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Local experience bodes well for manager choice
By CHASE SQUIRES, Times Staff Writer
DADE CITY -- Harold Sample didn't take the easy way to the top position in Dade City's government, and he said Wednesday there won't be an easy way to get to the bottom of Dade City's needs. But Sample, named by city commissioners Tuesday night to replace City Manager Doug Drymon, said he's up to the challenge. He said Wednesday he isn't going to sweep into the job with unilateral mandates. He won't tear up the budget. He won't make knee-jerk decisions. That's not his style. Sample, 54, said he will focus on the same skills that won him support for the job: his ability to listen, to gather suggestions, and then to lead. "I don't like to shoot from the hip," he said. "my style is, 'let's talk about it, let's come up with a consensus,' then, 'let's move ahead.' " From the community Wednesday, there was support. Bob Case, owner of Case Hardware and cofounder of the popular monthly classic car cruise-ins downtown, said he was optimistic. "He understands the community," Case said. "He's lived here long enough. He understands what Dade City has been through. I just think he can get out in the community and relate more to the city." Pete Odom, another businessman and leader of the city's code enforcement and redevelopment boards, said word on the street Wednesday was positive. "From what I'm hearing, everybody is delighted," Odom said. "We got the person that we needed." Commissioners made Sample their unanimous first choice for the job Tuesday. Drymon, who started in 1998, announced in January he would be looking for a new job by July. Mayor Scott Black and City Clerk Jim Class are scheduled to start negotiations with Sample next week. His pay is expected to be about $70,000. Sample, a Pasco native, moved from the county's west side to take his first full-time law enforcement job in 1969 at Saint Leo University. From there, he can reel off a list of positions he has held with Pasco County. His route to the top of City Hall didn't follow the course charted by many modern managers: graduate school, assistant city manager, city manager. Instead, he moved from job to job, completing one task and moving to the next. He has worked for the Sheriff's Office, both as a deputy and administrator, he was a chief administrator with the county government and the court system. He has done code enforcement work and overseen public works. He led construction of the Land O'Lakes jail. But no matter the task, the one constant Sample said has been his willingness to listen to others and then help formulate a plan. Sample said he hopes his friendship with Pasco County Administrator John Gallagher and others at the county can help rebuild relationships dented by disputes between the city and county over annexation, fire service and utilities. He said the harder part of his job might be winning over employees at City Hall. One of the first things Sample said he would do as city manager is to put up a favorite plaque with a saying that reminds him of the differences between leadership and management. "Leadership is done by example," he said. Sample said he's aware of city budget woes but said he doesn't expect to start ripping apart the spending plan. The budget for the coming fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, will likely be completed by the time he takes over in midsummer, Sample said. He said he would use the time between the summer and next year's budget process to study the city and its needs. Sample said questions remain about growth and about how to preserve Dade City's downtown atmosphere while luring higher paying jobs and industry. There will be questions about fire service. There will be questions about annexation. "I've got a lot to learn. My knowledge is just enough to be dangerous," Sample said with a smile. "I'm going to listen a lot. Then, I'm one to go back, to research, and to ask, 'Why?' "
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