The Palm Coast City Council on Tuesday voted to appoint Michael McGlothlin as the next permanent city manager. The vote ends a period of almost two years since a very different City Council voted to fire Denise Bevan, starting a prolonged and often troublesome search process.
Michael McGlothlin was chosen over one other finalist: David Fraser. Neither candidate was present for Tuesday’s meeting, having already interviewed with the City Council privately and publicly on Thursday. The Council had a consensus that both candidates were excellent choices, a welcome respite from what had previously been a struggle to confidently identify a candidate. “Both are exceptionally qualified candidates,” mused Councilman Ty Miller to his colleagues’ agreement.
The Technically Unanimous Vote
The formal vote to choose McGlothlin was unanimous, with the Council agreeing that a show of confidence was a necessary way to set the tone for their relationship with their next city manager. The actual decision, however, was split. The Council took an informal vote to indicate their candidate of choice, resulting in a 3-2 divide.
The majority who preferred McGlothlin was formed by Mayor Mike Norris, Vice Mayor Theresa Carli Pontieri, and Councilman David Sullivan. Council members Charles Gambaro and Ty Miller dissented, preferring Fraser. They were both, however, perfectly willing to cast their votes in favor of McGlothlin in the formal motion to appoint him as city manager.
Weighing the Candidates
Prior to applying for the Palm Coast job, McGlothlin has served as Town Administrator of Redington Shores, Florida and City Administrator of Columbia City, Oregon. He’s a seven-year U.S. Army veteran (four of the five Council members are veterans), and had a law enforcement career before entering government administration.
Fraser, meanwhile, had been the top executive employee in a slew of municipalities dating back to 1994. Most were of far lower population than Palm Coast, with the exception of his stint as interim county manager of Adams County, Colorado.
The Bigger Picture
Going forward, negotiations will begin to form the contract that McGlothlin will sign. This will be handled by Mayor Mike Norris, Human Resources Director Renina Fuller, and City Attorney Marcus Duffy. When McGlothlin is formally hired, it will bring an end to the tenure of Lauren Johnston as acting city manager. Johnston was promoted from chief of staff to assistant city manager under Bevan’s tenure, and has served as acting city manager for longer than most anyone anticipated. Her tenure has been mostly well-received, though she did not submit herself for consideration to be permanent city manager.
The City Council in March 2024 voted to fire Denise Bevan two years after she was hired. It was then-Mayor David Alfin who urged the action, passing the gavel so that he could make a motion. He was backed up by Vice Mayor Ed Danko and Councilwoman Cathy Heighter, and opposed by Council members Theresa Carli Pontieri and Nick Klufas. Of the five who voted on that firing, only Pontieri remains on the City Council.
Chris Gollon is a Flagler County resident since 2004, as well as a staple of the local independent music scene and avid observer of Central Florida politics, arts, and recreation.
