Brevard County Commission Votes Unanimously to Appoint Jim Liesenfelt as Permanent County Manager

Liesenfelt's performance as interim manager earned widespread praise

BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA – Brevard County commissioners voted unanimously on Aug. 12 to make interim county manager Jim Liesenfelt the county’s top administrator permanently, ending a months-long nationwide search for candidates.

The decision marks a reversal from earlier this year, when commissioners agreed to hire executive search firm Colin Baenziger & Associates to vet applicants from across the country.

That process drew 60 candidates, with 10 considered “very strong,” but the board opted to move forward with Liesenfelt after his performance as interim manager earned widespread praise.

“I am humbled and thank you very much for your vote today,” Liesenfelt told the board. “With all the county employees, the directors, the county manager’s office, we will work together to ensure that we all carry the weight safely together to provide the best for the residents of the county.”

Liesenfelt, who began his career with the county in 1991 after interning the year before, has served as assistant county manager since 2017 and held multiple department director positions over two decades.

He stepped in as interim county manager following Frank Abbate’s retirement in May.

He said priorities moving forward include finalizing the county budget in September, maintaining the county workforce, advancing road and infrastructure projects, and preparing for the expiration of the Save Our Indian River Lagoon half-cent sales tax.

The decision to bypass the national search received strong endorsements from Sheriff Wayne Ivey and Clerk of Courts Rachel Sadoff, who spoke at the meeting in support of Liesenfelt.

Both cited his open communication, collaborative leadership style, and deep knowledge of county operations.

The county will negotiate a new contract with Liesenfelt, which will require final commission approval. Despite ending the search early, Brevard will pay the recruiting firm $20,000 for work already completed.

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