Meet Candidate #6 for Palm Bay City Manager: Howard W. Brown, Jr. Combines Strategic Vision with Ground-Level Results
Palm Bay, FL – With a dynamic career spanning more than two decades in public administration, Howard W. Brown, Jr. brings to the table a wealth of experience in city management, redevelopment, and community-focused leadership. Currently CEO and Founder of Local Government Consulting Group, LLC, Brown has served as interim manager in several municipalities across Florida and Georgia, helping guide cities through periods of transition with transparency, fiscal responsibility, and long-term planning.
Brown was selected as one of the top finalists for Palm Bay City Manager by Mayor Rob Medina and Councilman Randy Langevin during the March 20 City Council meeting.
Most recently, Brown served as Interim City Manager in East Point, GA, where he helped oversee a $209 million operating budget while prioritizing infrastructure investment and service delivery. As Village Manager of Indiantown, FL from 2019 to 2023, he led transformative efforts that saved taxpayers millions, including negotiating a zero-interest, 30-year interlocal agreement for Fire Rescue Services and acquiring a private water and sewer utility, with 80% of the loan subsequently forgiven.
Brown’s leadership philosophy is rooted in empowering communities through sustainable growth. As City Manager of Muskogee, Oklahoma, he helped broker a land swap that resulted in both a juvenile detention center and over a million square feet of new commercial development. While City Manager of Bell, California, he led the city through its first-ever charter code review and helped stabilize finances despite revenue shortfalls.
His expertise extends to urban planning and redevelopment: Brown is an AICP Certified Urban Planner and previously served as a sub-consultant in Miami-Dade County, supporting community revitalization in NW 7th Avenue and NW 79th Street CRAs. In Opa-Locka, he implemented the city’s first Certificate of Use program, generating over $1 million in annual revenue.
Brown holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of West Florida and a Bachelor’s in Criminology from Florida State University. He is also a graduate of Harvard University’s Executive Program for State and Local Government. A Credentialed Manager with ICMA, he maintains active memberships in ICMA, FCCMA, APA, and AICP.
In his letter to Palm Bay officials, Brown wrote:
“Palm Bay’s vision of fostering economic prosperity, public safety, and quality infrastructure aligns closely with my leadership philosophy… I offer a strategic, collaborative, and forward-thinking approach to leadership.”
Brown will participate in the public interviews at Palm Bay City Hall on March 29, with the final selection for City Manager expected by April 17.
Palm Bay Live will continue its coverage of the eight finalists to ensure residents are informed ahead of this critical city leadership decision.
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