Key West officials are planning to select a new city manager from among the five finalists at their Dec. 12 city commission meeting.
That will be the first meeting that features all seven local lawmakers, including the newest commissioner Aaron Castillo, whose installation was delayed due to the tragic death of his wife just days after his Nov. 5 election victory.
The five finalists are Brian Barroso, James Brownlee, Rod Delostrinos, Steve McAlearney and Mark Sohaney. Their resumes and applications are on the city’s website at cityofkeywest-fl.gov. From the home page, click on the “City Manager Search” tab.
Each finalist has significant ties to Key West, whether through longtime residency, past military leadership or current employment with the city, or a combination of the three.
Delostrinos, a Key West native, has worked for the city for 15 years, holds a master’s degree in public administration and is currently the director of transportation.
“My leadership approach is to build trust in a team environment that inspires members to produce their best results,” Delostrino wrote in his cover letter.
McAlearney, after serving as commander of Naval Air Station Key West and then retiring from the Navy after 27 years, began working for the city and has been director of engineering and of ports and marine services. He currently serves as assistant city manager to interim city manager Todd Stoughton, who did not apply for the permanent city manager position. McAlearney holds a degree in engineering and a master’s in national security & resource strategy. In his cover letter, he pledged to lead the city ethically and transparently.
“If selected, I’ll ensure staff understands they need to be comfortable seeing every single email published above the fold in our local papers. I will accept no hidden agendas, and I will assure you that every citizen will be treated equally and fairly in their dealings with the city,” McAlearney wrote in his cover letter.
Sohaney and Brownlee also have held recent executive leadership positions in the military and have spent significant time in Key West working with local leaders and residents.
Sohaney preceded Capt. Beth Regoli as commander of Naval Air Station Key West.
“My previous role as commanding officer at NAS Key West honed my leadership skills in managing large-scale operations and gave me invaluable insights into the unique challenges facing the Key West community, particularly regarding affordable housing,” Sohaney writes in his cover letter.
Brownlee was the executive officer of NAS Key West until he retired from the Navy in May. He has a master’s degree in aeronautical science.
His resume states he has a “demonstrated expertise in identifying and resolving problems, building high-performing teams and using data to improve processes.”
Barroso is a graduate of Key West High School and works as a banker, currently living in Charlotte, North Carolina. He has previously served on several boards, including the governor-appointed board of the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority.
“I thrive in high-pressure and fast-paced situations, striving for positive results by applying my leadership and management abilities,” Barroso wrote in his cover letter. “Further, I possess expertise in finance and acumen for maximizing performance and inspiring colleagues.”The need for a new city manager was prompted by the commission’s 4-3 vote in June to fire city manager Al Childress without cause despite opposition from dozens of residents, who filled city hall to speak in support of him. Commissioners Sam Kaufman and Mary Lou Hoover, along with then-mayor Teri Johnston, voted in support of Childress.
