FORT PIERCE — St. Lucie County’s second-in-command will get the nod to be interim county administrator.
All county commissioners voiced support July 7 for naming Deputy County Administrator Mayte Santamaria to the interim post.
County Administrator George Landry abruptly announced his resignation June 19 and will be stepping down Aug. 14 to take a job on Florida’s west coast. Landry also supports making Santamaria the interim administrator, he said.
“I am confident in Mayte,” he said. “She is a rock star. She could manage this operation, but it’s the board’s decision,” Landry told TCPalm.
Experienced Florida administrator to lead county temporarily
The commission could vote July 21 to make Santamaria interim administrator.
The commission has not started its formal search for a permanent county administrator. Santamaria has not said if she wants the permanent position.
Santamaria has extensive experience in urban planning, land development, affordable housing, coastal management, floodplain management, building code compliance and environmental regulation in government organizations.
She started with St. Lucie County in 2018 as assistant director of Planning and Development Services and became director of the department in 2022 and deputy county administrator in 2023. Santamaria was senior director and assistant director of Planning and Environmental Resources for Monroe County from 2011-2018.
Deputy administrator has extensive statewide experience
Prior to working for Monroe County, Santamaria worked for a year at the state Department of Environmental Protection and before that at the state Department of Community Affairs, which oversaw development in the Florida Keys, an Area of Critical State Concern and where development is heavily regulated.
Santamaria earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in science in management from the University of Florida.
Landry, who was county administrator since 2023, will become town manager for the town of Longboat Key. He begins work there Sept. 14.
His St. Lucie County salary is $275,000. He will earn $255,000 in Longboat Key.
Landry will succeed Howard Tipton as town manager. Tipton was Landry’s predecessor in St. Lucie County.
Tim O’Hara is TCPalm’s environment and fisheries reporter. Contact him at tim.ohara@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida county eyes to promote from within for interim administrator
Reporting by Timothy O’Hara, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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By Timothy O'Hara, Treasure Coast Newspapers | USA TODAY Network
