The Gainesville City Commission voted to move forward with a national search for a permanent city manager, hoping to start the process this fall.  

Commissioners considered the impacts of upcoming city elections and a special Florida Legislature session about property taxes on the search, and Mayor Harvey Ward said he would feel confident not spending the money on a national search.  

“Given the Free State of Florida, given lots and lots of things in the current environment, I have a hard time believing that we’re going to spend a $100,000 and come out with a different product than what we have in front of us right now,” Ward said to start the item. “I’m happy, if it’s the will of the commission, to go through with this process. I do not believe it’s necessary; I think that we should stick with what we have, frankly.” 

Andrew Persons currently serves as city manager following the retirement of Cynthia Curry in October 2025. He was previously the chief operating officer.  

Laura Gretz, human resources director, presented two timing options for the commission.  

The first would start the 16-week search process in August as the city elections take place. This would place the hiring of the permanent city manager in December, after any runoff elections and the budget process. But this timeline would prevent any new commissioners from the elections, or the candidate who replaces Commissioner Ed Book, from participating in the vote.  

The second option would delay the process until October. A final hiring would happen in February 2027 after any new commissioners are seated.  

Both options garnered support. 

Commissioner Casey Willits said he leaned toward the later start. He worried that any votes on property taxes might dissuade candidates if the hiring coincided with the November elections. 

Commissioner Cynthia Chestnut, though, said she wouldn’t want to wait so long. She and most of the other commissioners said a national search is needed. Chestnut said it would bring transparency to the public and let residents know who is out there in the candidate pool, and Book said it instills trust when the city follows the same rules and process each time.  

He pointed out that the city auditor was an external candidate found through a national search and the city clerk was an internal candidate confirmed through an open search. Even though Persons is doing an excellent job and city codes don’t mandate it, Book said a search should happen.  

Commissioner Bryan Eastman said a national search would give legitimacy to whoever earns the spot. He also highlighted the importance of the decision.  

“It is far and away the most important decision we make as a city,” Eastman said. “I would say our city is more defined even by which city managers we had at various times than who we had sitting in these seats.” 

Commissioner James Ingle agreed with Ward that a national search isn’t needed. He said the search for Curry came during a time of instability within city staffing and Gainesville needed a new direction from the outside.  

Now, Ingle said the city has a solid footing and is headed in a strong direction, lowering the need for an outside candidate versus a strong acting manager.  

Ward steered away from the first option. He said he didn’t want the city manager hire to become a campaign issue. With the later start, the elections would be over and each new commissioner or incumbent would have their say.  

“I don’t think you want to choose a city manager by ballot,” Ward said. “That’s not our system. I’m not saying it’s a bad system in other places, but that’s not what our system is supposed to be.” 

Chestnut made the motion to start a search in October, saying the support seemed to lean in that direction. The motion passed unanimously.