Lester Sola gets a $30K raise and everyone wants his job

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Bill Johnson‘s departure from Miami-Dade’s Water and Sewer Department for greener pastures at the state have already cost the county at least $30,243.

That’s how much his replacement, Internal Services Director Lester Sola, gets in a raise for taking over his position on March 1 (not including benefits).

Sola, a former Elections Supervisor who oversaw the change in voting machinery after the hanging chads debacle, made $222,857 a year in that position over procurement. He will be paid $253,000 as the new director of WASA, according to a county spokesperson. That is a 13% salary increase.

Read related story: Bill Johnson leaves county nest just as billions get ready to fly

There has still been no decision on who would take over at Internal Services for Sola, who will now oversee the federally-mandated, $1.6 billion capital improvement job on the county’s water and sewer system.

“The mayor was more concerned with how the transition would take place in water and sewer, given as you have the largest improvement project in county history getting under way,” said Miami-Dade Communications Director Michael Hernandez.

Hernandez reminded Ladra that Gimenez took a little more than a year to name Deputy Mayor Alina Hudak the permanent Public Works Director.

“If he wasn’t in a rush for public works, he’s not going to be in a hurry for internal services,” Hernandez said.

But Hudak had served as interim for 13 months, and Gimenez has yet to name the interim director, an appointment that can only be overturned by two thirds commission vote. Whoever that is may have the palanca to get the permanent post. And county tradition calls for Sola to recommend somebody to fill his shoes.

Hernandez told Ladra there was no shortlist of potential candidates, but he declined to provide any further details as to who had expressed interest or who the mayor might be looking at.

What Gimenez ought to do — and maybe what the commissioners ought to encourage him to do, in light of recent bid protests and other issues with procurement — is look nationally for someone professional with no political ties to any special interests here. But Ladra doubts that will happen. The mayor needs someone de confianza in that position.

Sources say there is a long list of people who want the job. Names that have been floated include Assistant Procurement Director Tara Smith and Deputy Director Miriam Singer, who may be the preferred choice of some commissioners. Deputy Port Director Kevin Lynskey has also been mentioned.

Other possibilities are Airport Director Emilio Gonzalez or to give Internal Services to one of his overly-paid deputy mayors, like he did Public Works. In fact, Lada wonders if he’s already talked to Ed Marquez.

  Carlos Gimenez, Lester Sola, water and sewer