The Gainesville City Commission voted 5-2 to make Stephen Mhere the new city auditor at Thursday’s regular meeting.  

Mayor Harvey Ward will now negotiate a contract with Mhere to bring back to the commission for approval. Ward said he hopes to return with the contract at the Dec. 14 meeting. The commission also set a maximum salary for Ward to use in negotiations.  

With a finalized contract, Mhere will be the fourth permanent charter officer of the five under City Commission direction. City clerk Kristen Bryant remains an interim following her appointment in June.  

The commission used a ballot to cast their votes, resulting in a tie. Mhere and Thomas Alger both had three top votes, and each of the three candidates had a total of 13 points cast in their favor.  

Following the ballot, Commissioner Cynthia Chestnut proposed a motion for Mhere as city auditor. Commissioner Desmon Duncan-Walker seconded the motion which passed with Ward and Commissioner Bryan Eastman in dissent.  

Mhere was one of three finalists selected by outside search firm BakerTilly. The firm started the search earlier this year and presented the finalists in late November. City commissioners and the public met with the candidates at the time.  

Mhere currently works as a senior auditor with the city of Tampa. He’s held that role since 2013 and previously served as auditor for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment from 2008 to 2013. 

Former city auditor Ginger Bigbie resigned in November 2022 and left in January 2023. Brecka Anderson has served as interim city auditor since then.  

The city auditor manages the audit department with five staffers and a budget of just under $1 million.