Miami Beach has a new CEO. City appoints internal candidate after national search

Miami Beach conducted a national search to find its next city manager and flew in candidates from as far as California for interviews.

• But commissioners decided the best candidate for the job was already at City Hall.

Why it matters: Deputy city manager Eric Carpenter was promoted Wednesday to the senior executive position, where he will function as the CEO running the city's day-to-day operations.

• That means managing nearly 2,400 employees, controlling a $942 million operating budget and overseeing every city department, from police to sanitation.

Follow the money: Carpenter's base salary negotiation will begin at $360,000.

• The city paid recruitment firm MGT Consulting $24,500 to conduct the city manager search, a city spokesperson tells Axios.

Catch up quick: Miami Beach's previous city manager, Alina Hudak, resigned in March, amid an exodus of high-level city officials .

• The city is still without permanent directors for seven departments, including public works, building and capital improvement projects, according to its online organizational chart.

It's been a long time coming for Carpenter, who's been with the city since 2013 and first applied for city manager in 2021.

• When Hudak resigned, Mayor Steven Meiner suggested appointing Carpenter to the top job, but the City Commission decided to conduct a national search instead.
• Adding to the tension, some commissioners later complained about the caliber of candidates who applied.
• Carpenter was the only internal candidate among the four finalists interviewed Wednesday by the commission. He was appointed with a 5-2 vote.

What they're saying: Carpenter told commissioners after the vote that he was grateful to his loved ones who "kept me strong even when it was hard."

• "Now we get to roll up our sleeves and do the hard work."