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Nestled on Florida’s Space Coast, Palm Bay is a city of stark contrasts—a sprawling expanse of natural beauty and untapped economic promise, yet a community beleaguered by infrastructural decay and governance missteps. As the largest municipality in Brevard County, with a population around 120,000, Palm Bay teeters on the edge of transformation or decline. Its future rests heavily on the selection of a new City Manager, a role tasked with navigating the city through a thicket of challenges that have long tested the resilience of its residents.

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For over a decade, Palm Bay has wrestled with a litany of woes. Traffic safety has deteriorated, with fatal accidents like the 2021 crash that claimed four lives on Babcock Street, consequences of the city’s congested and deteriorating roads. Crime, though fluctuating, remains a shadow over daily life, with 2022 seeing a spike in property crimes that alarmed neighborhoods. Utility mismanagement has sparked outages and billing disputes, eroding public trust. Economic stagnation has stifled job growth, leaving Palm Bay lagging behind its Space Coast peers. These are not mere inconveniences; they are symptoms of deeper systemic failures, exacerbated by a turbulent history of city management mirrored by an equally historically troubled city council. FBI investigations and arrests for corruption, drugs, wire taps, bribery, prostitution–the list goes on.

The 2024 firing of City Manager Suzanne Sherman following the last election, a decision steeped in controversy and political rancor, demonstrated these instability and divide within. Her dismissal left Palm Bay in administrative limbo, prompting a search for a successor from a staggering pool of 119 applicants. To cut through this pile of applicants and deliver clarity to the public, The Space Coast Rocket has utilized 6 different advanced AI tools to conduct an independent, rigorous, and objective analysis of the candidates based on their applications and public histories. This article unveils that process, weaving together the circumstances of Sherman’s exit, the innovative AI-driven evaluation, the standout and suspect candidates, including the polarizing former City Manager Gregg Lynk, and the high stakes for Palm Bay’s future. This is a story of a city at a pivotal moment, desperate for redemption through enlightened leadership.

The Firing of Suzanne Sherman: A Flashpoint of Dysfunction

Suzanne Sherman’s tenure as Palm Bay’s City Manager, was a lightning rod for the city’s governance struggles. Appointed to steer Palm Bay through growth and modernization, she faced unrelenting scrutiny. She was awarded the position after the preceeding City Manager, Lisa Morrell suddenly resigned in-leu-of being terminated herself and shortly before her husband was arrested in another county on felony grand theft and corruption charges. She’s now the town manager for the Town of Malabar. She was originally appointed to the job from her Director of IT position after then City Manager Gregg Lynk was fired in a 3-2 vote after the 2018 election.

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The November 2024 election of a new city council, swept in on a wave of voter frustration, sealed Sherman’s fate. In a contentious 3-2 vote, the council axed her, with figures like Councilman Kenny Johnson arguing for a “fresh start” amid claims of mismanagement. “We can’t keep going down this road,” Johnson told WKMG News 6, reflecting a sentiment that Sherman had failed to deliver. Yet her ouster was not universally cheered. Supporters, including former council allies, defended her push for sustainable development and service modernization, arguing she was scapegoated for inherited problems and council infighting. “She was set up to fail by a fractured leadership,” one resident lamented at a public meeting archived by Palm Bay Beacon. Opposing her termination— which was proposed by newly elected Councilman Chandler Langevin— was Mayor Rob Medina, and Deputy Mayor Mike Jaffe. After her firing, council had to all but force another staff member to take the position in the interim, never even considering the Deputy City Managers who still remain on staff. Retired City Manager of West Melbourne, Scott Morgan was selected to steer the ship and lead the search for a permanent manager.

Sherman’s exit exposed Palm Bay’s deep divisions—between council factions, between residents and officials, and between past promises and present realities. It also thrust the city into a critical search for a leader who could mend these rifts and tackle its entrenched challenges head-on. (Sherman is now employed in a staff position at the City of Satellite Beach.)

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The Search Process: Our Evaluation

With Sherman gone, Palm Bay faces the Herculean task of sifting through 119 applications for her replacement—an eclectic mix of seasoned administrators, ambitious outsiders, and a few familiar faces. Traditional vetting risked bias or oversight, especially with a council still reeling from its own upheaval. One we obtained all 119 applications, The Space Coast Rocket’s took AI-driven approach, a innovative effort to bring objectivity and depth to the process.

Using several advanced AI tools, we analyzed every resume, cover letter, and reference against a tailored set of criteria reflecting Palm Bay’s urgent needs. This wasn’t guesswork; the requirements were forged from the city’s pain points and aspirations. We used AI to evaluate the city’s comprehensive plan, minutes from all city council meetings for the last several years, and a decade worth of coverage from the local press. The outcome resulted in requirements of a leader best suited for Palm Bay’s unique situation:

• Senior Municipal Management Experience: At least 5 years in a leadership role within a municipality, ensuring candidates can handle Palm Bay’s complex bureaucracy.
• Leadership and Communication Skills: Proven ability to unite teams and engage a fractious council and public.
• Knowledge of Florida Local Government Laws: Non-negotiable for navigating the state’s intricate regulatory landscape.
• Financial Management Skills: Expertise to stabilize budgets and restore fiscal trust.
• Specialized Expertise: Proficiency in transportation, public safety, social services, utility management, and economic development—Palm Bay’s critical battlegrounds.
• Preferred Qualifications: A master’s in public administration or related field, plus ICMA certification, signaling elite preparation.

This AI-powered lens sorted candidates into three buckets: the top 15, the top 5 in detail, the unqualified, and the problematic. The result is a transparent, data-backed roadmap for a decision that could redefine Palm Bay’s trajectory. Again, we must emphasize that this is a completely objective analysis strictly by AI and the information submitted by the applicants—it is not our opinion, or based on any additional input outside of what has been discussed.

Defining the Requirements

Palm Bay’s next City Manager must be more than a bureaucrat—they must be a visionary healer. Each criterion was chosen with precision:

• Transportation Expertise: With 2022 crash data from the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles showing 1,200+ incidents in Palm Bay, addressing road safety and congestion is paramount.
• Public Safety: FBI Uniform Crime Reports pegged Palm Bay’s 2021 violent crime rate at 4.5 per 1,000—above the national average—demanding a leader versed in policing and community trust.
• Utility Management: Repeated water and sewer failures, like the 2021 sewage spill into Turkey Creek, underscore the need for operational overhaul.
• Economic Development: With a median household income of $52,000 (U.S. Census, 2020)—trailing Brevard County’s $58,000—growth is a lifeline.
• Financial Acumen: A 2022 audit flagged inefficiencies in Palm Bay’s $150 million budget, necessitating a fiscal maestro.

These aren’t abstract qualifications; they’re the antidote to Palm Bay’s ills, making this hire a referendum on its survival.

Evaluating the Candidates: Heroes, Novices, and a return of the Past

The AI analysis distilled the 119 applicants into a revealing triage. Below, we present the findings—tables crafted for clarity, with context to empower citizens. At the end of this article, we will provide a link so that readers can review the applications in detail themselves.

The Top 15

These candidates align most closely with Palm Bay’s needs, blending experience and expertise:

The Top 5 Candidates: Palm Bay’s Best Bets for Redemption

From a pool of 119 applicants, five candidates have emerged as the most promising contenders for Palm Bay’s City Manager role: Ricardo Mendez-Saldivia, Darren Coldwell, Brian J. Geoghegan, Vince Akhimie, and Armando G. Martinez, Sr. These individuals were selected for their proven track records, diverse skill sets, and ability to tackle Palm Bay’s pressing challenges head-on. Below is a detailed breakdown of why they are the top five, with specific examples of their strengths and how they align with the city’s needs.

1. Ricardo Mendez-Saldivia: The Infrastructure and Finance Maestro

• Experience: Over 30 years in public and private sectors, including City Manager roles in Sweetwater, FL, and senior positions in West Palm Beach, FL, and Harrisburg, PA.
• Education & Certifications: MBA, Professional Engineer (PE), Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM), ICMA Credentialed Manager (ICMA-CM).
• Key Achievements:
  
  • Led Harrisburg’s financial recovery, eliminating a structural deficit and completing overdue audits, earning a Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Budget Award.
  • Managed $2 billion in capital improvement programs, including transportation and utility projects.
  • Balanced West Palm Beach’s $194 million budget during the COVID-19 pandemic without layoffs.
  • Reduced homicides by 47% and robberies by 13% in Harrisburg as a public safety leader.
  • Attracted over 230 financial firms to West Palm Beach, increasing business tax revenue to $3.3 million.
• Why He’s a Top Pick: Mendez-Saldivia stands out as the frontrunner due to his exceptional blend of financial expertise and infrastructure leadership. His success in stabilizing budgets and spearheading large-scale projects directly addresses Palm Bay’s fiscal instability and decaying infrastructure. His ICMA certification and extensive Florida experience ensure he understands the local landscape, while his public safety achievements add versatility. Although his social services experience is less prominent, his comprehensive skill set makes him a transformative candidate.

2. Darren Coldwell: The Financial Turnaround Specialist

• Experience: Current City Manager of Page, AZ (2019–present), overseeing 13 departments; former County Administrator in Lincoln County, MT, and Mayor of Troy, MT.
• Education: Bachelor’s in Interpersonal Communications (University of Montana).
• Key Achievements:
  
  • Grew Page’s financial reserves from $23 million to $51 million, achieving debt-free status by 2023.
  • Boosted tourism to 5.2 million visitors annually, driving consistent sales tax revenue growth for 53 months.
  • Manages a nearly $90 million budget and a staff of 200 employees.
• Why He’s a Top Pick: Coldwell’s proven ability to turn around finances—transforming Page into a debt-free city while building substantial reserves—is precisely what Palm Bay needs to restore fiscal trust. His experience in public safety, utilities, and economic development aligns with the city’s priorities. While he lacks a master’s degree or ICMA certification, his practical experience as a current City Manager and former business owner compensates. His adaptability across different states suggests he can navigate Florida’s challenges, despite lacking direct local experience.

3. Brian J. Geoghegan: The Crisis Manager with Budget Savvy

• Experience: Over 30 years in local government, including City Manager of Howell Township, NJ (2017–2022), and Business Administrator roles in Highlands and Ship Bottom, NJ.
• Education & Certifications: Master’s in Administrative Science (Fairleigh Dickinson University), Certified Public Manager.
• Key Achievements:
  
  • Managed a $75 million budget in Howell, securing FEMA funding during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Reduced fatal crashes by 50% as a police sergeant in Jackson, NJ.
  • Led Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts in Ship Bottom, showcasing crisis management skills.
• Why He’s a Top Pick: Geoghegan excels in crisis management and budget oversight—key for a city recovering from mismanagement. His public safety experience, including halving fatal crashes, directly addresses Palm Bay’s traffic safety issues. His ability to secure FEMA funding under pressure highlights his resourcefulness. However, his termination from Howell (for reporting illegal activity) raises concerns, though it may reflect integrity. His lack of Florida experience and ICMA certification are limitations, but his crisis leadership keeps him among the top tier.

4. Vince Akhimie: The Utility and Infrastructure Veteran

• Experience: Over 30 years in municipal roles, including Assistant City Manager in Lake City, FL, and Utilities/Public Works Director in Daytona Beach and Riviera Beach, FL.
• Education & Certifications: Master’s degree (University of Washington), Certified Public Manager (CPM), pursuing a Ph.D.
• Key Achievements:
  
  • Managed multimillion-dollar budgets, including $44 million in Daytona Beach.
  • Oversaw transportation and utility projects, revitalizing Bremerton, WA’s downtown.
  • Led infrastructure initiatives in Florida, such as stormwater and utility upgrades.
• Why He’s a Top Pick: Akhimie’s extensive experience in utilities and infrastructure is a perfect match for Palm Bay’s aging systems. His long tenure in Florida—across Lake City, Daytona Beach, and Miami Beach—gives him a deep understanding of local regulations. His advanced education and CPM certification strengthen his profile. While he lacks direct public safety experience and ICMA certification, his infrastructure revitalization track record makes him a compelling choice.

5. Armando G. Martinez, Sr.: The Public Safety Champion

• Experience: City Manager of Bunnell, FL (2008–2013), Chief of Police in Bunnell and Miami, with 25 years in Miami’s police department.
• Education: Bachelor’s in Public Administration (Barry University).
• Key Achievements:
  
  • Reduced Bunnell’s crime rate by 59.6% as Chief of Police.
  • Rewrote Bunnell’s Comprehensive Plan, enabling an 87,000-acre annexation.
  • Managed Miami’s $135 million police budget.
• Why He’s a Top Pick: Martinez’s unrivaled public safety expertise—highlighted by a 59.6% crime reduction in Bunnell—addresses Palm Bay’s urgent need for safety improvements. His local residency and Florida experience are advantages, and his annexation success suggests economic development potential. However, he lacks a master’s degree, ICMA certification, and strong infrastructure experience. Past controversies, including discrimination allegations, are concerns, but his safety focus secures his place in the top five.

Why These Five Stand Out

These candidates were chosen for their ability to address Palm Bay’s core challenges:

• Mendez-Saldivia offers unmatched financial and infrastructure expertise, with a strong Florida track record.
• Coldwell brings financial turnaround skills and practical leadership experience.
• Geoghegan excels in crisis management and public safety, ideal for immediate recovery needs.
• Akhimie provides deep infrastructure knowledge and local Florida insight.
• Martinez delivers exceptional public safety leadership and regional familiarity.

Together, they represent a diverse range of strengths, each capable of contributing to Palm Bay’s stability and growth. Their selection reflects not just their qualifications but their potential to be the transformative leader the city desperately needs.

The Unqualified: Out of Their Depth

These applicants fell short of the 5-year municipal management threshold or other key skills:

The AI Classified as Problematic

These candidates carry baggage that could derail Palm Bay’s recovery:

Gregg Lynk

Gregg Lynk’s candidacy is a lightning rod. City Manager from 2015 to 2018, his tenure imploded amid scandal. The Homes for Warriors debacle—where mismanagement forced Palm Bay to forfeit $1.3 million in state funds—triggered audits and outrage. A 2018 secret recording, aired by Florida Today, allegedly captured Lynk offering a vehicle allowance for council votes, hinting at bribery. His feuds with Mayor William Capote and the council culminated in a 3-2 firing vote. Lynk touts achievements like bond refinancing, but his baggage—ethical, legal, and interpersonal—makes him a high-risk rerun Palm Bay can ill afford. Additionally, the City of Palm Bay was forced to endure a comprehensive JLAC audit by the state resulting in an extremely high number of negative findings. A majority of these concerns occurred during and under Lynk’s leadership and his hand-picked Deputy City Manager David Isnardi.

His reputation can be summarized with a look at his reference letters. A recommendation from an extremely well respected citizen, Bill Battin who in 32 years and missed only 7 city meetings. At the same time, a letter of recommendation from former City Councilman Tres Holton whose level of respect in Palm Bay would be the direct antithesis of Mr. Battin. Lynk’s application appears to be a welcoming of the return controversial years of his brief tenure, and a pathway of return to power of the former players frequented in FBI case reports. If interested, you can view a more detailed AI analysis of Lynk’s application here.

Implications for Palm Bay: A Make-or-Break Moment

The next City Manager will either lift Palm Bay from its mire or plunge it deeper. A stellar hire—like a Darren Coldwell or Kara Boyles—could tame traffic, curb crime, fix utilities, and spark growth, restoring faith in governance. A misstep—say, rehiring Lynk—risks reigniting chaos, squandering this rare chance for renewal.

The council, fresh off its own tumult, may lack the bandwidth to vet 119 candidates with care. Residents, battered by years of dysfunction, deserve transparency and a voice. Our AI analysis—accessible, objective, and exhaustive—bridges that gap. The full 119 applications accompany this article, inviting public scrutiny. But you don’t have to take our word for it. Any citizen can do exactly what we did here—upload the applications into an AI tool, set the criteria for an ideal candidate, and allow AI to do its work. We anticipate that your results will be nearly identical to ours.

Palm Bay’s challenges mirror broader Florida trends—sprawling growth clashing with aging infrastructure, as noted in a 2023 Urban Institute report on municipal resilience. Yet its stakes feel uniquely personal: a community of families, workers, and dreamers who’ve endured enough.

A Call to the Citizens

Palm Bay stands at a crossroads, its destiny tied to this hire. The firing of Suzanne Sherman was a reckoning; the search for her successor is a redemption. Through AI, we’ve spotlighted talent, exposed risks, and laid bare the choice ahead. But the council’s vote isn’t the end—it’s the beginning. Citizens must demand accountability, pore over these candidates, and hold leaders to a standard worthy of Palm Bay’s potential.

This isn’t just a bureaucratic shuffle; it’s a referendum on hope. Will Palm Bay rise as a Space Coast jewel, or fade into regret? The answer starts with you.

You can view all candidates and their applications at this link.

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