A long-awaited audit targeting former Martinsville city manager Aretha Ferrell-Benavides has been released. What happens next in this on-going saga remains to be seen.
A mayor in Texas has been arrested for allegedly assaulting the pregnant city secretary. In Florida, a city manager said she was resigning — but the council later voted the same day to fire her. And another city manager in Florida who has had a rocky history with his city is facing termination attempts and there is an interesting theory about why he is under fire.
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
Other
IL: Decatur - Director of Finance (4/5/2024) | in-house
IL: Village of St. Joseph - Public Works Director (Until Filled) | in-house
KS: Osage County - County Controller (4/14/2026) | Bird Dog Consulting
NM: Ruidoso - Economic Development Director (5/6/2026) | Clear Career
NM: Ruidoso - Finance Director (5/6/2026) | Clear Career
NM: Ruidoso - Water Resource Director (5/6/2026) | Clear Career
TX: Dumas - Finance Director (5/6/2026) | Clear Career
TX: Lufkin - City Engineer (3/30/2026) | Clear Career
TX: Marble Falls - Finance Director (Until Filled) | Clear Career
TX: Odessa - Assistant City Attorney (5/10/2026) | Clear Career
TX: Odessa - Chief Financial Officer (5/8/2026) | Clear Career
TX: Weatherford - Assistant Director of Water Utilities (Until Filled) | Clear Career
TX: Wichita Falls - Chief Building Official (4/29/2026) | Clear Career
VA: Audit of Former Martinsville City Manager Aretha Farrell-Benavides Released with Concerning Details
The on-going Martinsville saga had some gasoline poured on the fire this week after a forensic audit and findings were released. You can read the audit report and response by the newly appointed city manager here.
Auditors found that the City failed to follow proper policies and procedures in multiple areas or lacked any policies at all. The audit flagged several specific employees who received substantial pay increases under city manager Aretha Ferrell-Benavides along with stipends that lacked documented justification.
Key takeaways:
Multiple employee hired with questionable levels of experience and given raises or multiple raises over short periods
Of the ten employees hired under Aretha Ferrell-Benavides and reviewed by auditors, nine had no résumé or any other new hire documents in their personnel files
Tested 307 credit charges over an approximate 15-month period by the city manager and unable to determine business purpose of 99 of them totaling $15,600
Criticized for excessive/luxurious travel expenses that violated policies
TX: Magnolia mayor arrested, charged with felony assault of pregnant woman following Texas Rangers investigation
Could not have happened to a more deserving prick!
Updating a previous story, the mayor of Magnolia has been arrested and released on bond. In the complaint, City Secretary Christian Gable alleged that while she was pregnant, Matthew Dantzer sexually harassed her and grabbed her by the throat during a work conference in Fort Worth in October 2025.
Gable filed a federal lawsuit against Dantzer and the city last week, accusing them of failing to properly investigate her assault claims and allowing retaliation against her. She says her constitutional rights were violated and is seeking damages.
MA: Interesting Week for Plymouth Town Manager Derek Brindisi
First, he gets told by a judge to mind his own business when it comes to the local airport.
“The public interest in having a properly functioning airport is self evident and rises above the town manager’s desire to control issues at the airport that are beyond his authority,” the judge wrote in the ruling.
And then, following up on an odd story I previously covered about a federal agent allegedly impersonating him.
Christopher Marden, a federal officer with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, used the name and information of Brindisi to complain about a Facebook post on which police seemed to be supporting residents who illegally decorated their cars with Christmas lights.
Judge Hon. John Canavan dismissed the charge finding that Marden did not meet the criteria for identity fraud
News Around the Country
AZ: Avondale’s economic development director, Jennifer Stein, is moving into a new role as assistant city manager.
CA: Chino Hills has selected Hue Quach as its new Assistant City Manager
CA: Charles Berry, Colton’s Electric Utility Director, tapped to be their ACM
CA: Pasadena taps Mike Futrell to be their city manager, luring him away from Riverside
CO: After more than 90 minutes in executive session, a motion to place the Federal Heights city manager and city attorney on paid leave was halted
CO: Lakewood city manager Kathy Hodgson announces retirement after serving city for nearly 50 years
DE: The Town of Princess Anne announces that Kristen Drummond, Ed.D., has started her role as Town Manager
FL: Loxahatchee Groves town manager was ousted the same day she submitted her resignation letter and requested a planned departure.
FL: In Praise of Marco Island Interim City Manager Lucius (LTE)
FL: Riviera Beach power struggle: Push to fire city manager tied to fire chief pick?
GA: Thomas County Manager announces retirement after 27 years
IA: Mason City DCA and executive recruiter Brent Hinson leaving to assume ACM position in Ankeny
MA: Proposed Norton budget designed to 'head off a crisis' town manager says
MI: New Kalamazoo City Manager Malcolm Hankins introduces himself to the community through neighborhood meetings
MT: Polson City Manager Ed Meece resigning to take gig in Washington to be closer to family
NC: Cary gives its police chief a take-home vehicle. One home is 180 miles away.
NC: Rocky Mount City Manager Elton Daniels battles to stave off state takeover; repurposing director of communications role into chief budget and strategy officer title
OH: Petition by former councilmember aims to pull police and fire chief hiring, firing power from Cincinnati city manager
OH: Eric Smith, the recently retired city manager of Englewood, will have a portion of Union Boulevard named after him
OH: Sebring has a new village manager. Meet Christopher Frazer
TX: Farmers Branch mayor publicly reprimanded after allegations of improper staff interactions
TX: Pflugerville announced that current deputy city manager James Hartshorn will serve as the next city manager
TX: Richardson residents will have a whopping 55 items on the local ballot to vote on at the May 2 elections.
TX: Total Recall in Temple Texas - Residents plan to recall all elected officials who support data center
Contracts & Compensation
IL: Employment agreement for Rochelle’s new city manager approved; salary approaches $200,000
ME: Here are 3 graphs showing the difference in pay for Western Maine town managers
UT: UPDATE: Heber City Council renews city manager’s contract after prolonged evaluation, mass civic engagement
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