Palm Bay Names Matthew T. Morton as New City Manager
Council says Morton “stood head and shoulders above the rest” during final interviews
PALM BAY, FL – After reviewing over 100 applications and narrowing the pool to six finalists, the Palm Bay City Council conducted a full day of interviews with six finalists, the Palm Bay City Council voted 4-1 to appoint Matthew Thomas Morton as the next City Manager.
Morton, a credentialed public administrator with over 25 years of experience across multiple states, previously served as City Manager in Palm Coast, FL, and in several Washington municipalities. His performance during Saturday’s interview convinced Council members he was the right person to lead Palm Bay forward.
What Morton Brings to Palm Bay
During his interview, Morton emphasized transparency, accountability, and a long-term vision for the city:
“Without accountability, we’re not being honest with ourselves,” Morton told Council. “We have to be able to fail once, fail quickly, never fail that way again, and move on.”
He also spoke candidly about his leadership style:
Believes in developing internal talent: “Hire for character when you're deep in bureaucracy,” he said, stressing the importance of fostering a resilient organizational culture.
Values integrity over politics: “I won’t be bullied by any council member. My integrity is more important than my job.”
Brings high energy: Described himself as “hungry,” with a “hard charger mentality,” noting, “I have to win at everything. It’s just my mindset.”
Morton reflected on his long-term goals with a bit of humor:
“Ideally, I retire in 20 years and you name a golf course bathroom after me.”
Council Applauds His Experience and Vision
One Councilman noted he had initially leaned toward a different finalist but changed his mind after observing Morton's thorough preparation:
“He spent time way in advance to learn our city. That shows he’s interested and ready.”
Mayor Rob Medina echoed that sentiment:
“Mr. Morton was, head and shoulders, in my opinion, above everyone else. His talents in development—commercial, light industrial—and his grasp of city government will bring great value to Palm Bay.”
Councilman Chandler Langevin highlighted Morton’s thoughtful responses, including his answer to the “Founding Father” question, which Langevin saw as a window into Morton’s values and leadership philosophy.
A Deep and Diverse Career
Morton’s résumé includes:
City Manager of Palm Coast, FL – Led smart city initiatives and launched the Palm Coast MedNEX health innovation district.
Administrator roles in Duvall and Cle Elum, WA – Rebuilt departments, improved morale, and secured more than 30 grants.
Founder of Flagler Veterans Village – A nonprofit providing transitional housing and support for veterans.
Partner at Perihelion Group Consulting – Advised local governments on land acquisition and development strategy.
Education – Harvard JFK School, University of South Dakota (EMPA), Central Washington University.
Awards and Recognition:
ICMA Voice of the People Award
Washington Governor’s Smart Communities Award
ICMA Performance Management Certificate of Distinction
Public Reaction and What’s Next
While other strong candidates were considered—including former Deputy County Administrator Jason Davis and former Palm Bay City Manager Gregg Lynk—Morton drew broad praise from residents and department heads alike.
Several attendees expressed confidence in his ability to restore trust in city leadership and emphasized his ethical leadership style.
“He understands the importance of transparency and has a proven track record of real accomplishments. That’s what Palm Bay needs right now,” said resident Susan Hall during public comment.
Following the vote, Council directed staff to begin contract negotiations with Morton. If approved at an upcoming council meeting, he is expected to begin within 60 days.
Additional Resources
🎥 Watch Morton’s full interview:
📄 Read Matthew Morton’s full résumé submitted to the city:
Curated by AI and fact-checked by The Palm Bayer.
A big THANK YOU to our Interum City manager, Scott Morgan, for the fantastic job he did on coordinating the Candidate Interview process we witnessed yesterday. Thank you to Council for all the great questions and opening the interview process for the residents of Palm Bay to be a part of it. I was especially impressed that the City Staff were being able to mingle with Candidates and have their own vote of confidence on which candidate they choose to work with. Palm Bay has a great future with the leadership with Mr. Morton. Let's get to work!