'Young guy' is manager pick

The commission votes 4-1 to offer the job to a 31-year-old Zephyrhills assistant planner.

By Helen Anne Travis, Times Staff Writer
Published February 21, 2008

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DADE CITY - They called him a "local boy" and a "hometown young guy." Pretty soon, commissioners may call him the city manager.

Dade City commissioners voted to offer Billy Poe, 31, the position at a special meeting Wednesday night.

Commissioner Camille Hernandez was the lone no vote, saying she was concerned about his lack of experience.

Poe has served as a Zephyrhills assistant planner since 2000. Before that, his resume says he was a special education and physical education teacher at Woodland Elementary School in Zephyrhills.

In the end, commissioners thought Poe's enthusiasm for the position and local connections merited offering him the job.

"If you always rejected the least experienced candidate, no one would get their first job," said Mayor Hutch Brock.

Brock said Poe would have ample leaders within the city he could call on for guidance.

"I'm glad he'll be able to pick up the telephone at any time and call Steve Spina," said Commissioner Scott Black, referring to the Zephyrhills city manager.

Spina wrote Poe a letter of recommendation for the Dade City position.

Commissioners' second choice for the job is Lyndon Bonner, who served most recently as an interim assistant administrator for Sumter County.

Poe could not be reached Wednesday night.

Dade City has tried four times to fill the post since former city manager Harold Sample retired in June.