After initial candidate screenings for Plant City’s next leader were met with mixed reactions, city commissioners have honed in on their top seven prospects and should begin interviewing them within the next few weeks.
The candidates, in alphabetical order, are: James Drumm (former city manager, Zephyrhills); Robert Michael Herr (public works and utility services administrator, Tampa); Douglas Hewett (former assistant city manager, Winchester, Va.); Wayne Saunders (finance director, Port Orange); John Schneiger (former city manager and community redevelopment director, New Port Richey); Gary Shimun (chief administrative officer, Plantation); and Isaac Turner (former city manager, Venice, Fla.).
Of those, three — Drumm, Saunders and Shimun — are from the list of nine finalists Mercer Group Senior Vice President W.D. Higginbotham Jr. presented to city commissioners July 14. The others were pulled from the group’s initial pool of 76 candidates. All currently reside in Florida.
“I’m very encouraged,” Mayor Rick Lott said. “Once you go through all the résumés we have … I think there are some great individuals to interview here. It was really interesting how they paid attention to what we’re looking for … especially honing in on economic development. I was glad to see that.”
Following the first candidate search workshop, six candidates, including four from Higginbotham’s top nine, withdrew their applications for the position. Those four include Scott Adkins (city manager, Roseville, Mich.); Paul Brake, (city manager, Grand Blanc, Mich.); Eric Johnson (director of strategic planning, Hillsborough County); and Heath Kaplan (finance and management services director, Muskegon County, Mich.).
A fifth of Higginbotham’s nine finalists, Robert Bruner (interim city manager, Mount Clemens, Mich.), indicated he was unsure if he wanted to continue the process.
Commissioners believe the process for first and second interviews could take 60 days. Then, the selected candidate likely will need to give his current employer 30 days’ notice, Higginbotham said.
Contact Michael Eng at meng@plantcityobserver.com.
THE SEVEN FINALISTS
James Drumm
FROM: Zephyrhills
MOST RECENT POSITION: City manager, Zephyrhills (2011 to 2014)
EDUCATION: MPA, University of South Florida; bachelor’s degree in political science, University of Florida
Robert Michael Herr
FROM: Lakeland
CURRENT POSITION: Public works and utility services administrator, Tampa
EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree, Indiana State University
Douglas Hewett
FROM: Seminole
MOST RECENT POSITION: Assistant city manager, Winchester, Va.
EDUCATION: MPA and bachelor’s degree in political science, North Carolina State University
Wayne Saunders
FROM: Clermont
CURRENT POSITION: Finance director, Port Orange
EDUCATION: MPA and bachelor’s degree in business administration, Western Carolina University (Cullowhee, N.C.)
John Schneiger
FROM: Sarasota
MOST RECENT POSITION: City manager and community redevelopment director, New Port Richey
EDUCATION: MBA, Colorado State University; master’s degree in urban and regional planning, and bachelor’s degree in political science, University of Wisconsin (Madison)
Gary Shimun
FROM: Pembroke Pines
CURRENT POSITION: Chief administrative officer, Plantation
EDUCATION: Master’s degree in urban studies, public administration and urban planning, University of Akron (Ohio); bachelor’s degree, Northern Michigan University (Marquette, Mich.)
Isaac Turner
FROM: Venice
MOST RECENT POSITION: City manager, Venice
EDUCATION: MPA, University of Kansas; bachelor’s degree in political science, Kansas State University