By Janet Perez | YourValley
Florence residents will have the opportunity to meet the two finalists for the town manager position on Thursday, Jan. 5, at the Windmill Winery.
The event is tentatively scheduled to run 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Florence is approaching one year of not having a town manager. In February 2022, Brent Billingsley left the job to become director of community development for Pinal County.
Since his departure, Town Clerk and Deputy Town Manager Lisa Garcia has been the town’s interim town manager.
Now the Florence Town Council has selected two finalists for the position. The top candidates come from a second round of interviews for the position. A first round was held in May, but no one was selected.
Russell A. Martin
Martin had served as town manager of Camp Verde since 2010. Camp Verde has a population of fewer than 11,000.
In October, the Camp Verde Town Council voted 6-1 against renewing Martin’s contract, according to an article on JournalAz.com, which covers news from Camp Verde, Cottonwood and Verde Valley.
According to the article, “Martin, who has served as town manager for the past 12 years, said he was surprised and disappointed, but believes the council are ‘good people; they think they’re doing what’s right for the community.’ However, Martin added, ‘I disagree. I think I’m good at what I do.’”
