Florida Keys native and former state House representative Ron Saunders will take the reins as Islamorada’s next village manager, following a unanimous vote by the five council members at an April 10 meeting.
A selection didn’t take long among the council inside the Founders Park Community Center. The process began as each member wrote the name of their preferred choice on a piece of paper provided by Jamie Terry, human resources director. The results came back with three votes for Saunders and two for Jennifer DeBoisbriand, village planning director. Theodore Munchmeyer, Plantation Key resident and former senior military officer, was among the finalists but received no votes.
Councilman Steve Friedman proceeded by making a motion to select Saunders as village manager; it was seconded by Councilwoman Deb Gillis and subsequently approved via 5-0 vote.
A lifelong Keys resident, Saunders started out practicing real estate, banking and corporate law in Key West between 1979 and 1982 in partnership with his father, Jack, who served as a state legislator and judge in Monroe County. He then went on to become deputy county attorney, providing legal counsel to the Monroe County Zoning Board and board of adjustment, between 1982 and 1986.
From 1986 to 1994 and 2006 to 2012, he represented Islamorada and the rest of the Keys in the Florida Legislature. During his tenure in Tallahassee, he served as chair for the House Appropriations Committee, responsible for the state’s multi-billion-dollar budget, and the Community Affairs Committee, which was responsible for all local government legislation, including growth management bills. Saunders noted his legislative office was located on Plantation Key.
He sponsored and passed major legislation, including the Save Our Homes which capped increases in homestead property tax values. He also aided and supported measures to protect Florida Bay from agricultural pollution running from the Everglades.
Following his departure from the state legislature, he returned to the legal arena as a self-employed attorney and then as general counsel for the Monroe County Clerk of Court. He was also a familiar voice on the radio as he delivered daily news reports on U.S. 1 radio for six years. He was also working as an attorney with Merlin Law Group, where he joined after Hurricane Irma to assist Keys residents in dealing with their windstorm insurance companies which either denied or underpaid valid coverage claims.
In January, Saunders began working as director of community relations with Lower Keys Medical Center.
Following the council’s selection, Saunders expressed his gratitude to the council.
“Thank you very much all five of you. I pretty much knew somewhat how the vote might go, but I know all five of you very well,” he said. “The 5-0 vote means a lot to me, and I’ll work equally with all of you.”
Before the selection process, Mayor Sharon Mahoney stressed the importance of a 5-0 vote for whoever the council would choose as next village manager. Mahoney previously served on a council that parted ways with then-manager Ted Yates in 2023 and hired former manager Rob Cole in early 2024. Cole resigned from his position in January 2025.
“I want the community to get the best person, the best candidate, and for this person to stay more than the next election,” she said.
Saunders and the council verbally agreed to the same salary and benefits structure as reflected in the current budget through former manager Rob Cole’s agreement. Saunders will receive a $200,000 salary, $4,000 monthly housing allowance plus benefits. Saunders said he will be ready to go April 21. He also said he’ll be looking to find a house in Islamorada to become a full-time village resident.
Council also thanked Sheila Denoncourt for her service as acting village manager.
