JC Jimenez named Bay Harbor Islands manager

Three weeks before Miami Lakes hired a new town manager, a candidate for the position withdrew from the running after he was appointed the top executive administrator of Bay Harbor Islands.
Bay Harbor’s town council voted last month to appoint JC Jimenez as the new town manager to replace Ron Watson, who resigned to become the city manager in Aventura.
Jimenez, who was the assistant town manager for 13 years, began his new job on November 14.
The Miami Lakes resident said he was overwhelmed by the town council’s support when it immediately appointed him the new town manager.
He said Ron Watson announced his resignation at a meeting in October and council members moved to negotiate a contract with Jimenez on the same night.
“It happened in October when my boss said he was leaving and I thought council members would take up the issue in November,” Jimenez said. “I was surprised and overwhelmed by their support that they approved an item to negotiate a contract.”
Jimenez said he’s now the chief executive Bay Harbor Islands, where he runs the day-to-day operations with 80 full-time employees and managing a $25 million budget.
He said he learned a lot under Watson, whom he worked for for 11 years.
“He was a great boss and a great town manager,” he said.
As for the town manager’s position in Miami Lakes, Jimenez said he’s exactly where he needed to be following the support from Bay Harbor Islands.
“I know Bay Harbor is the place for me,” he said.
But Miami Lakes will always be his home, he said.
“I plan on living in Miami Lakes,” he said. “I’m perfectly happy in Miami Lakes and my wife and I are staying to raise our son. I love Miami Lakes.”
Jimenez made the final cut for the town manager’s position in his hometown but withdrew his candidacy following his appointment as Bay Harbor Islands new town manager.
The Miami Lakes Town Council picked town resident Edward Pidermann, an assistant chief of management services for Broward County’s fire department, to be the new town manager over North Miami Beach City Manager Ana Garcia, a selection committee’s top choice for the position; Bell City, California Manager Howard Brown; and Miami Lakes’ Chief Financial Officer Ismael Diaz.