Alachua County’s No. 2 choice for county manager, Stockton Whitten, is expected to become Brevard County’s next county manager.
Whitten, currently Brevard’s deputy county manager, was the Alachua County Commission’s second choice from a pool of five finalists to succeed Acting County Manager Richard Drummond. He dropped out of negotiations with the county this summer to remain in Brevard County. Alachua County’s own deputy county manager, Betty Baker, will become county manager later this month.
Earlier this month, the Brevard County Commission approved a succession plan 4-1 under which Whitten would assume the role of county manager on Oct. 1, 2014, according to Florida Today. Brevard’s current county manager, Howard Tipton, plans to leave his post at that time.
Whitten is now considered Brevard’s “county manager in waiting,” according to Florida Today.
Commissioner Trudie Infantini voted against the succession proposal and argued that Tipton should leave the county now so Whitten could be immediately named as his successor rather than have the county keep both of them on board until October of next year.
Whitten, a University of Florida grad, has worked for Brevard since 1994 and is currently paid $139,364 annually as deputy county manager. When he takes over the county’s top leadership role, he will get a salary bump to $180,000.
Alachua County made Whitten an initial offer of $160,000 as a base salary at the start of negotiations.