Thrive
St. Petersburg fires several key city staff leaders
The city administration has fired two directors and a manager within one month for reasons unknown.
The affected workers include:
- Alfred Wendler, director of property management and real estate. His termination was effective as of Dec. 9. There’s no record of a letter.
- DiAnna Rawleigh, pavement and traffic director. Her termination was effective as of Dec. 9. There’s no record of a letter.
- Blair Barnhardt, pavement and traffic manager. His termination was effective as of Dec. 9. There’s no record of a letter.
Additionally, the city’s marketing director Nina Mahmoudi resigned.
In Mahmoudi’s resignation letter to the city, dated Dec. 2, she wrote, “It has been a pleasure to serve the residents of St. Petersburg the past eight + years.”
She did not indicate a reason for her resignation.
The city declined to provide a statement regarding the terminations/resignation of the city staff employees.
The new departures follow previous resignations under the Ken Welch administration.
Communications Director Janelle Irwin Taylor’s exited her role earlier this year, claiming Deputy Mayor Stephanie Owens created a “culture of bullying.”
Owens resigned shortly after being placed on administrative leave as a result of the accusations.
