Ilczyszyn appointed interim city manager
Mike Ilczyszyn has worked for the city of Cape Coral for more than 20 years and lived in the Cape nearly his entire life.
Friday, Ilczyszyn, who has served most recently the Public Works director, was unanimously appointed by the Cape Coral City Council to become the interim city manager, replacing former city manager Rob Hernandez, whose contract was terminated without cause Wednesday.
During a special meeting called to fill the post, Mayor John Gunter told City Council that he believed Ilczyszyn was the best person in the short term.
“His experience and proven leadership over the last 20 years will ensure our city will not have a gap in leadership, and will continue to move our city forward positively,” Gunter said after the meeting. “I am confident in his ability to lead our organization while continuing the serve the needs of our community.”
Others expressed similar confidence. Councilmember Patty Cummings praised his efficiency as well as his ability to get on problems quickly.
“He has brought projects forward that were on time and under budget that saved the city millions,” Cummings said. “He is always on every problem. After Ian, whenever we asked for something, he had a team out there instantly.”
Gunter considered two other candidates, Finance Director Mark Mason and Assistant City Manager Connie Barron, both of whom he considered to also be terrific choices.
Councilmember Tom Hayden suggested Mason, as did Councilmember Jessica Cosden.
However, Councilmember Bill Steinke said with the new budget process beginning, moving Mason would be the city’s loss.
“Mason is a financial genius. His focus on that is of utmost importance. I don’t want him distracted,” Steinke said before approving Ilczyszyn.
Hayden said while all three candidates were qualified, Ilczyszyn is the kind of person to keep the city moving forward after the storm.
“With the help of the department heads and the team that will work with him, we can continue to do that. We have a lot of pressing concerns right now, so it will be important for our pathway to continue in a positive way,” Hayden said.
Ilczyszyn was promoted from assistant Public Works director to Public Works director effective May 28, 2022 and received a raise from $135,948.80 to $162,780.
He was earning a base salary in that position of $173,118.40 prior to Council’s action.
Ilczyszyn will earn $220,000 per year as interim city manager. He is expected to stay at least through budget season, when council will determine whether to make him permanent city manager or hire someone else through a headhunting firm.
Ilczyszyn is a Mariner High School graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Florida Gulf Coast University. He also is a U.S. Navy veteran.
Ilczysyn began with the city in 2002 as a water treatment plant operator at the South Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment Plant. He was promoted to Business Manager within the Public Works Department before moving into the City Manager’s Office as the Business Manager in 2011.
In 2014, Ilczyszyn was named interim assistant city manager, a position which became permanent in March 2015, where he remained until December 2017.
He was placed on leave while the city looked into a pair of alleged personal incidents, one involving another city employee, and subsequently was demoted to senior public works manager in 2018 for “actions or conduct detrimental to the interest of the city.”
Ilczyszyn worked his way back to become Public Works director, helping guide the city through Hurricane Ian and the current UEP project