
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