Fort Lauderdale city manager Tallahassee finalist

Fort Lauderdale’s city manager is in the running for a job in Tallahassee.

Lee Feldman, who said he applied for the city manager job on Sept. 4, is one of three finalists, the Tallahassee Democrat reported. There were 34 applicants, the paper reported.

A departure of the city manager would leave Fort Lauderdale looking for a top leader as it heads into the new budget year.

The city is struggling to repair its water-sewer system, resolve persistent problems with the homeless population downtown, and address endless traffic congestion, among other things.

The city attorney was fired in March, and replaced at a city meeting last week. Three of the city commissioners are new to the dais, and the mayor is also new to the post.

Feldman, 56, was hired to run the city of Fort Lau- derdale in June 2011, replacing George Gretsas. Previously, Feldman served as city manager in Palm Bay and in North Miami.

Feldman said he enjoys his job, but when a headhunter reached out to him for the Panhandle post, he was interested. He cited the city’s parks system, robust infrastructure investment program, and even the city’s hills, trees and change of seasons.

Feldman is highly respected in the world of local government, a recent past president of the International City/County Management Association. He enjoyed the support of the previous mayor, Jack Seiler. But that tide turned when Dean Trantalis was elected mayor in March. Shortly after his election, Trantalis said he was ready to fire Feldman.

Commissioner Steve Glassman said he’d go along with it, rather than watch the two butt heads for years. But Commissioner Ben Sorensen said he wanted to give the city manager a chance to prove himself. Commissioners Heather Moraitis and Robert McKinzie also supported Feldman remaining in the post.

Feldman said the city politics didn’t prompt him to send resumes out. Tallahassee was the only job he applied for. “There’s a lot of neat and exciting things happening up in Tallahassee that, when I learned about, I said I’d like to be a part of this,” he said.

Interviews for the post are on Sept. 17, he said.

Feldman’s contract requires the city to pay six months of salary and benefits if he’s terminated. Feldman’s base pay is $255,523 a year. His total compensation, including benefits such as life insurance and contributions to his retirement, is $338,466.94.