Gainesville City Commission names Andrew Persons as Interim City Manager

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In the morning session of the September 4 meeting, the Gainesville City Commission voted unanimously to select Chief Operating Officer Andrew Persons as the Interim City Manager, starting October 21. City Manager Cynthia Curry resigned in early August but will continue in the role until November 21. 

Mayor Harvey Ward led off the agenda item by saying he wanted the Interim City Manager to start on October 21, a month before Curry’s last day, “so that there is time for whoever it is to work side by side… We want to make sure that the projects that are currently rolling downhill… keep rolling downhill, and that there are no bumps in that road, that those projects get done and other projects start down the hill. And, personally, I believe the way to do that is with the team that currently exists. It would be my preference to name an internal candidate for that today and that somebody make a motion to direct me to start a negotiation.” He said he would not be in favor of an external search for the interim position, although he would “absolutely be in favor of an extensive search for the permanent City Manager.”

Ward: “Just to be right out front there, our COO, Andrew Persons, I think, has done a tremendous job working at the right hand of the City Manager, and I don’t think there is a better candidate for that position.”

Ward continued, “Just to be right out front there, our COO, Andrew Persons, I think, has done a tremendous job working at the right hand of the City Manager, and I don’t think there is a better candidate for that position. That’s my opinion. There are some things where I think it’s important for me to just put it all out there before we get started, and I think this is one of those items.”

Motion

Commissioner Cynthia Chestnut made a motion to authorize the Mayor to begin negotiating with Persons for the Interim City Manager job, and Commissioner Ed Book seconded the motion.

Book said, “It sounds like we’re like-minded… Continuity is a terrific thing in large organizations.” He said he spoke to the other Charter Officers and the City Manager’s leadership team to get their preferences, “and there is some real agreement, and pretty close to consensus, that they feel like [City leadership is] working together… in ways that will help them move forward.”

Commissioner Casey Willits said he appreciated Persons’s ability to keep Commissioners informed and added that he would like to start the search for the permanent City Manager by October 21 because “we went too long the last time with a bunch of Charter interims.”

Commissioner James Ingle agreed, saying, “For a long time, there was a lot of chaos up here,… [and] I think, functionally, the City is working very well right now… I think Andrew is a fine choice to step in on interim.”

Chestnut said she was not as concerned about the timing of the search for a permanent City Manager because “we are in good hands.”

Commissioner Bryan Eastman agreed, “The City Manager has created a great team… I’ve been very impressed with Andrew’s ability to just move the ball forward on things… [He is] an important stabilizing force.”

Commissioner Desmon Duncan-Walker said Persons is a “big brain.” She cited his “responsiveness to the community… When the community calls on him, he responds with answers, and most times, the answers off the top of his head are correct… I’m quite confident in Andrew’s ability to lead us through this interim time, as well. I’m very excited about him… Andrew, I think, has just an innate ability to work well with people, and… that’s something that you can’t teach; it has to be literally a part of who you are.”

Ward: “Also, let’s be frank, this is Florida, and you know, that is, again, something that a seasoned Manager is going to take into account before they apply.”

Book asked whether any of the staff in the room wanted to speak, and Ward said he would do that after public comment. Ward added that he planned to have a conversation about the search for a permanent City Manager in October. He said the challenges include the fact that “four seats are open on this dais next year, and that is something that a seasoned Manager is going to look at before they apply for this job… Also, let’s be frank, this is Florida, and you know, that is, again, something that a seasoned Manager is going to take into account before they apply.”

Ward said, “Since 2017, I have not seen a better group of senior staff in this building… You all make this a really well-oiled machine,… and my goal is for it to continue to run well… so that we can continue to deliver tremendous value to the people who live in this community.”

Nobody spoke during public comment.

Director of Equity and Inclusion Zeriah Folston and City Auditor Stephen Mhere both said they supported the selection of Persons. Mhere added that a change of City Manager is considered as a risk in an internal audit, “and when you have somebody who has been in that business for some time, you are at least mitigating that risk, to an extent.”

Persons said he was “honored that you all put your faith in me for the Interim Manaager position. I just want to say 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 the employees that work for us. I will do you proud to work incredibly hard, day in and day out, for as long as you allow me to.”

The motion to appoint Persons passed unanimously. Ward concluded, “Congratulations, Mr. Persons, and my condolences to your family,” and then he led the room in applause.