Roger Desjarlaia named new Lee County Manager
Roger Desjarlais of Fort Myers was selected Tuesday as the next Lee County manager after Lee County Commissioners voted 5-0 to enter into a contract with him.
Desjarlais will oversee a $1.76 billion budget and 2,457 employees. His start date is scheduled for Monday, July 1.
“I’m pleased that in working with Roger we were able to negotiate a fair and equitable contract. I’m also pleased to announce that there is no severance package attached at the cost of Lee County taxpayers,” said Commission Chairman Cecil Pendergrass in a prepared statement. “We look forward to moving ahead.”
Desjarlais comes to the position from the Lee Count Property Appraiser Office, where he will resign his post as chief deputy. He served as Broward County manager from 1998 to 2005, overseeing a $2.5 billion budget and 6,500 employees. Before that, his career was with Lee County government as a paramedic, EMS director, Public Safety director, Community Services director and assistant county manager, a post he left in late 1997 to head to Broward.
Desjarlais holds a bachelor’s in public administration from Miami-based Barry University. He grew up in rural Michigan before moving to Southwest Florida and is a graduate of Cypress Lake High School. He and his wife of 39 years, Vivian, have a daughter and grandchildren.
Desjarlais replaces interim County Manager Doug Meurer, who commissioners appointed last November while launching a national search.
Source: Lee County Administration