MANATEE COUNTY, FL (August 9, 2023) – The Manatee County Board of County Commissioners has named four finalists to consider in its search for a new County Administrator. They are:
Andrew A. “Andy” Butterfield
Mr. Butterfield has been the Operations Manager for City of St. Pete Beach, FL (population 8,717) since 2019. Previously, he served as the Director of Veteran Affairs at Brown University in Providence, RI, for one year. Prior to that, he had a 36-year career in the U.S. Navy, serving most recently as Deputy Chief of Staff at U.S. Special Operations Command and Joint Base Deputy Commander/Naval Support Activity Commander at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ, for three years.
Mr. Butterfield has a Bachelor’s Degree in Naval Science and Political Science from the U.S. Naval Academy, a Master’s Degree in national security affairs from the U.S. Naval Post-Graduate School and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Dale “Doc” Dougherty
Mr. Dougherty has been the City Manager for Garden City, MI (population 27,287), since 2018. Previously, he was the Parks and Recreation Director for Hillsborough County, FL (population 1.455 million), for three years and for Macon-Bibb County, GA (population 53,498) for five years. Mr. Dougherty has a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Care Management from King’s College, a Master’s Degree in Sport’s Science from the United States Sports Academy, and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame. He is an ICMA-Credentialed Manager.
Don L. Rosenthal
Mr. Rosenthal worked for Pasco County, FL (population 553,947), for six years and spent five of them as the Assistant County Administrator. Previously, he served as the Buildings Director for Atlanta, GA (population 448,901), for four years and the Building and Safety Manager for Reno, NV (population 225,221), for three years. Other work included among other things serving as the Director of Community Development and Director of Code Services for Downers Grove, IL (population 50,000), for seven years. Mr. Rosenthal has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Military Science from Loyola University and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Regis University. He is an ICMA-credentialed manager and a Certified Public Manager.
William “Lee” Smith
Mr. Smith was most recently the County Manager for Chatham County, GA (population 296,329), where he served in that role for eight years. Previously, he was the County Manager for Wayne County, NC (population 124,634), for 13 years and the County Manager for Washington County, NC (population 13,589), for eight years. Mr. Smith has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from the University of North Carolina. He is an ICMA-credentialed manager.
Additional information detailing the finalists’ accomplishments, background and expertise can be found at this link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1BaTZXoxfq4CS9WACHzDXHN-fEntJy8uf?usp=sharing
The Finalists will come to Manatee County on August 16, 2023, and will participate in community tours, a reception with county staff, one-on-one interviews with Commissioners and full-commission interviews.
A public reception for the candidates is being finalized. A full commission interview session scheduled for August 18, 2023, will be open to the public beginning at 1:30 p.m. in the Manatee County Commission Chambers (1112 Manatee Ave. W, Bradenton, FL 34205). Discussion and final selection of Manatee County’s next County Administrator may take place after the interviews on August 18 or occur at the BOCC regularly scheduled meeting August 22, 2023.