Meet Candidate #2 for Palm Bay City Manager: Matthew Thomas Morton Brings Innovation-Focused Leadership and Municipal Experience

Palm Bay, FL – Matthew Thomas Morton, one of the eight finalists selected for public interviews in Palm Bay’s City Manager search, offers more than 25 years of public and private sector leadership, with a career defined by innovation, strategic partnerships, and municipal reform.

Morton previously served as City Manager of Palm Coast, FL, where he led a city of over 100,000 residents. His tenure was marked by the launch of MedNexus, a university-based public-private partnership focused on healthcare innovation, and the implementation of a new Salesforce-based CRM system that enhanced resident engagement and operational performance. He also navigated the city through the COVID-19 pandemic with a digital-first continuity strategy, resulting in less than 5% disruption to municipal services.

Morton resigned as Palm Coast’s city manager in May 2021, just days after then-Mayor Milissa Holland also stepped down. His resignation followed reports of “unruly” council meetings and broader public tension, according to local news coverage. At a subsequent council meeting, Councilman Victor Barbosa attempted to initiate Morton’s termination, citing allegations of misconduct. The motion was not seconded and ultimately failed. 

Prior to Palm Coast, Morton served as City Administrator in Duvall, WA, and Cle Elum, WA, where he gained extensive experience in infrastructure planning, labor negotiations, and emergency management. His achievements include major cost savings through process reengineering, expanding broadband and fiber access, and reorganizing city departments to improve efficiency.

Morton began his government career in Yakima County, WA, where he led strategic process reengineering efforts and coordinated interdisciplinary environmental and land use projects. He also co-chaired negotiations during union contract talks and helped modernize permitting systems.

Currently, Morton serves as an executive for land acquisition and development with Perihelion Group Consulting, LLC, and is also the Co-Founder and CEO of Flagler Veterans Village, a nonprofit providing transitional housing and support services for veterans in Flagler County.

He holds an Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA) from the University of South Dakota and completed senior executive training at Harvard Kennedy School. His academic background also includes a Bachelor’s in Geography and Land Use Planning from Central Washington University, and continuing education in leadership, emergency response, and urban development. Morton is an ICMA-Credentialed Manager and a Florida licensed real estate professional.

In his application, Morton wrote:

“I have exceptional experience in strategic process reorganization with a keen focus on positioning our people and resources to best accomplish the tasks before us today, while also effectively preparing to meet the challenges of the future.”

He emphasized core values such as honesty, integrity, openness, and courage as guiding principles in both his professional leadership and personal conduct.

Morton was among the top picks of Mayor Medina, Deputy Mayor Jaffe, and Councilman Hammer during the March 20 City Council meeting, which ultimately narrowed the candidate pool to eight finalists. 

Morton currently resides in Palm Coast, Florida, and will participate in public interviews at Palm Bay City Hall on March 29. The City Council plans to make a final selection and extend a formal job offer by April 17.

Palm Bay Live will continue publishing individual candidate profiles throughout the week to help residents learn more about the contenders.

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