Sanford is hunting for its sixth executive director in five years to head the federally-funded Sanford Housing Agency's portfolio of 423 low-income apartments.

So far, however, the city, the agency and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development have struck out in finding a replacement for Timothy Hudson who resigned April 20 amid a flurry of accusations that he fraudulently mishandled his office during his five-year reign. Hudson denied the charges. But HUD ordered the agency to repay $750,000 of unapproved expenses.

The latest prospect backed out before even signing a contract. Kenneth Armstrong, recruited by the city of Sanford from his executive director's post at the Ormond Beach Housing Authority in nearby Ormond Beach, FL, told HUD officials he couldn't accept their three-month contract after the city had promised a six-month package.