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Amid controversy, Boynton Beach chooses a new city manager in a pivotal move

Boynton Beach commissioners voted Tuesday night for a new city manager, a well-liked police captain who lacks experience in municipal administration.

Dan Dugger, a captain with the city’s police department for 18 years, was chosen during a special commission meeting after dozens of residents spoke in support of him.

The new city manager will come in during a time of turmoil in the city of more than 80,000 residents. Boynton has been reeling from an incident involving a police chase that ended in the death of a teen boy. Over the past few months, the incident has led to the firing of the previous city manager and the resignation of the police chief.

Most of the city residents who spoke Tuesday night urged commissioners to hire Dugger, someone local, rather than hire a professional to search for and recruit from a more extensive slate of candidates.

“We need a local leader who knows this town,” said resident Vinnie Gray. “No one knows current issues in our city better.”

“It would be silly to put out feelers and hire someone who is book smart and find out he can’t apply the knowledge he has because he hasn’t been in Boynton for 18 years like Dan,” said Jared Bolin, a small business owner in Boynton Beach.

Critics focused on the fact that Dugger, previously an Army sergeant, lacked the qualifications laid out for the position of city manager. He does not have experience as an administrator, a background in municipal finance or a bachelor’s degree in public administration.

Pastor Ray Whitley recently met with Dugger and asserted Tuesday night that while the police captain has charisma, he doesn’t have the administrative and financial skills to be city manager. “Everyone says he is a great person, but is he the best fit and most qualified for this position, in this space at this time? Unfortunately, I don’t think he is,” Whitley said.

Commissioners had narrowed the finalists to three choices: Dugger, a captain with the city’s police department; Robert Curnow, deputy city manager in Coral Springs; and Interim City Manager James Stables, previously fire chief of Boynton Beach. Stables has been in the position since April when the commissioners voted to fire longtime city manager, Lori LaVerriere.

On Tuesday night, Stables withdrew as a candidate for family reasons. His family now lives in Tennessee. Stables said he would serve until Sept. 30.

LaVerriere had served as city manager for nearly 15 years, However, she had come under fire since 13-year-old Stanley Dale Davis III died after crashing his dirt bike as Boynton Beach Police Officer Mark Sohn chased him.

The chase turned out to be the fourth unauthorized pursuit Sohn has been disciplined for in his 20 years on the Boynton Beach Police force. Sohn has since been terminated from his job in the police department.

Community members, the boy’s family members and activists had criticized LaVerriere, accusing her of failing to take swift action against Sohn. The Davis family also complained about LaVerriere’s choice of words during a commission meeting when she told the boy’s uncle to “lay off the theatrics” after he spoke during public comment.

Davis’ family has since filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city and the police department.

Following the incident, Boynton Beach Police Chief Michael Gregory resigned.

On Tuesday night, four of the five commissioners supported Dugger.

" I think we’ve been going through this process quite a while and we need stability in this city,” said Vice Mayor Angela Cruz. “Boynton beach has specific issues. We need someone who is going to lead us in the right direction. Captain Dugger understands the issues of the city because he has been living here for over 18 years.”

Commissioner Thomas Turkin said the No. 1 goal of the city has been public safety. “I don’t think there’s a better person for the job at this time to ensure a safer more prosperous Boynton Beach.”

Commissioner Aimee Kelley noted that the other candidate, Curnow, said he had no intention to relocate to Boynton Beach and that Dugger, a resident, has a personal interest in seeing the city succeed.

Commissioner Woodrow L. Hay said he wasn’t satisfied with any of the candidates and advocated for a professional headhunting firm. “I knew politics would enter the picture. We must start over again,” he said at the beginning of the evening.

Hay was the sole dissenter.