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.

Davis holds a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership and an MBA from Nova Southeastern University, along with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminology from Florida State University. He is also a Project Management Professional (PMP) and a Certified Government Executive, among other credentials.

One of the most debated additions to the list was Greg Lynk, the city’s former city manager. Councilman Kenny Johnson spoke about his decision to support Lynk’s return to the candidate pool, despite having voted to terminate him in 2018.
“I had a call from former Councilman Brian Anderson… we shared much discussion over 30 minutes where he cleared the air on a lot of accusations made about Mr. Lynk,” Johnson said. “Our God is a God of second chances. I know so much more now than I did six years ago.”

During the meeting, Councilman Chandler Langevin raised concerns about the financial burden on residents, emphasizing that a $100 ticket could significantly impact working-class families. “If you’re living paycheck to paycheck and get hit with a $100 ticket, that means you might have to skip a dinner out or other local spending. That affects our local economy,” he said. The financial breakdown of the fines was also discussed, revealing that of the $100 citation, $60 goes to the municipality, with $39 going to the City of Palm Bay and $21 going to RedSpeed.

A public records request by Palm Bay Live has revealed that the city retained RumbergerKirk, a well-known law firm, to investigate allegations of police misconduct, abuse of power, and a toxic work culture within the Palm Bay Police Department (PBPD). These allegations, brought forth by former Deputy Chief Lance Fisher, included claims against Chief Mariano Augello regarding the misuse of police resources and a culture of favoritism and retaliation within the department.

Palm Bay City Councilman Chandler Langevin is once again at the center of controversy after making inflammatory comments about Muslims. Langevin, known for past remarks praising the Confederacy and aligning with Christian nationalist views, recently declared that Muslims “do not belong in this great nation.” His comments have ignited widespread condemnation, especially in Brevard County, where a large Muslim community plays an integral role in the local economy and culture

Mayfield, a longtime Republican legislator, previously held the Senate seat until November 2024, when she was forced out due to term limits. She subsequently won election to the Florida House of Representatives in District 32 but resigned to pursue her former Senate seat following Sen. Randy Fine’s departure to run for Congress. However, state officials determined that her bid to return to the Senate violated constitutional restrictions on consecutive service.