FORT PIERCE – Salary terms are set to be negotiated with former St. Lucie County attorney Daniel S. McIntyre selected Monday to serve as interim Fort Pierce city attorney when incumbent Sara Hedges is scheduled to end her tenure Sept. 15.

A last-minute motion from Commissioner Michael Broderick to keep Hedges on board until Dec. 31 failed Monday night, getting support only from Mayor Linda Hudson who temporarily relinquished the mayor’s gavel to second and vote for Broderick’s motion.

However, the motion failed on a 2-3 vote, with Commissioners Chris Dzadovsky, Arnold Gaines and Curtis Johnson Jr. saying they would continue supporting seeking new leadership in the city attorney’s office.

Hedges had been an assistant city attorney before being tapped to head the legal team in September 2023.

Her tenure became an issue in May, following controversy over the handling of a wage garnishment for an unpaid credit card account owed by Johnna Morris, city finance director. City officials also had suggested friction existed between Hedges and City Manager Richard Chess over Chess’ wish to consult outside counsel in the matter and Hedges’ claim that Chess was excluding her from staff employment issues.

McIntyre has 43 years of local government law experience, serving three years as assistant Marin County attorney from 1982-85, then the chief legal counsel for St. Lucie County from 1985-2025. He has a bachelor’s degree from University of Miami and a law degree from Wake Forest School of Law.

City officials said McIntyre has stepped in multiple times over the years to act as Fort Pierce interim city attorney when a vacancy has occurred

Broderick Monday proposed extending Hedges’ engagement through year’s end, saying the city faces several thorny development issues that would profit by having Hedges’ institutional experience available.

But once Broderick’s motion failed, Mayor Hudson agreed to support McIntyre’s appointment, with only Broderick voting no.

The city’s Human Resources Department had also offered the name of John J. Anastasio, one-time counsel for former Port Saint Lucie Mayor JoAnn Faiella, as another possible choice for the interim appointment.