Viera, FL — April 21, 2025 — Brevard County Commissioner Katie Delaney (District 1) has once again found herself at the center of controversy, this time over a reckless proposal to overhaul the Request for Proposal (RFP) process for hiring a consultant to search for the next County Manager. Delaney’s suggestions as not only uninformed but also dangerously prone to corruption, raising serious questions about her ability to make sound decisions as a county commissioner. While one of her proposed changes shows a glimmer of practicality, the overwhelming majority of her ideas are being called out as a potential disaster for ethical governance in Brevard County. It begs the question, who’s advising her or worse telling her to submit these proposals and changes?
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The agenda item, set for discussion at the April 22, 2025, County Commission meeting, seeks approval to advertise an RFP for county manager search/recruiting consulting services. However, Delaney’s proposed changes to the RFP process, outlined in a document titled “D1 List of Proposed Changes to County Manager Consultant RFP,” have opened her up to more criticism. Her most alarming suggestion? Eliminating the Cone of Silence—a critical safeguard in public procurement that prevents vendors from contacting county officials during the bidding process to avoid undue influence.
The Cone of Silence, as defined in the original RFP draft, ensures that vendors can only communicate with a designated county representative, shielding the process from favoritism, lobbying, or outright corruption. By removing this protection, Delaney would allow commissioners to interact directly with vendors, opening the door to backroom deals and political favoritism. An anonymous county insider, in an leaked email, warned that this change would make the process “less transparent and more prone to corruption and abuse.” Legal experts agree, noting that such a move could violate Florida procurement laws under Chapter 287, which demand fairness and transparency in public bidding.
“Commissioner Delaney’s proposal to remove the Cone of Silence is not just naive—it’s reckless,” said a local government ethics consultant. “This isn’t a minor tweak; it’s a direct attack on the integrity of the procurement process. It’s as if she doesn’t understand the basic principles of ethical governance, which is deeply concerning for someone in her position.”
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Delaney’s reputation for uninformed and potentially illegal suggestions precedes her, and this latest debacle only adds fuel to the fire. Her other proposed changes further illustrate a troubling lack of understanding of the complexities involved in hiring a County Manager—a role critical to overseeing public services like fire protection.
One particularly dangerous suggestion is her proposal to allow any single commissioner to add candidates to the shortlist without a majority vote from the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC). The original RFP requires a majority vote to ensure collective accountability, but Delaney’s change would give individual commissioners unchecked power to influence the candidate pool.
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Delaney also wants the entire BOCC to replace the original three-member selection committee, which included the County Attorney, an HR representative, and one BOCC member. This shift would politicize the process, as the BOCC is a political body more susceptible to personal agendas than a smaller, expert-driven panel. “The original committee was designed to bring professionalism and expertise to the table,” said a former Brevard County procurement officer. “Delaney’s suggestion shows she either doesn’t grasp the importance of that structure or simply doesn’t care.”
Another problematic change is her proposal to include social media in candidate reference checks without providing any guidelines. While modernizing background checks might seem reasonable, this suggestion opens the county to legal liability. Social media checks can reveal protected characteristics—such as race, religion, or sexual orientation—that are illegal to consider under federal and Florida anti-discrimination laws. This is the kind of half-baked idea that could land the county in a lawsuit, said Rivera.
Not all of Delaney’s suggestions are disastrous. One change—requiring an emailed electronic copy of RFP submissions in addition to the three hard copies and USB copy—shows a moment of practicality. This minor adjustment could streamline the submission process and make it easier for county staff to review proposals. However, this small positive is overshadowed by the avalanche of ill-conceived ideas that dominate her proposal.
The County Manager position is one of the most critical roles in Brevard County, responsible for executing BOCC policies and managing essential services that impact the daily lives of residents. A flawed hiring process could result in an unqualified or politically motivated appointee, with far-reaching consequences for the county’s 648,000 residents—projected to grow to 678,300 by 2030, according to the RFP.
If the consultant selection process is tainted, we risk ending up with a County Manager who isn’t up to the job. Delaney’s proposals aren’t just uninformed—they’re dangerous. They could lead to corruption, legal challenges, and a breakdown in public trust at a time when Brevard County needs strong leadership.
Local watchdog groups are calling on the BOCC to reject Delaney’s most problematic changes, particularly the removal of the Cone of Silence and the unilateral candidate addition provision. Some are even questioning whether Delaney should remain in her role, given her apparent lack of understanding of basic governance principles.
“Commissioner Delaney’s track record shows she’s either unwilling or unable to make the informed decisions required of a county commissioner,” said Lisa Harper. “The board needs to step in and stop this proposal before it does real harm. And frankly, voters need to ask themselves if Delaney is the right person to represent District 1.”
As the April 22, 9am meeting approaches, all eyes will be on the Commission to see how they handle Delaney’s proposal. For now, her latest blunder serves as a stark reminder of the importance of ethical leadership—and the dangers of leaving critical decisions in the hands of someone who seems woefully unprepared for the job.
