City Administrator
Rob Perry was appointed the City Administrator of Bradenton in July 2021.
He started his career more than 35 years ago as an Assistant State Attorney in Pinellas County. His public service continued in New Mexico, where he held several high-profile roles, including State Prosecutor, Deputy Director of the Department of Public Safety for New Mexico State Police, Director of the New Mexico Corrections Department—the state’s largest criminal justice agency—and then serving as Albuquerque’s City Attorney, where he managed the state’s largest municipal law office.
In 2011, Mr. Perry was appointed the Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Albuquerque. He served for seven years, overseeing 6,000 employees and managing an annual operating budget of more than $1 billion. He oversaw nearly $1.5 billion in municipal facility improvements, roadway enhancements, infrastructure upgrades, and economic development projects.
Mr. Perry holds a Juris Doctor from Whittier College School of Law and an L.L.M. from Emory University School of Law. He also earned a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in strategic growth from the University of Notre Dame and is a graduate of the University of New Mexico at Albuquerque.
He has been married for more than 30 years, and he and his wife have two adult children.
MANAGING SMART GROWTH
As City Administrator, Mr. Perry is responsible for the overall operations of the City of Bradenton. Recognizing the importance of “smart growth,” City leadership tasked him with overseeing the City’s downtown urban core growth, large-scale private development and public development initiatives, and coordinating infrastructure efforts to mitigate traffic congestion. His work includes collaboration with private sector partners and the Florida Department of Transporation to improve downtown mobility.
Mr. Perry is the architect of the City’s Capital Development Plan (CDP), which includes major municipal infrastructure improvements such as:
- A new, modernized Police Department headquarters
- A reimagined City Hall
- New Public Works administration and development center
- Two new fire stations
- A high-coastal hazards emergency management/public safety center
- Over $50 million in sewer collection, water treatment, and stormwater upgrades
In his first two years, Mr. Perry made community engagement a priority, meeting with residents, local business owners, City staff, and elected leaders to listen and learn about Bradenton's unique culture, challenges, and future potential.
He continues to advance plans that promote quality of life, public safety, fiscal responsibility, and affordable housing—all in pursuit of building the "Best Bradenton" for today and generations to come.