New Smyrna Beach-based ad authority down to two finalists to lead tourism in wake of scandal involving ex-director

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The Southeast Volusia Advertising Authority, rocked by a scandal involving former director Nicole Carni, narrowed its replacement to two finalists: Michelle Coats, employed by Volusia County and a New Smyrna Beach resident, and Tim Hamby, a marketing communications strategist from Ponte Vedra.

The SVAA board will make a final decision 11 a.m. Tuesday at its New Smyrna Beach Visitor's Center.

Volusia County Manager Jim Dinneen sought and received unanimous County Council authority eight months ago to immediately seize the assets of the ad authority, which collects more than a million bucks annually from bed taxes for overnight hotel accommodations.

Coats, a county employee in public relations, was part of the transition team named to run the day-to-day operations of the authority. 

Carni was fired by the ad authority board after a county audit showed she had paid herself nearly twice what she was authorized, though she maintained she put in the extra hours needed to get the job done.

The county brought a civil judgment against her and is contemplating seeking criminal charges through an ongoing investigation with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.