Lester Baird Still Looking For Job

Baird Loses Bid For Another City Manager Job

LABELLE, FL. -- Former Hendry County Administrator Lester Baird lost his bid to become the city manager of Key West, after being among the final six that had been chosen by the city commission. Baird made it to the final six out of 144 initial candidates for the well paying United State's southernmost city manager job.  Baird had recently also lost the bid to be city manager of Brooksville, Florida near Tampa.

The six finalists went through a final question and answer interview this week, the commission then chose Jim Scholl, of nearby Cudjoe Key, a range systems manager of the Key West Tactical Air Crew and former commanding officer of Naval Air Station Key West from 2003 to 2006. Scholl answered a question from one commissioner about allowing gays in the military and said, "Anybody who wants to serve their country should be able to serve their country."

Another finalist, James Malloy, the town administrator of Sturbridge, Mass. when asked about diverse life styles, said people in Sturbridge "don't even bat an eye" when it comes to same-sex marriages.

Baird had been described as "folksy" and "enjoyable to speak with" by one Key West news reporter who interviewed Baird. Baird, during his city commission appearance this week. noted his experience dealing with affordable housing in Hendry County and the 600 families who became homeless after Hurricane Wilma.

The candidate with the lowest score on a grading scale by the Key West commissioners was the winner Jim Scholl receiving 10 points. James Malloy and Lester Baird received the worst scores of the six finalists at 33 each.