Public invited to provide input on the Animal Resources Director finalist
Press release from Alachua County
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – One of the two finalists for the Animal Resources director position has withdrawn her application, and Alachua County residents will have two opportunities to hear from the remaining finalist, Nicole Watts.
Click here to view Nicole Watts’ resume.
Interested residents are encouraged to attend and provide input by 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
Public Events:
On Monday, April 20, 2026, at 4 p.m., the finalist will attend the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee meeting in the Grace Knight Conference Room at the Alachua County Administration Building (12 SE 1st St., Gainesville).
Immediately following the meeting, residents are invited to attend an informal meet-and-greet from 5 to 7 p.m. in the basement of the Hippodrome State Theatre (25 SE 2nd Place, Gainesville). This event will allow community members to meet the candidate, ask questions, and learn about her professional experience and vision for Animal Resources. Light refreshments will be served.
Start the search over, AFTER the internal investigation.
I’d love to know if the other candidate withdrew their application after they realized they would be answering to an organized group of citizens rather than the organization that pays their salary.
It really is disingenuous to conduct a search for a new director while an internal investigation is under way. Makes one wonder what the Board and County Manager think the issues really are especially when one further considers there have been three prior managers in just five years among an equally long period of mismanagement.
You are confusing the city and the county. The County manager has been serving for almost nine years.
Manager Michele Lieberman just received the first David J. Krings County Administrator of the Year Award from the National Association of County Administrators (NACA), recognizing exceptional service, ethical leadership and contributions to county government.
Read the announcement article in the International City/County Managers Association’s (ICMA) PM Magazine: https://www.icma.org/articles/pm-magazine/announcing-nacas-2026-county-administrator-year
Didn’t mean to confuse things, I was referring to the Animal Services Director. It was reported there have been three in the last five years, though I wonder how many in the last ten? Many of these issues have been outstanding for years. Today, we have one choice for a possible new director assuming they don’t withdraw. Why still ask the public for input?