The Tallahassee City Commission voted 3-2 Wednesday to hire longtime city administrator Karen Jumonville as Tallahassee’s next city manager, choosing an internal candidate after a national search that attracted 37 applicants.
Mayor John Dailey and Commissioners Curtis Richardson and Dianne Williams-Cox supported moving forward with Jumonville, while Commissioners Jeremy Matlow and Jack Porter voted against the motion. Jumonville’s contract is expected to return to the commission for final ratification on Sept. 9.
Before the final vote, Matlow and Porter, the commission’s progressive wing, proposed hiring Jumonville under a one-year contract. The proposal was rejected by the commission majority, with Dailey arguing that a short-term agreement would create instability, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.
The contract debate reflected a larger disagreement that has surrounded the city manager search for months. Matlow and Porter have argued that the commission should not make a long-term appointment shortly before the November elections, which could change the makeup of the five-member board. WFSU reported that the two commissioners said Wednesday that the process had been rushed and could result in instability if the incoming commission wants a different manager.
The commission majority has rejected that argument, maintaining that the current commission has a responsibility to select a permanent replacement for retiring City Manager Reese Goad.
Jumonville was one of three finalists recommended by S. Renée Narloch & Associates, the firm hired by the city for $30,000 to conduct the nationwide search. The other finalists were Scott Andrews, former county manager of Doña Ana County, New Mexico, and Valerie Washington, assistant city manager in Fort Worth, Texas.
As previously reported by Tallahassee Reports, the three finalists emerged from 37 applicants representing nine states and the District of Columbia. The applicant pool included 13 current or former city and county managers and five deputy or assistant city managers.
Jumonville brings considerably more Tallahassee experience than the other finalists. She joined city government in 1999 and was promoted to deputy city manager in March 2025 after serving as an assistant city manager since 2022. She previously headed the city’s Growth Management Department and was the first woman to serve as its director.
As deputy city manager, Jumonville oversees departments with a combined budget exceeding $270 million and approximately 700 employees. The city manager is responsible for a much larger organization — nearly 4,000 employees, a roughly $1.2 billion operating and capital budget, six municipal utilities, the Tallahassee Police Department, fire services, parks and recreation and Tallahassee International Airport.
During her presentation to commissioners, Jumonville emphasized both her experience and the responsibility that comes with the position.
“I understand first hand the significance of this position, its importance to the community and the extraordinary responsibility that comes with it,” Jumonville said, according to the Tallahassee Democrat. She said her focus would include aligning city spending with priorities established by the commission.
At Tuesday’s public meet-and-greet, Jumonville told WFSU that she would focus on “fiscal stewardship” while fostering the city’s “one team mentality and culture.”
Jumonville will replace Goad, who announced earlier this year that he would retire effective Sept. 30 or when his successor is selected. Goad has served as city manager since 2018 and had previously endorsed Jumonville as a strong candidate for the position.
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