Jane MusgraveIsami Ayala-Collazo won two votes from county commissioners, who chose Joe Abruzzo instead.
A day after Palm Beach Palm Beach County Clerk and Comptroller Joe Abruzzo was tapped to become county administrator, one of his three rivals for the powerful position – Assistant County Administrator Isami Ayala-Collazo – resigned.
Commissioner Marci Woodward said Thursday that she was notified of Ayala-Collazo’s resignation by top county staff on Wednesday.
Ayala-Collazo, 44, oversees the county’s Department of Airports, Facilities Development and Operations and the Tourist Development Council. She will leave the county on Aug. 1, Woodward said.
The county was closed for Juneteenth and her resignation letter wasn’t immediately available. Woodward said she hadn’t seen it. Ayala-Collazo, who has worked for the county for six years, didn’t return a phone call for comment.
Woodward speculated that Ayala-Collazo, whom she and Commissioner Bobby Powell supported for the top spot, either was disappointed that Abruzzo was selected or decided she couldn’t work for the longtime state lawmaker, who became clerk in 2020.
During a private interview this week, Woodward said Ayala-Collazo said she would be happy to work with Deputy County Administrator Patrick Rutter, who also applied to replace longtime County Administrator Verdenia Baker.
“She was very supportive of Patrick and said she was fine working for him,” Woodward said. Ayala-Collazo didn’t offer any opinion about Abruzzo, she said. Keith Clinkscales, the county’s director of strategic planning and performance management, was also a finalist.
Rutter’s lone vote came from County Mayor Maria Marino. Abruzzo won the job with the support of Commissioners Gregg Weiss, Joel Flores, Sarah Baxter and Maria Sachs.
Abruzzo, who is negotiating what could be a $477,000 annual pay package and contract with Marino, hasn’t announced his start date.
After his selection on Tuesday, he said he talked with Rutter. Abruzzo said he told Rutter he hoped he wouldn’t resign. “I would like him to be part of the team,” he said.
Abruzzo said he “was never provided with the opportunity” to talk to Ayala-Collazo, whom he described in glowing terms.
“Isami is known as one of the most hard-working and intelligent government servants,” he said. “Wherever she heads next she will be a high-valued asset.”
Woodward also praised Ayala-Collazo. “She has an incredible work ethic and is very intelligent,” she said.
Ayala-Collazo had the support of all but one of the commission’s seven-member task force that reviewed 96 administrator candidates.
Only task force Chairperson John R. Smith, appointed by Commissioner Sara Baxter, voted against her last month.
Task force member Sam Caliendo, who Woodward appointed, said Ayala-Collazo submitted “probably the most impressive resume I’ve seen out of the whole 90-some odd here, bar none.”
Ayala-Collazo has chemical engineering and law degrees and a doctorate in public administration. She also studied for a doctorate in environmental sciences.
With many key projects on her desk, Ayala-Collazo made it clear to her bosses that she wouldn’t leave work unfinished.
“She absolutely confirmed that she would continue giving the job 100% and close out everything that’s pending,” Woodward said.
