Monday Profile: Jonathan Evans, City Manager in Haines City, Seeks Compromise
At 33, Jonathan Evans, the city manager in Haines City, has already acquired skills that should serve him well for the rest of his career in public service: He's an empathetic listener, a skilled verbal communicator and never holds a grudge.
Kim Adams, the finance director for the city of Largo, recalled the time his wife, a local elementary schoolteacher, recruited Evans, then assistant to the Largo city manager, to give a Great American Teach-in talk to her class. The two men worked with each other closely during Evans' six years in Largo until 2012, when he became assistant city manager in Haines City.
Instead of the usual dry talk about his job, Evans gathered the children around him and wowed them with a motivational speech about the obstacles he's overcome, challenged them not to turn their own obstacles into excuses and stressed every one had a talent they could hone through education, Adams said.
"He did such an extraordinary job, they asked for him back every year," he said. "In fact, they asked for 'the inspirational guy.' "
Mike Harvie, 45, a social sciences teacher at Haines City High School, can attest Evans brought those skills to Haines City, where he became city manager in June.
The toughest issue he's dealt with so far in his brief tenure has been the city's controversial fire assessment, levied this year with a minimum $145 annual charge on every piece of property in Haines City, Evans said.
Harvie acknowledged he was one of many who hadn't paid attention to the fire assessment during the City Commission's deliberations last year and only learned of it when notices went out earlier this year.
In a pique, Harvie emailed the city demanding an explanation of his $214 assessment.
"Surely such an extraneous amount that is to be placed on Haines City residents could and should have gone to referendum so that the people of the city could inform the city government of their wishes and desires," Harvie said in the email. "I feel that this has been a mishandled fee and that the people of Haines City should be part of fee increases and budget management. This is not an oligarchy."
To his surprise, Harvie said, Evans replied that night with a detailed explanation and agreed to meet with Harvie and two students from his government class to further discuss his objections.
While Harvie didn't succeed in his goal of repealing the assessment, he expressed admiration for Evans' handling of his complaint.
"You've got to give him kudos. He could have said, 'That's the way it is, deal with it,' " Harvie said. "Overall, I was very impressed with his depth of knowledge. He came prepared, he saw both sides of the story, and he showed respect for other people's opinions."
Harvie was so impressed he invited Evans to speak to his American government class on Feb. 19. While he didn't give quite the stemwinder delivered to the Largo elementary school, he held his students' attention, Harvie said.
Evans said he takes a similar approach to any public conflict.
"I believe in every conflict, in every dispute, common ground can be found," he said. "If people see you're sincere, that you're willing to listen, you can find common ground. I never want someone to leave feeling they got the short end of the stick."
SON OF IMMIGRANTS
Jonathan Edward Evans was born Aug. 25, 1980, in Port Chester, N.Y., a working class town north of New York City, the older of two children to the late Vivian Alfred Evans and Edita Carrasco Evans (now Osorio). His mother, 56, and sister, Viviana, 29, live in Kissimmee.
Vivian Evans came from a family of 28 children in Jamaica and emigrated as a young man to the New York area in the 1950s, Evans said. His mother emigrated from Panama as a teenager in the early 1970s for a better education and lived with relatives in Port Chester.
Both parents lived the classic immigrants' life, arriving with pennies in their pockets but determined to study or work hard to build a better life, he said.
"He really believed in hard work and perseverance," Evans said of his father.
Separated in age by 35 years, the couple met while his mother shared a college dorm room with one of his father's daughters of the same age.
After their marriage, his father had sponsored his mother's 12 siblings to emigrate to the United States, said Evans, who fondly recalled being raised by his extended maternal family.
"He grew up with 12 aunts and uncles who were very close to each other. He appreciated that," said one of those uncles, Modesto Carrasco, 53, of Carmel, N.Y., who babysat for the young Jonathan.
His mother said she believes that nurturing environment made her son a confident adult.
"He always had someone he could run to. He was never alone," Osorio said.
Both parents influenced him strongly, particularly on the importance of education, Evans said.
His father was the disciplinarian while his mother would intervene to mitigate his harsher side, Osorio said.
"His dad was very strict," Carrasco said. "I think that's part of what made him what he is today."
Judging from how frequently he quoted his father's counsel — at least a dozen times during three hours of interviews with The Ledger — Vivian Evans' influence remains strong. Some examples:
On hard work: "You can make it in this country. All that's required is a little sweat off your brow."
On education: "That's the only thing that can never be taken away."
On overcoming obstacles: "Don't let circumstances today define you now and in the future. You can persevere through adversity."
On competitiveness: "Second place is the first loser."
When he recalls that last advice, Evans said, "that fuels the fire even more."
Spurred by his parents' stress on education, Evans typically did well in school, he said, but it came with great effort. In the 10th grade, he found out why — he was diagnosed with dyslexia, a reading disorder affecting the ability to comprehend written language.
By that age, however, he had taken his father's counsel to heart on not letting obstacles define your life. He learned how to cope with dyslexia through various strategies, including taping class lectures, re-reading material two or more times and learning to understand unknown words through context, Evans said.
"He's done an excellent job of overcoming that challenge," Adams said. "If he didn't tell you about (his dyslexia), you wouldn't know it."
Indeed, Evans is working on his third college degree and second post-graduate one, a master's degree in business administration at St. Leo's University in Pasco County, which he is scheduled to complete next year.
In his career life, age has been a frequent obstacle because many people associate youth with inexperience, Evans said.
That was the case last fall, when the Haines City Commission considered promoting Evans from acting city manager, a move Commissioner Roy Tyler opposed.
"I am not willing to gamble my city's future while you learn on the job," Tyler said then.
After seeing Evans serve nearly a year as the city's top executive, Tyler recently told The Ledger he has changed his mind.
"(Evans) came in during a contentious time for the city, but he's done exceptionally well," he said. "I am in his confident corner."
Success has its consequences, however.
Evans, still single, acknowledged he has sacrificed close relationships because his career is his first love. He still struggles with finding the right career/life balance, Evans said.
"I've learned I have to find that balance," he said. "I know if I continue on that path (taking work home), it will lead only to more stress."
[ Kevin Bouffard can be reached at kevin.bouffard@theledger.com or at 863-401-6980. ]
Age: 33. Birthdate: Aug. 25, 1980. Birthplace: Port Chester, N.Y. Raised in Buenaventura Lakes from age 4. Parents: Vivian Alfred Evans, died in 2004, and Edita Carrasco Osorio of Kissimmee. Family: Single. Job: City manager of Haines City. Annual Salary: $120,000. Education: 2006, master's in public administration, and 2004, bachelor's in social work, both at University of Central Florida. Currently studying for master's in business administration at St. Leo University, scheduled to graduate in 2015. Honors: Recently awarded the Credentialed Manager designation from the International City Management Association, given to only 20 percent of city managers in the U.S., based on a combination of education, experience and commitment to continuing professional development. Greatest accomplishment: "Being the son of two immigrants and accomplishing and living the quintessential American Dream — living and enjoying every day in the greatest country in the world." Car: Lexus IS 250. Hobbies/interests: Everything to do with sports. Favorite beverage: Water. Favorite food or meal: Seafood, particularly salmon. Last book read: "Good to Great" by Jim Collins. Favorite movie: Marvel's "The Avengers." Favorite television show: ESPN SportsCenter. Favorite song/musician: "One Love" by Bob Marley. Most memorable moment: Fishing with my dad. Bad habit: Playing the video games "Call of Duty," "Madden" and "NBA 2014" ("After course work is done, of course").