Bullock selects new assistant town manager

Town Manager Dave Bullock has hired a new assistant town manager to help him guide the town through what’s expected to be one of the busiest fiscal years in its history.

Bullock informed the Longboat Key Town Commission in a Dec. 11 email that he has selected Michael Hein as the new assistant town manager.

Hein’s first day is Jan. 4. His starting annual salary is $115,000.

Hein was city manager of Tucson, Ariz., from 2005 to 2009 and most recently worked as the director of the Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security for Pima County in Arizona from 2009 until earlier this year. He has also served as deputy Pima County administrator and worked for the Arizona cities of Marana, Nogales and South Tucson.

“Mike Hein is an experienced public management professional who resides in Sarasota,” Bullock wrote in his email. “Mike is anxious to jump in and start helping the town out.”

Hein resigned his most recent post in April, when his wife, Anne-Marie Russell, accepted a job as director of the Sarasota Museum of Art.

“I am the classic trailing spouse that followed my wife because it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for her,” Hein said.

Bullock has been interviewing potential candidates for the assistant town manager position since Anne Ross departed from the role in October to become Lakewood Ranch’s executive director.

Hein said he asked for a meeting with Bullock even before he knew there was a position opening on the island that suited him.

“I was encouraged to meet with Dave through other people when I began looking for a job,” Hein said. “I was inspired by his contacts, his leadership and what he does out here. Discovering a job was available soon after that I was being considered for was a bonus.”

Hein met with town staff last week.

“The devotion to public service is remarkable, and I look forward to working with them,” he said.

Bullock said he will be helping Hein catch up on projects that include beach projects totaling $23 million scheduled for the coming year, the Gulf of Mexico Drive undergrounding utilities project and a possible $23.85 million neighborhood and side street undergrounding project.

“This may be a small town, but the amount of capital projects and work going on here is something that attracted me to this position,” Hein said. “I’ll help Dave in any way possible as we work toward completing projects while developing a high degree of intimacy with the staff and the public.”