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Appointed Mayor To Stay In Dade City

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By NICOLA M. WHITE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 28, 2007

DADE CITY - Some cities are led by a mayor who's elected by the people.

Not Dade City - and definitely not after Tuesday night's commission meeting.

The board nixed a proposal by Commissioner Camille Hernandez to change the city's charter to allow voters to elect the mayor.

To become mayor, a candidate first must win a city commission seat. Then the commissioner must be appointed mayor by fellow commissioners. The mayor runs the board's meetings.

"I think the system of appointment from the elected officials serves the city the best at this point," Mayor Hutch Brock said.

Brock's colleagues agreed.

"I like our system of checks and balances. Not only is the mayor responsible to the people by having to run as a commissioner, but has to answer to us the commissioners, too, as mayor," Commissioner Scott Black said.

Commissioner Steve Van Gorden also pointed out that the citizens group charged with reviewing the charter and making suggestions did not support an elected mayor.

Hernandez, who, at a previous meeting, brought up having an elected mayor, did not press the issue Tuesday. She said she was approached by residents about the idea.

Later in the meeting, Hernandez suggested holding off on selecting a new police chief until the city manager post is filled. She said the new administrator should have a hand in picking the chief.

A group of residents and interim City Manager Jim Class are reviewing resumes of police chief candidates.

"It would be a shame for someone to rise to the top because they're a friend of someone," Hernandez said.

Again, her proposal fizzled.

"I think this whole thing is trying to make a process political that does not need to be," Van Gorden said. "I think the group that was brought in from the community is diverse, has a lot of experience and I trust the experience. I do think we should get a new police chief on board now."

On Thursday, the city is slated to interview two manager candidates: Robert T. Mearns of Fernandina Beach, where he was manager from 2002 to 2005, and Bruce C. Behrens of Clermont, a consultant who was manager of Minneola in Lake County.

This week, commissioners received unflattering articles in their City Hall mailboxes about both candidates. Behrens was fired from his position and Mearns resigned under pressure, according to the articles.

"Anything you hear, always take with a grain of salt. You're not ever going to find a city manager that has 100 percent approval of the city he's in," Black said.

Reporter Nicola M. White can be reached at (813) 779-4613 or nwhite1@tampatrib.com.

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