DORAL, Fla. – Doral Mayor Luigi Boria's nomination of former Miami Mayor Joe Carollo as the new city manager was unanimously accepted by council on Wednesday.
The city manager seat at council sat empty Wednesday as Interim Doral City Manager Merrett Stierheim announced his resignation from the city a few hours before a scheduled news conference held Wednesday.
Stierheim expressed in a letter "disappointment with [the mayor's] reluctance to share...who the candidate is." He added "The wisdom and reasons for that decision are certainly questionable."
"Mayor, what would you say to the critics?" asked Local 10's Ross Palombo.
"I don't have to comment," said Boria. "I believe he has very capable knowledge to assume the job. We'll see what happens in the near future."
When asked about Stierheim's letter, Mayor Boria said, "I don't see any critical comment in the letter."
"Mayor, he said your wisdom was questionable," said Palombo.
"We can argue about that," Boria said. "It's just his point of view."
Carollo was commissioner and then Mayor of Miami from 1998 to 2001. He was outspoken and often controversial during the Elian Gonzalez case.
"He did what he had to at that time and I'm comfortable with that," said Boria at the meeting.
Carollo was later arrested and booked for allegedly throwing something at his wife. The case was eventually dismissed.
"Mayor, do you think Carollo will be be divisive in any way?" Palombo asked.
"I'll make sure that that doesn't happen," said Boria.