FORT PIERCE — Richard Chess started work as city manager Wednesday, ending a months-long process to replace former City Manager Nick Mimms following his August arrest.
Chess, previously assistant general manager of transportation and finance for Broward County, was picked 3-2 by the City Commission for the job in February, beating out a list of candidates that included Linda Cox, the city clerk who was serving as acting city manager.
Mimms has pleaded not guilty to two criminal charges, bid rigging and official misconduct. He was suspended following his arrest and officially fired in February by the City Commission after being allowed to exhaust his remaining paid leave, including sick days.
Chess said in his job application that he hopes to use his more than 30 years of public-service experience to help the city of Fort Pierce.
“The city manager role represents a unique opportunity for me to apply my leadership and strategic planning expertise while continuing to grow professionally. I am eager to take on the challenges of managing a dynamic city like Fort Pierce and contribute to a legacy of innovation, progress and community-driven success,” Chess wrote in his application.
He has not responded to requests for an interview.
In voting to hire him, three city commissioners cited his ability as an outsider to incite change within the city government.
“We need some change. We need new perspectives,” Commissioner James Taylor said in February before the vote. “We’re not moving in the right direction.”
Taylor was joined by commissioners Arnold Gaines and Curtis Johnson in voting for Chess; Commissioner Michael Broderick and Hudson voted for Cox.
Chess initially will be paid $200,000. He will receive a 5% raise in six months if he keeps his job.
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One question still surrounding Chess is whether he also will be director of the Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency as Mimms was. The FPRA, which leads redevelopment projects throughout the city, including downtown and Lincoln Park, is comprised of city commissioners. Those commissioners have openly wondered in recent weeks whether the FPRA director job should be separate from that of the city manager.
On Monday, commissioners tapped Deputy City Manager DeVoshay Johnson to continue as interim director until Chess settles in as city manager and commissioners have more time to consider their options. Johnson was interim city manager after Chess was selected but before he began work Wednesday.
Mayor Linda Hudson has said there are many ways to run a community redevelopment agency board such as the FPRA. In some cities, city commissioners don’t even serve on the board. In the past, Fort Pierce has operated both with the city manager as director and with someone else in the role, Hudson said.
If not Chess, commissioners indicated they may want Community and Economic Development Director Shyanne Harnage as director. Harnage already leads many of the FPRA’s projects and regularly makes presentations to the board.
Wicker Perlis is TCPalm’s Watchdog Reporter for St. Lucie County. You can reach him at wicker.perlis@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Richard Chess now Fort Pierce city manager; commissioners waiting for FPRA director choice
Reporting by Wicker Perlis, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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