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David Harden to retire as Delray Beach city manager
Delray Beach city commissioners and staff give City Manager David Harden a standing ovation as Harden, seated second from left, announced he is retiring.
By Palm Beach Business.com
DELRAY BEACH — Delray Beach city commissioners suddenly have a new task on their hands, perhaps their most important in 22 years.
David Harden announced Tuesday evening that he is retiring as city manager effective the first week in January. Harden, a former Navy officer from Okeechobee, has held the job since 1990.
He will turn 70 in November.
Commissioners and city staff present gave Harden a standing ovation after he made his announcement.
“You certainly have a lot of thanks from a lot of folks over these many years,” Mayor Woodie McDuffie said. “God bless you and thank you.”
“Thank you,” Harden replied. “It’s been a privilege.”
Harden began his announcement by citing things tangible and intangible, visible and invisible the city has accomplished during his tenure. The overhaul of the city’s drinking water system, construction or reconstruction of most of the fire stations, completion of the tennis center while under the gun of an approaching tennis tournament, relocation of Atlantic High School, the Congress Avenue redevelopment plan, the pending construction of the downtown gateway and the western community fitness center were some of the projects that he cited.
“We have proven that if a city invests in itself, private investment will follow,” Harden said.
But he also noted a change in the attitude of the residents of Delray’s northwest and southwest neighborhoods from hopeless to hopeful, and in the city generally reversing what used to be a case of Boca envy to point that Boca Raton wants to be more like Delray.
With Harden as city manager, Delray Beach twice won All-American City honors, and was a finalist for the award again this year. Atlantic Avenue has been remade into one of the most vibrant downtowns in South Florida.
Commissioner Angeleta Gray thanked Harden for his service, and said his institutional memory will be missed. Commissioners come and go, but Harden has always been there.
Harden’s term hasn’t been without controversy. In fact, as recently as the municipal election earlier this year, one candidate said Harden should be hired.
Commissioner Adam Frankel, however, said controversy comes with the territory, and Harden in effect has worn a bulls eye for 22 years. “You’ve got the hardest job, the toughest decisions … A lot of people deserve credit for getting us where we are today, but in my opinion, you were the captain of the ship.”
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