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Key Points
- Mayor Nick Nesta appointed his former campaign manager Brian Mater as Apopka's interim city administrator starting Monday without requiring ratification.
- Mater is especially excited for his involvement with Golden Gem Pond, parks and recreation, and enhancing water pressure at Rock Springs Ridge.
- A permanent city administrator announcement is expected later this month, with the new hire anticipated to start by March.
Mayor Nick Nesta announced his former campaign manager, Brian Mater, as Apopka’s new interim city administrator in a Monday morning email to city staff.
“I am reaching out to express my excitement for Mr. Brian Mater joining the team as Interim City Administrator,” Nesta said in the email. “He will be an incredible asset to tap into for each and every department.”
Public information director Steve Montiero confirmed that Mater began his new role Monday in a text message to The Apopka Chief, saying that “no ratification is required,” according to the city charter.
“I’m very lucky to have the mayor’s trust — he trusted me during the time on the campaign trail, he trusted me during the transition of helping him design a transition team that could help lead his vision and passion forward, and that’s kind of where we’ve been this entire time — trying to implement his vision of what really got him elected,” Mater said in a Monday phone call with the Chief.
Mater said he is particularly excited for his involvement with Golden Gem Pond and parks and recreation, along with strengthening the water pressure near Rock Springs Ridge.
“I know a lot of people are stating that they’ve been waiting for the mayor to do something, do something, do something,” he said. “I think that the citizens are now going to see some action. I think you’re going to see a lot of positivity… I’m very fortunate because I have the construction background and been able to implement getting projects done on time, below budget.”
Mater is replacing Radley Williams, who was dismissed from his position in September along with then-finance director Blanche Sherman. According to his LinkedIn page, Mater has worked as a general adjuster for American Family Insurance since May 2021, with previous experience as the owner of Southside Fitness and vice president of AllStar Roofing. He has confirmed he will still coach volleyball at Apopka High School.
In his Monday email, Nesta said an announcement of the permanent city administrator would arrive later this month, along “with an associated timeline for appointment to the position.” Mater said he anticipates the permanent administrator will start by March.
The announcement comes a few days before Friday’s special commission meeting, which will consider the ratification of four department heads: Cynthia Edwards as parks and recreation director, Robert Hippler as IT director, Zandra Balkcom as human resources director, and Marcel Lee as chief financial officer.
Editor’s note: This is a breaking story and will be updated as more information becomes available.