Politics

Finalist drops out of running

One candidate for county administrator pulls out, but two other interviews go forward.

By BARBARA BEHRENDT, Times Staff Writer
Published January 23, 2008

ADVERTISEMENT Tom Marko said he didn't think Hernando County was the "right fit."

BROOKSVILLE - County commissioners threw a couple of fastballs Tuesday at the prospective administrators: How will you handle the budget crises in the future and how would you have dealt with the county's public relations headaches of the recent past?

But first, the board had a curveball tossed its way. One of the three finalists to replace Gary Kuhl as county administrator bowed out Tuesday morning, just hours before his job interview.

Tom Marko, the development coordinator for Miami-Dade County, said he didn't think Hernando County was the "right fit," according to Human Resources Director Barbara Dupre.

Several commissioners had questions for Marko about media reports that Marko's wife, Benigna, resigned from her job with Miami-Dade County after an ethics investigation urged disciplinary action against her. She reportedly had a personal relationship with one of her employees, an employee for whom she secured $30,000 in pay raises.

Questioned about the incident last week, Marko told the St. Petersburg Times that the commissioners were interviewing him and examining his qualifications for the job, not his wife. He said he did not believe his wife's situation was an issue.

On Tuesday, he did not return repeated phone calls for comment.

The remaining pair of prospects plowed ahead with their interviews. The commission is expected to meet today to decide whether to hire one of them to head the day-to-day operations of Hernando County.

Kathy Rice, assistant city manager of Surprise, Ariz., said her varied background in Florida, Arizona and Texas would help her deal with growth and shrinking financial resources. Rice, 60, has been city manager of Waco, Texas, and was assistant city manager in Clearwater for nine years.

Noting that Hernando County has had multiple leaders in recent years, Commissioner David Russell asked why she applied here.

"I'm looking for the long-term in a place I can be comfortable," Rice replied.

Commissioner Jeff Stabins asked how she would respond if she faced the barrage of criticism from the public and media outlets that fell last summer on the board and certain county department heads.

"You have to build back credibility," she said, by doing what you say you are going to do and by keeping communications open.

But Chairman Chris Kingsley pressed Stabins' point.

Echoing the frustration many in government felt during the budget hearings, he asked: What will you do when those steps don't work, when the county is doing the right thing but the message just is not getting through to the public?

"You have to continue listening," she said, noting that she has learned techniques to engage the public better in the process.

Rice explained that she has had to make tough decisions while in Waco that pleased the City Council members who hired her but cost her her job when a new council was elected.

Kingsley, retired from the fire service in Clearwater, questioned her relationship with unions and named several Clearwater officials he knows who worked under Rice's leadership.

Commissioner Diane Rowden echoed that thought, pointing out that county workers are talking about joining the Teamsters Union after taking a public beating over the summer. What would Rice do, she asked, to improve employee morale?

"You can show employees that they count and their opinions count," Rice answered.

David Hamilton, 58, has been a county administrator in Minnesota since 2000 and is now in Crow Wing County. Hernando's high rate of growth attracted him to the job, he said, adding that he was applying only in Hernando County and that he and his wife wanted to make the community their home.

On the issue of public criticism, Hamilton said harsh feelings are to be expected in a community like Hernando that has changed so much so fast. He said he does not respond to "negative energy" and keeps his eye on the long-term goals instead.

When Commissioner Rose Rocco asked how he would communicate with the board, he said he would work however they wanted. Rocco said she did not want him to change his style; she is looking for a leader.

Stabins said past administrators also had dreams to move the county forward but widespread negativity drove them off. How would Hamilton be different?

Hamilton replied that people "get cranky" with government but that he would stay once he committed to stay.

After listening to Hamilton for a while, Kingsley noted that he was clearly knowledgeable. But, he asked, how would the erudite Hamilton communicate without seeming to be arrogant or condescending?

Hamilton said he communicates with people without talking down to them. He also described how he has gone into the field with county workers, police officers and others to understand their jobs and their issues.

Hamilton had a question for the board. What do commissioners want in their administrator?

Kingsley said he wanted someone in the job who would commit to the community.

"A thick-skinned consensus builder," Russell replied.

Someone who values employees and who the commission would value in return, Rowden said.

"Integrity" and "strong leadership skills" were on Rocco's list.

For Stabins it was "two layers of thick skin and dogged determination."

Barbara Behrendt can be reached at behrendt@sptimes.com or 352 848-1434.

[Last modified January 22, 2008, 21:09:43]