The situation in Cary, North Carolina took a very bizarre turn this week as everyone seems to be piling on former town manager Sean Stegall. A disastrous Super Bowl ad is adding to the woes of a very large and popular provider of services to local governments.
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
NC: Former Cary Town Manager’s Car Linked to Drug Motel Sting Operation in 2016
Few public sector executives have had it worse over the last four months or so than Sean Stegall. He is being investigated on at least three fronts, including the district attorney, who is scouring over previous purchases. There was the $150,000 taxpayer funded book deal and ICMA magazine puff piece.
And now we have bizarre innuendo suggesting Stegall may have patronized a drug den back in 2016 — but was hidden under wraps until it was exposed this week.
CA: Registered sex offender running for Fresno City Council. ‘I’m not hiding from it’
In 2021, Rene Campos pleaded no contest to a 2018 charge of possession of child pornography and served two years of formal probation. He is also required to register as a sex offender. Now he wants to put his life experience to use and serve on the Fresno city council.
“It’s not something I want to hide from,” Campos said. “It is my past. It is public record. It is something I’ve learned from and something that I’m growing from.”
Flock Cameras Being Discussed Across the Country
I have been meaning to talk Flock cameras for several weeks, but the Super Bowl ad controversy regarding Amazon’s Ring cameras compels me to address it now. Over the last several months, liberal activists have bemoaned the use of Flock’s technology by ICE to enforce immigration laws. With libertarians and those on the right, you have concerns about citizen privacy rights and a growing police state. And then you have general concerns about abuses of the technology by law enforcement personnel who may stalk love interests or use it against political enemies.
Here are some additional stories for your review:
CA: Santa Cruz votes to end contract with Flock
GA: Braselton police chief retires, then is arrested on stalking and misuse of license plate reader charges
IL: Concerns in Illinois and other jurisdictions causes Flock to halt cooperation with federal agencies
TX: Austin moves toward adding surveillance regulation to city code; ended contract with Flock in June
VA: Angry Norfolk residents lose lawsuit to stop Flock license plate scanners
WA: Senate advances bill regulating 'Flock' license plate reader cameras
News Around the Country
CA: Chino Hills City Council appoints ACM Rod Hill as city manager
CA: Council Approves Reorganization of City Manager’s Office in Culver City, Emphasizing “Clear Goals”
CA: Grass Valley City Manager Tim Kiser is moving on
CA: Assistant City Manager for Nevada City out
CO: Ouray City Administrator Michelle Metteer has pulled the police department’s two remaining officers off of patrol duty (PAYWALL)
FL: Flagler County Deputy County Administrator Percy Sayles is resigning from the position after just under four months on the job
FL: Hiring freeze begins as Manatee County researches effects of tax cuts
FL: Ex-Quincy city manager arrested for allegedly using CRA funds for cigar store
GA: Baldwin County places finance director on leave amid audit on $5M sales tax payments to Milledgeville
GA: Cochran City Manager resigns effective immediately, city says
GA: Tifton appoints fire chief to serve as new city manager; follows resignation of Jeff Shoobridge who lasted just four months and was the second city manager to resign in last two years
IA: Davenport selects Interim City Administrator Tim Gleason for the permanent role
IL: Adams County Board hears about need for a full-time county administrator
MA: Danvers removes town manager residency requirement
NC: Carolina Beach manager gives update on cybersecurity issue that cost town money
NC: Durham City Council declines vote on contract allowing AI use in police data
NC: Emails detail laptop dispute between Leland councilman and town manager
NJ: Woodbridge's Longtime Business Administrator Vito Cimilluca Retires
NM: Former Santa Fe city manager: Budget system 'abysmal'
OH: Delta has lost its third administrator in as many years
PA: Former bookkeeper accused of stealing $32K from Old Lycoming Township
PA: Ex-Rankin Borough manager’s purchases detailed in months of credit card statements; turns herself in to face felony theft charges
TX: City of Taft votes in favor of terminating City Manager Ryan Smith
VA: Franklin City Council rejects finalist and votes to ask former city manager to return
WI: City administrator plan falls short of needed majority by La Crosse city council; but effort isn’t dead, yet
WY: Rawlins City Council: Water rate increases must remain to combat decades of deferred maintenance
Compensation & Contracts
OR: Eugene's new city manager salary and benefits package revealed