Although the Miami Herald reported that the North Miami Mayor and Council had until January 26, 2016 to each submit their four choices for city manager, I was advised late last night that the deadline is today.

With thirty seven applications left to review, this didn’t give me as much time to research them as I would have liked.  However, I was able to pinpoint eight applicants who, in my opinion, are the “superstars.”

Those candidates are:

• Magalie Desroches Austin of New York City. Highest education: Law Degree from Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana. Most recent employment: Chief Diversity and Industry Relations Officer, New York City Department of Design and Construction. Also worked for: University of Miami Law School, FIU College of Law, University of Illinois, United States District Court.
• Anis A. Blemur of North Miami. Highest education: Masters of Business Management in Accounting from Barry University. Most recent employment: President and CEO of AB Consulting & Accounting Services, Inc. from 2001-Present. Also worked for: Xantic, Inc., Sharpton, Brunson & Co., PA, Stellar Maritime Services, Inc. Special skills: Fluent in English, Spanish and Creole.
• Louie Chapman, Jr. of Delray Beach, Florida. Highest education: Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from University of Virginia. Most recent employment: City Manager of Delray Beach. Also worked for: Town of Bloomfield, Connecticut as its Town Manager from 1993-2003, City of Charlottsville, North Carolina as its Assistant City Manager.
• Jimmie Johnson of Tyler, Texas. Highest education: Doctorate in Public Policy & Administration from Walden University in Baltimore, Maryland. Most recent employment: Assistant City Manager of the City of Port Arthur, Texas. Also worked for: City of Tyler, Texas as its Manager/Director of Production and Water, several directorships in other cities in Texas as well as positions in the private sector. He is also an Assistant Professor at Texas College and an Adjunct Professor at Liberty University.
• Edward Pidermann of Miami Lakes, Florida. Highest education: Masters in Public Administration from FIU. Most recent employment: Deputy Fire Chief of the City of Miami Fire-Rescue from 1985-2015.
• Deryl L. Richardson of Washington, DC. Highest education: Masters in Public Management from Park University in Parkville, Missouri. Most recent employment: Associate Director at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Also worked for: U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Army Central Command, U.S. Marines and Army, as well as positions in the private sector.
• Marie P. Woodson of Hollywood, Florida. Highest education: Masters in Public Administration/Management from St. Thomas University. Most recent employment: Dade Community Action and Human Services Department as its Assistant Department Director. Also worked for: Miami-Dade Department of Human Services and Department of Children and Families.
• Dwayne M. Young of Enterprise, Alabama. Highest education: Masters in Procurement/Acquisition Management from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri. Most recent employment: Executive Budget Manager/Brigade Logistics Officer in the U.S. Army. Has worked for the U.S. Army in various positions since 2006. In his own words: “12+ years of honorable military service as an Officer in the United States Army.”

Of the remaining twenty nine candidates on the list, there are so many with amazing resumes.  Among them are educators, former law enforcement officers and even a retired FBI agent.  Most of the applicants, however, have little or no experience in the public sector, which is one of the most important things to consider when choosing a city manager.

There are so many qualified applicants on this list from which to choose.  The Mayor and Council have no excuse to settle for second best.  Their main goal should be to choose a city manager who will best serve the residents of North Miami and not one who will simply do their political bidding.

In any event, I urge the Mayor and Council of North Miami to at least consider these candidates prior to submitting their final four names to the Personnel Director today.

Stephanie Kienzle
“Spreading the Wealth”