50 people apply for Apopka’s top job

More than 50 people want Richard Anderson’s old job running the city of Apopka — from a former poker-room cashier at a dog track to a former New York City firefighter who risked his life when terrorists flew planes into the World Trade Center on 9-11

Most have experience managing a c i t y ’s d ay- t o - d ay operations, but a few don’t.

The poker-room cashier, a former TV producer, a bilingual school teacher and a former Steak & Shake waitress are among those lacking the prerequisite minimum qualifications of at least five years in a supervisory, administrative position in local government. The job’s starting pay is $111,550.

Mayor Joe Kilsheimer said the overall pool of candidates is deep.

“I think we’ve got a good number as well as a good range of candidates with the right amount of experience and the right skill set,” said Kilsheimer, who will ask a committee of city employees and interested citizens to help him sift through the pile of applications. The mayor has the final say. A few of the more qualified applicants currently or previo u s l y wo r ke d for Orange County’s second-largest city, notably Jeffrey Plaugher, a 22-year Apopka employee and the city’s assistant public-service director, and William Weingartner, an Apopka police officer from 1981 until 1999.

But most are from elsewhere – Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, Nebraska, Ohio, Rhode Island, Wisconsin and Tennessee.

Among those seeking the job are the former city managers of Coral Gables, Holly Hill, Lady Lake, North Miami Beach, Port St. Lucie, Williston and Zephyrhills. Two ran the city of High Springs near Gainesville. Another is city manager of Umatilla.

Two applicants boast previous experience as elected mayors.

One candidate not only has served as a manager of smaller cities in Colorado, Illinois, Michigan and Missouri, but also managed Hot Springs Village in Arkansas.

The New York City firefighter, Peter Blaich, has served as executive officer of the NYFD’s rescue operations since July 2012, a role in which he helped with day-to-day management of New York’s rescue companies. He responded to the north tower of the World Trade Center as a crew chief.

Anderson, a former Apopka fire chief, served the city for more than 40 years — including 10 as chief administrative officer. He was the highest-paid government official in Central Florida, set to draw a salary of $206,000 when he stepped down. Apopka immediately rehired him as a consultant and lobbyist at $264,000 a year, plus expenses.

Though Anderson did not hold a college degree, Apopka prefers that his replacement hold a master’s degree, preferably in public administration. The candidates also were required to answer “completely and thoughtfully” 10 questions — including one that probed their knowledge of the city and another that asked, “Why are you interested in the position of City Administrator for the City of Apopka?”

Those responses are due Friday. The mayor has not set a hiring deadline.