Council to trim list of City Manager candidates today

After interviewing the seven candidates for City Manager in executive session on Wednesday, the City Council voted to recess its special called meeting until sometime after 10am today. That will give Council Members some time think about which of the candidates should advance to the finalist stage.

 

They expect to make that decision today. Some Council Members are also considering whether to allow the public a chance to meet those candidates before a final vote. Council Member Jennifer Kim said, “It would be valuable to have the public’s input,” in the same manner as was done when City Manager Toby Futrell hired Police Chief Art Acevedo last summer.

 

Council Member Lee Leffingwell said, “I don’t see much point in having a public forum,” which might “lend credence to the idea it’s a popularity contest. What if the public decides they want the one we don’t want? On the other hand, if the majority of the Council wants to do it, I’m not going to throw a roadblock up.”

 

Council Member Sheryl Cole said, “I think it would be appropriate to introduce the finalists to the public,” but she did not say what kind of forum she would prefer.

 

The candidates include Assistant City Managers Laura Huffman and Rudy Garza and Michael Brown of Savannah, Jelynne Burley of San Antonio, Wayne Cauthen of Kansas City, Rick Cole of Ventura, Calif. and Marc Ott of Fort Worth.  Council Members did not indicate whether there would be two finalists or more.