After nine years at the helm of Florida’s capital city, City Manager Reese Goad is stepping down.
Goad announced his retirement the morning of April 28 in a letter to commissioners, thanking them for their “leadership, guidance and steadfast commitment to our community.”
“I’m immensely proud of what we have accomplished as a team,” Goad wrote. “It has been inspiring to witness the collaboration and shared purpose that define the city’s workforce.”
The letter comes two weeks after Goad told a Tallahassee Democrat reporter he wasn’t planning to resign as rumors swirled to the contrary and the city announced a voluntary severance program.
He said that he wouldn’t be taking the severance program and rumors of his retirement came as he entered the Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP), which allows Florida Retirement System (FRS) Pension Plan members to stop earning service credit and “retire” for up to 96 months while continuing to work.
Minutes after City Hall announced Goad’s resignation, City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow, who has consistently criticized Goad’s management, posted on social media, saying the timing of his resignation is “suspicious,” but is a “great day” for the city and an opportunity “to move on to a brighter future.”
“For the last six years I’ve raised warnings of the mismanagement and toxic culture created by Reese Goad after his appointment by a lame duck city commission in the height of the Maddox Corruption era,” Matlow wrote. “In the interim we are in very capable hands with DCM (Deputy City Manager) Karen Jumonville who will bring stability during a national search for the next City Manager.”
The announcement said Goad’s retirement will officially go into effect Sept. 30, or when a new city manager is appointed: “The timeframe and details for hiring a new city manager will be determined by the City Commission.”
Reese Goad’s tenure spans more than two decades of service with the city
He rose to the top in 2017 after serving two years as a deputy city manager and previously overseeing Electric and Underground Utilities, Solid Waste, Tallahassee International Airport and StarMetro.
In his tenure, Goad was responsible for bringing the city’s annual budget to roughly $1 billion, leading the city to its third All-America City title, as well as helping bring home numerous other accolades for the city. He also generated plenty of controversy, which fueled a deep divide within the city commission that continues into the 2026 elections.
This is a breaking story. Check back for updates.
Elena Barrera can be reached at ebarrera@tallahassee.com. Follow her on X: @elenabarreraaa.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee City Manager Reese Goad announces resignation
Reporting by Elena Barrera, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
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