Opa-locka city manager Kelvin Baker steps down

Opa-locka City Manager Kelvin Baker stepped down Wednesday night citing his frustration with politics and the city’s failure to make hard decisions.

“Sometimes you get to the point where you pick and choose your battles, and I decided this one I was not going to continue to battle against, but work with them,” Baker said in an interview with the Miami Herald. “And this is part of working with them.”

Of his decision, Baker added: “Opa-locka is a beautiful city, but it’s unique. And some of the uniqueness creates challenges for a professional manager.”

At the city’s commission meeting, the dais approved Baker’s request to leave 4 to 1. Vice Mayor Timothy Holmes voted down the resolution. As part of his resignation, Baker will be given approximately $75,000 in severance, half of which will be issued Thursday.

“I am sad by what I am seeing today,” Holmes said. “I don’t want to see you leave.”

Baker, who was appointed about three years ago by the city, however, felt he had no choice.

“I did what I could and you kind of know when the elected body wants to move in a different direction,” he said.

This story was originally published July 22, 2015 at 10:39 PM with the headline "Opa-locka city manager Kelvin Baker steps down."