Mike Hein resigns as Longboat's assistant town manager

Longboat Key Assistant Town Manager Mike Hein has resigned after about a year and a half on the job.

“He’s going to move on with this next chapter of his life,” said Town Manager Dave Bullock, who hired Hein in December 2015. Bullock said he has no plans to replace Hein.

Though he did not return requests seeking comment, Hein wrote in his Aug. 4 resignation letter: “It has been an honor and privilege to serve the community and wish nothing but the best for its continued success.”

As the town geared up its campaign in June to find a replacement for Bullock, who is retiring in early 2018, Hein asked commissioners to be considered for the town’s top administrative role. In July, the Town Commission voted 6-1 to hire Sarasota County Administrator Tom Harmer for the job.

After the decision, Hein said he was looking forward to the opportunity to work with Harmer.

“I enjoy working with the community and hope to further contribute in whatever capacity,” Hein said at the time.

A few days before Hein submitted his resignation, Bullock said he spoke with Hein about his role with the town in light of the commission’s decision to hire a new town manager.

Vice Mayor Ed Zunz, who was the dissenting vote in naming Harmer town manager, said the commission should have taken more time in making a decision and discussed additional candidates for the job, including Hein.

“I didn’t realize he had such a resume,” Zunz said. “I took him as a serious candidate.”

Hein has more than 25 years of experience in public service. He 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 2015. He has also served as deputy Pima County administrator and worked for the Arizona cities of Marana, Nogales and South Tucson.

While he believes commissioners should have given Hein more thought, Zunz has referred to Harmer as “extremely well-qualified” for the town manager role, and the vice mayor’s issue with his hiring is entirely procedural rather than merit-based.

“I don’t know if (Hein) should have been chosen,” Zunz said.

Both Bullock and Mayor Terry Gans praised Hein for his work with the town.

“He did everything that I asked him to,” Bullock said. “I have nothing but good stuff to say about Mike.”

Gans referred to Hein as “a good sounding board” on issues facing the Key, and wishes him the best in his future endeavors.

“He’s a good man,” the mayor said.

Bullock created the assistant town manager position in January 2013, promoting to the role Anne Ross, who previously served as the town’s engineer in the Public Works Department. In October 2015, Ross resigned from the position to become executive director of Lakewood Ranch’s Inter-District Authority.

Earlier this year, the Charter Review Committee suggested revising the town’s charter to include a section on the assistant town manager position. The current charter makes no reference to the job and the selection of the assistant town manager does not require commission approval.

A document reflecting the committee’s suggestion reads: “The town manager, with the approval of the town commission, shall appoint an assistant town manager solely on the basis of professional and administrative qualifications.”

If approved by commissioners and, subsequently, Key voters, this language would require the town to have an assistant town manager.