Mayor Fires Top Administrator Goliath Davis, Will Consolidate Departments

Citing a loss of confidence, Mayor Bill Foster fired senior administrator Dr. Goliath Davis today. Davis led Community Enrichment for St. Petersburg.

Previously, Davis served as Police Chief. He recently faced criticism for attending the funeral of felon Hydra Lacy Jr., who shot and killed two police officers on Jan. 24. Political pundits lambasted Davis for going to Lacy's funeral but not attending services for slain Sgt. Thomas Baitinger and K9 Officer Jefferey Yaslowitz.

Foster also is disbanding Community Enrichment, the department that Davis led. He is moving key services of that department to other city offices. Foster said it is a cost-cutting move.

The primary roles of Community Enrichment were to oversee: Midtown Economic Development, the Business Assistance Center, Small Business Enterprise, Housing and Community Development and Code Compliance.

In a statement released to the press, Foster said other consolidations will take place as he seeks to run a more efficient city government in lean economic times.

Here are some of the departmental changes, effective immediately:

• Housing becomes part of Leisure and Community Services;
• Codes merges with City Development;
• Business Assistance Center will be a division of Planning & Economic Development.

"This is the first of many organizational changes being discussed as we move
to create greater efficiencies, while advancing the mission and goals of a
city with limitless need and limited resources," Foster said.