Karen Stewart named Manatee interim administrator after parting ways with Cheri Coryea
The Manatee Board of County Commissioners appointed Karen Stewart to serve as interim county administrator after agreeing to part ways with County Administrator Cheri Coryea.
The board voted 6-1 to approve a separation agreement that Coryea negotiated with her legal team and the County Attorney’s Office. The mutual separation rewards Coryea with $204,000, including hundreds of hours of vacation, sick time and compensatory time.
Stewart has served as deputy county administrator under Coryea since 2019. She has worked with the county for over a decade, specializing in economic development and more recently leading Manatee County’s handling and distribution of federal CARES Act money.
According to a resolution proposed by County Attorney Bill Clague and approved by the board, Stewart will serve in the role until March 23, while the board interviews other applicants for the interim job.
Coryea leaves the county after more than 30 years, with most of that time serving in positions of leadership. She previously led the Neighborhood Services Department before ex-County Administrator Ed Hunzeker chose her to serve as deputy county administrator. Following Hunzeker’s 2019 departure, the Manatee County Commission unanimously voted to allow Coryea to permanently fill the role.
Newly elected commissioners ran on the campaign promise of bringing a private-sector approach to the county, however, and they voted quickly to move forward with terminating Coryea’s contract in hopes of finding a more conservative administrator.
In a joint statement released as part of Coryea’s separation agreement, the county thanked her for leadership and other contributions that have been integral to the county’s “important advances.”
“It was Cheri’s passion for the mission of providing for the improvement of the health and welfare of all citizens and the collaboration to work closely with our business community to raise the economic position of Manatee County we are most thankful for,” the county said in a prepared statement.
“She has tirelessly given her time and resources for the benefit of Manatee County, its employees and its citizens,” the statement continued. “She leaves us in good standing and we wish her well in future endeavors.”
Commissioner Reggie Bellamy cast the dissenting vote against Coryea’s separation agreement. He explained that he didn’t vote in favor of the agreement because he didn’t want to say goodbye. Bellamy also led the charge on an unsuccessful motion to keep Coryea for another year.
“A countless amount of constituents disagree what’s going on right now and so does Reggie Bellamy,” he said. “Her position is about performance. For y’all to vote her out, have not given her an opportunity to be evaluated, is wrong, wrong, wrong.”
“Madam Administrator has taken the fall for political reasons, and that’s a shame,” said Commissioner Carol Whitmore. “On behalf of myself a lot of others in the community, I apologize that it’s gotten to this.”
Later in Tuesday’s meeting, Coryea fought back tears as she delivered her final annual report as county administrator, speaking to her staff’s resilience throughout 2020 in the face of a pandemic that has killed 574 Manatee County residents.
“No matter who leads this county going forward, they’ll be lucky to have a team of this caliber,” Coryea said, referring to department directors and the county’s 1,900-employee workforce.
Board members spoke highly of Coryea, too, praising her leadership and professionalism during her tenure.
“The caliber of leadership that you have exhibited to Manatee County has been exemplary. Do you know what your legacy is going to be? It’s going to be a rich legacy of public service,” Commissioner Misty Servia told Coryea. “The community loves and adores you. I don’t know what you’re going to do next, but it’s going to be great. Keep your face to the sunshine.”
“Cheri, I wish you the absolute best. I always admired you and we had a pretty great relationship. We didn’t always agree, but we had mutual respect,” Commissioner Vanessa Baugh added.
The decision to appoint Stewart to the role came after the board voted 4-3 against hiring Charles Hines, a former Sarasota County commissioner, as interim administrator. Commissioners James Satcher, Kevin Van Ostenbridge, George Kruse and Baugh voted against Hines, while commissioners Servia, Bellamy and Whitmore supported choosing him.
Most commissioners said they were disturbed by the proposed contract to hire Hines, which included a housing stipend and an agreement to continue paying him until November, no matter how quickly the board found a permanent replacement.
Van Ostenbridge also urged his colleagues to consider hiring Manatee County School Board member Scott Hopes to fill the interim position. Other possible candidates mentioned included Dom DiMaio, president and CEO of the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance; and former Manatee Schools superintendent Rick Mills.
“If we’re trying to get stability, the last thing we want to do is put someone in there that we’re not comfortable with,” Kruse said.
Despite repeated efforts, removing Coryea became a drawn-out affair spanning more than three months. The board first voted on Nov. 19 — just two days after the new commissioners were sworn in — to move forward with terminating her contract. Satcher, Van Ostenbridge, Baugh and Kruse were in support of the move, while Bellamy, Servia and Whitmore fought against the effort.
In December, the charge lost momentum when Kruse changed his mind by deciding instead to give Coryea some time to put conservative policies in place. By the end of January, however, Kruse reversed his vote again, accusing Coryea of playing part in an effort to embarrass him by participating in an unusual public meeting with Whitmore that led to fierce backlash.
The county was able to come to an agreement that allows Coryea the same benefits allowed under contract if the board moved to terminate her contract without cause, which was the board’s intention.
Under the agreement, Coryea will also be paid to make herself available to answer any questions an interim administrator might have until March 2.
This story was originally published February 23, 2021 at 4:30 PM.
