City officials are expected to in the coming weeks vote on a permanent city manager, choosing between the man who’s been doing the job and two prospective newcomers.
CANDIDATE 1: Randy Morris has been employed with the City of Dothan for 26 years. He was raised in Ozark and graduated from a Wiregrass high school before graduating from the University of Alabama. He also served in the Navy for over three years, according to his LinkedIn. He’s been leading the city as interim city manager since April of last year after the city commission rejected to renew the previous city manager’s contract. Sources indicate Morris is the choice for Mayor Mark Saliba, D3 Bradley Bedwell and D6 David Crutchfield.
CANDIDATE 2: Rich Tucker is a high-ranking officer at Fort Novosel working with the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence. He attended West Point after graduating from Appalachian State University, according to his LinkedIn. Online reports indicate he was deployed several times. Sources say he’s the preferred choice for D4 John Ferguson and D5 Gantt Pierce, who reportedly want a military man to take the job.
CANDIDATE 3: Redmond Jones has worked in several cities in managerial positions. Reports indicate he was removed from his position in Groveland, Florida, in 2016 after he was accused of covering up purchases by the former city’s police chief. He went to Iowa City afterward but resigned from that position last year. Online reports indicate he’s currently interviewing for a city manager position in Palatka, Florida.
It’s currently unclear which direction D1 Kevin Dorsey and D2 Aristotle Kirkland will go.
