Every time I think I have read it all — I come across a bizarre story that boggles my mind. This week we have a town manager and his wife, who is also an employee, getting into a physical fight at city hall.
In California, a retired city manager does not appreciate being blamed by the current city manager over utility rates. And I screwed up with a recent newsletter and need to issue a correction and an apology.
All that and more news after the job postings.
Job Board Postings
It is free to post all of your senior and executive level recruitments over at the AAME job board. If you would like to include them in this newsletter, select the $199 option.
City/County Manager Recruitments
CO: Craig - City Manager (Until Filled) | in-house
IA: Cedar Falls - City Administrator (2/13/2026) | CB-Assoc
MO: Kirkwood - Chief Administrative Officer (3/6/2026) | CB-Assoc
SC: Blythewood - Town Manager (Until Filled) | Parker Poe Consulting
VA: Hopewell - City Manager (First Review 1/30/2026) CB & Assoc.
Other
IL: Village of St. Joseph - Public Works Director (2/23/2026) | in-house
PA: Cranberry Township - Director of Utilities (2/9/2026) | in-house
TX: Dumas - Finance Director (1/30/2025) | Clear Career
TX: Marble Falls - Finance Director (2/7/2026) | Clear Career
SC: Fistfight between Duncan town officials leads to SLED investigation
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) confirmed they are investigating a fistfight between Duncan town administrator Cameron Fant and his wife, Misty Fant, who is the town event coordinator.
The article literally says “fistfight” and I am wondering how accurate that statement is — but regardless, what a bizarre and unfortunate situation.
“Sounds like a WWE wrestling match,” said Steven Shiffler, who lives in Duncan. “That’s really pretty unusual. That’s the first I’ve heard of it and honestly I’ve never seen anything like that happen.”
CA: Former city manager pushes back on narrative over sewer rates in Bakersfield
Alan Tandy, the former city manager for Bakersfield, is not too happy with how the current leader has characterized the city’s handling of utility rates over the last decade plus. Current City Manager Christian Clegg told council members the city is now facing the consequences of keeping rates relatively low for decades.
“The challenge is, it wasn’t just for one or two years. It’s been for 10 and 20 years, lower rates, that now we have got to catch up,” Clegg said during the meeting Wednesday.
But Tandy retired six years ago and served as the city manager for 27 years and he strongly disagrees.
CORRECTION: West Milton Village Manager was Notified of Employment Status
Last week, I shared a story about the West Milton, Ohio village manager waking up to find that an ad for his job had been posted online. An anonymous source sent me a message to correct the record and I regret the error.
Here is the link to a December 2025 commission meeting whereby the manager was informed that his contract was not being renewed. My apologies to you the reader and to the elected officials in West Milton for passing along incorrect information.
News Around the Country
AZ: Santa Cruz County to refund residents over property tax error
AZ: City manager’s suspension of Scottsdale mayor’s chief of staff continues to roil city
AZ: Scammed: Yavapai County loses $868K, gets back 97.8%
CA: Sonoma County taps Sonoma city manager David Guhin as next county executive
FL: Cape Coral city council rejects proposal to change to 'strong mayor' structure
FL: Hein resigns as Groveland City Manager
GA: Metro Atlanta city managers detail potential money lost from new ICE facilities
GA: Hugley on firing as Columbus city manager: ‘What was meant for bad … turned out to be good’
GA: Report: No sexual harassment by St. Marys City Manager
IL: Even more drama surrounding former Dolton ‘super mayor’ Tiffany Henyard — and it’s messy
KS: These are the highest paid Johnson County employees. One made over $380K
OH: Looking at life in East Palestine 3 years after massive train derailment
MI: Ex-manager, fired in eavesdropping scandal, settles lawsuit with Kalamazoo Township
NC: Guilford County assistant county manager Erris Dunston resigns
NC: Meet Hot Springs first-ever Town Administrator, Hassena Kassim
NC: Spring Lake Board of Commissioners removes town manager in split vote
OR: Ashland legal team raises concerns about Parks & Rec’s role
SC: Duncan town administrator, wife on leave after fighting inside town hall
VA: Hearing for Criminal Cases Against Purcellville Vice Mayor, Town Manager Delayed
VT: FEMA denies disaster aid for 2025 flooding, leaving Vermont towns scrambling
WI: Grand Chute's search for administrator stalls after finalist withdraws from bargaining table
Compensation & Contracts
MA: Marshfield Hikes Town Administrator Salary Cap to $225K Amid Search
PA: Sewickley approves new 2-year contract with borough manager; salary bump to $140,000
TX: Bandera council set a salary range of $80,000 to $110,000 for the city administrator recruitment
TX: Laredo extends City Manager Neeb’s contract a year with 4% bump, calls for clearer performance standards (no salary listed in articles but was hired in at $270,000 in Feb. 2023)