Former Mayor Henry Hawkins Applied To Be Century Town Manager. Here Is The Complete List Of Applicants.

December 1, 2021

Former Century Mayor Henry Hawkins is among 11 people that applied to be Century town manager.

Hawkins, a longtime pastor, also served on the town council.

Applications for the position have closed, with the town council Monday night deciding to take more time to consider their options. Tuesday was the last day on the job for Interim Town Manager Vernon Prather as he retires.

Council President Luis Gomez said council members were never provided with resumes and applications. NorthEscambia.com received the 71-page document on November 24 in response to a public records request.

Former, and future, town clerk Leslie Howington applied for both the town manager and town clerk positions. Monday night, the council voted unanimously to hire her as town clerk, and the council also agreed to consider her proposal to combine the two positions. In a written proposal, she said a new manager/clerk position would save the town money.

Other applicants for Century town manager were:

  • Jason Davis of Royal Palm Beach, Florida, is a division director for Palm Beach County, FL. He has worked there since 2007.
  • Fred Ventresco has been city administrator in Milan, Missouri, since 2019. He is a previous town manager or administrator in Sandisfield, Massachusetts; Limestone, Maine; and Milbridge, Maine.
  • Rodney Lucas of Mascotte, Florida, has worked as an interim city manager in Pahokee, Florida; community development director in Bunnell, Florida; and interim city manager in Groveland, Florida
  • Robert A. Riojas of Gulf Breeze, has worked since 2016 as a C-130J electronics upgrade coordinator for Lockheed Martin and has held additional aeronautical positions.
  • Mackey Wright of Pensacola has worked as an investigator in the Office of the Federal Public Defender in Tampa and Pensacola, an investigator for the Mississippi State Public Defender Office, and  as a licensed social worker.
  • Shawn Hall of Pace has spent the past 15 years as a human resources manager.
  • Timothy Day of Cape Coral, Florida, has 25 years experience in law enforcement and fire services, and town manager or interim town manager experience at Melbourne Beach, Florida, and Greenville, Florida.
  • Derek Burr of Birmingham, is a director for Jefferson County, Alabama. He has served as a director in Palm Bay, Florida; manager in Cape Coral, Florida; and a planner for the Lee County School District in Fort Myers, Florida.
  • Fred Vella of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has worked for J.C. Penney in three states, and was a school teacher .

    Editor’s note: Details on each individual are taken from their resumes and/or applications as submitted to the Town of Century.

    Pictured: Former Century mayor Henry Hawkins. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.

    Comments

    18 Responses to “Former Mayor Henry Hawkins Applied To Be Century Town Manager. Here Is The Complete List Of Applicants.”

    1. Jeff Sears on December 23rd, 2021 1:10 am

      Carl nailed it. I belly laughed at that and I nearly have tears. Thank you for making my day.

      You literally cannot make this stuff up. Especially with Hawkins! This is unreal! Like a twilight zone.

    2. Just.A.Thpught on December 3rd, 2021 11:19 am

      Century should start Over and re-advertise the position-maybe they get more qualified applicants

    3. Bob on December 3rd, 2021 10:14 am

      Carl,

      I think we have a winner!!!

      Winner, winner, chicken dinner!!!

    4. Carl on December 2nd, 2021 10:15 pm

      Century seems to be in an infinite looping time warp..over and over and over again
      Changes but stays the same

    5. Denny on December 2nd, 2021 12:50 pm

      So four of the applicants have no experience related to the job. With Century’s history of mismanagent, probably one of them will be selected.

    6. Things not what they seem.... on December 2nd, 2021 9:58 am

      NO!!!! OH GOODNESS NO TO henry hawkins!!!! KEEP THAT WEASEL OUT OF ANY SAY IN CENTURY POLITICS!!!

    7. Shay on December 2nd, 2021 4:31 am

      Hasn’t he done enough for Century already(insert sarcasm)

    8. Just Me on December 2nd, 2021 12:07 am

      Mr Hawkins has ran the Town down far enough. He was voted out for a reason. Him getting the job is straight out of the book of Bad Ideas.

    9. Bob on December 1st, 2021 10:06 pm

      MAKE HAWKINS THE TOWN MANAGER.

      I DEPEND ON THE TOWN OF CENTURY FOR MY DAILY DOSE OF CORRUPTION AND INCOMPETENCE!!!

    10. Jay on December 1st, 2021 7:48 pm

      Are they still taking applications? I am looking to be unemployed, reputation ruined, and humiliated by a small town in the next 6-9 months.

    11. tg on December 1st, 2021 4:25 pm

      Once is enough .

    12. Stacy Seale on December 1st, 2021 10:54 am

      Hawkins is a bad idea all together

    13. ensley boy on December 1st, 2021 10:35 am

      If the fine voters of Century elect him then they deserve him.

    14. Bigblock345 on December 1st, 2021 10:12 am

      Here we go again. ( The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round and round.)

    15. rad on December 1st, 2021 10:04 am

      Henry Hawkins has missed having his hand in the kitty.

    16. sam on December 1st, 2021 8:34 am

      Hawkins? Uhhh NO!

    17. ProudArmyParent on December 1st, 2021 8:30 am

      Oh please, do not let the rooster back in the hen house. Has not Hawkins done enough damage? He couldn’t manage the town when he was Mayor, he sure won’t be able to handle it as Town Manager.
      FYI: Wasn’t the job of Town Manager created because Hawkins couldn’t take care of business?

    18. Century on December 1st, 2021 7:42 am

      I do not believe that the old mayor should be allowed to apply for this job where he has say on anything he got out voted for a reason sorry to say that but it’s the truth he would not make good decisions