Stuart Commissioners Hire LaGuardia Exec Giardino as New City Manager

Stuart city commissioners voted Monday night to approve a contract hiring Michael Giardino as the city's new city manager, ending a search that drew more than 80 applicants from across the country.

Giardino currently serves as deputy general manager at LaGuardia Airport in New York. His selection caps a months-long recruitment process that followed his predecessor's departure.

Michael Mortell, the previous city manager, was fired without cause last October, according to public records.

The hire gives Stuart — the county seat of Martin County — a permanent city manager for the first time since Mortell's termination. The city manager oversees day-to-day municipal operations, manages city staff and implements policy direction set by the five-member commission.

Details of Giardino's compensation package and start date were not immediately available.

This article was generated with AI assistance using publicly available information. It was reviewed and approved by a human editor before publication. TC Sentinel uses AI writing tools in accordance with FTC guidelines.