Man Gomez Wanted As Century Town Manager Has Accepted Job In Arkansas

September 14, 2023

The man interim Century Mayor Luis Gomez, Jr., wanted to hire as a temporary interim town manager has taken a job in Arkansas.

Minutes after he was sworn into office, Gomez asked the council to allow him to enter into negotiations with Robert Thompson to serve in the position for three months. The move came after Gomez admitted that he was in over his head, and presented Thompson as his choice to help lead the town on a temporary basis.

Texarkana, Arkansas, offered Thompson their city manager job on September 5, and he’s now inked a contract. Texarkana City Finance Director TyRhonda Henderson told NorthEscambia.com that Thompson’s first day on the job in the city of 36,000 residents will be next Monday, September 18.

Thompson is the former city manager of Defuniak Springs, Florida.

Last week, the Century town council declined to allow Gomez to begin negotiations with Thompson. The Century council voted 3-0 to advertise for an interim town manager or consultant through noon on September 19 with the Florida League of Cities, Florida League of Mayors and League of City Managers. The motion did not include advertising locally. The council plans to consider their choice seven hours after the deadline during a regular council meeting.

Pictured top: Robert Thompson addressed the Century Town Council on August 28, shortly after interim Mayor Luis Gomez was sworn into office. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

Comments

15 Responses to “Man Gomez Wanted As Century Town Manager Has Accepted Job In Arkansas”

  1. Smack on September 14th, 2023 9:28 pm

    Yea someone from Ringling Brothers
    How about Rusty the clown

  2. Just Me on September 14th, 2023 8:49 pm

    The question I have to all of the council members is do you realize that this job listing is still not posted on the Florida league of cities job board like you voted on to be done ?

  3. CW on September 14th, 2023 8:42 pm

    @CF

    I certainly agree with you. There’s no city police or fire protection, so I see no need for a mayor and council. If Cantonment and Molino can get by being unincorporated, then Century can too.

  4. Oversight on September 14th, 2023 7:59 pm

    Century dodged a bullet. LOL! Good luck, Texarkana, Arkansas.

  5. CF on September 14th, 2023 7:13 pm

    @missing the point. You got your small town mayors mixed up. But, the safest bet for Century would be to give the town back to the county.

  6. Missing the Point on September 14th, 2023 6:25 pm

    Everyone is Missing the big picture. Why are the Advertising for a Mayor…….. When that’s the Job Gomez insisted on. Now he claims he doesn’t know what he is doing……….. And wants to hire Someone else using Century’s tax dollars to do what Gomez unconstitutional oath and now holds that Seat. The Very Seat that Mayor Bondurant was holding as well as Qualifed as what the position called for. You know running a city……… Allocating funds for the City through county & State. Balancing the budget. You know real Leadership actives. There are always two kind of People in the World and that is Leader’s and follower’s. But sometimes you have a wrench

  7. Bama on September 14th, 2023 5:15 pm

    Let me get this straight, Louie Gomez took on a job he couldn’t handle so he wanted to hire someone to do his job. Sounds like something that would take place in a little sleepy town of Century.

  8. Rusty on September 14th, 2023 4:01 pm

    I personally don’t think he was qualified anyway it’s gonna take someone with some real circus experience try someone from Ringling Brothers

  9. tg on September 14th, 2023 2:48 pm

    I guess he didnt buy a home in Century.

  10. Kane on September 14th, 2023 11:50 am

    Like sands through an hourglass these are these are the “Days of Our Lives”

  11. Really on September 14th, 2023 11:00 am

    @CJ Lewis…have you ever heard of how the job system works??? Just because you leave one job, doesn’t mean you will never get another one. Mr. Thompson left his job in Defuniak; great. There are other jobs out there. The man is allowed to apply and accept other opportunities. Given your line of thought, he should never be hired again. Get a life.

  12. Hmmmm on September 14th, 2023 8:50 am

    Good move sir….

  13. CJ Lewis on September 14th, 2023 8:35 am

    Wonder if Texarkana knew that DeFuniak Springs voted to “not” extend Thompson’s initial 18-month contract, voted to offer him a “probationary” 6-month extension and Thompson walked then away on December 1, 2022 with only a few days notice? Some media reporting in Texarkana said that Thompson is “currently” the city manager of DeFuniak Springs. Did he give some that impression? Thompson’s Linkedin page claims that he was still the city manager of DeFuniak Springs as recently as March 2023. Obviously, not. On the Linkedin page, Thompson says that he was working for Dona Ana County in New Mexico until June 2021 and that same month went to work in DeFuniak Springs. He was definitely not in New Mexico in June 2021. DeFuniak Springs offered him the job on April 15, 2021. He seems to be very creative in puffing up his resume.

  14. El oh El on September 14th, 2023 7:16 am

    Smart man.

  15. Anne on September 14th, 2023 6:54 am

    Saga of poor choices just never ends.
    Mr. Robert Thompson, Best Wishes to you in the new job in Arkansas.
    I do believe you made a good life choice.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News