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Armando Martinez
Reference Notes
Tab 8
Words or phrases used to describe Armando Martinez:
Energetic,
Positive,
Bubbly personality,
Go getter,
Charismatic,
Loves people, and
His family is extended to the people of Bunnell.
Strengths:
Public relations, people skills and integrity.
Weaknesses: At one time, Economic Development. He has, however, educated himself and it
is no longer a weakness.
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Richard Diamond – Former City Manager, Bunnell, FL 863-496-1910
Mr. Diamond was the City Manager in Bunnell and hired Mr. Martinez as Police Chief in 2006.
They worked together until 2008. He has excellent interpersonal skills and worked well with
everyone.
The Police Chief prior to Mr. Martinez did not do a very good job. He did not like the Sheriff so
they never spoke. The City had extensive drug problems and the officers were afraid to go into
certain neighborhoods. The department had a high turnover rate and when Mr. Martinez was
hired he had to reach out to the Sheriff’s Department for help. He set up an advisory committee
and with the help of the Sheriff’s Department, improved training substantially. He recruited
quality police officers and turned the community around. Some activists said it was the first time
in 50 years that they had seen cooperation between the City and Sheriff’s Office.
Mr. Martinez’s greatest strengths are his experience and people skills. Coming from Miami, he
had to get acclimated to a smaller community (Bunnell’s population is a little over 3,000) but
showed no weaknesses. He held monthly meetings in an older neighborhood that had one of the
highest crime rates in the City and stood side by side with Mr. Diamond to take criticism and
answer hard questions.
Mr. Martinez was timely with his budget preparation and always accomplished tasks quickly.
He was not involved in anything controversial in Bunnell. Something did turn up in his
background check when he was hired. Mr. Diamond does not remember the details but it had
something do to with falsifying overtime in South Florida. He was exonerated from any wrong
doing in the end.
Mr. Martinez is a leader. He learned how to be a leader through his paramilitary training. He
could also be described as a great manager, but he first leads then manages.
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