PHOTO BY CLARE JENSEN

The top six candidates to be the next city manager in Edgewood were introduced to the council, city staff and public at a reception at Edgemont Junior High June 30. (From left to right) Kim Wilde, Ken Carter, Craig Dawson, Paul Loveless, Bob Griego and Bill Elliot. Following interviews, council has made their decision, and the identity of the new city manager will be officially announced next week.

Meet the finalists for the next leading man

By Clare Jensen

After the abrupt resignation of Edgewood City Manager Henry Lawrence in January, the city began a search to find the first new manager in a decade.

Council immediately sought help from executive hiring firm Prothman, and after weeding through about 40 applications in the firm’s nationwide search, the top six were presented to the council, and the community, June 30.

Just as search consultant Greg Prothman noted that evening, any one of the six finalists are capable for the job, and could do it well, it was at that point just a matter of “fit.”

Here is a brief introduction to the all the finalists, one of which will be the next leader of Edgewood’s City Hall:

Kenneth Carter has more than 35 years of experience in city administration, most recently as the interim city administrator in Milton, Wash. Prior to that, he served as city administrator in Prosser, Wash. for 11 years.

He noted his experience in the area, and said he has a stick-with-it attitude for the cities he serves. “I don’t turn over very often,” he noted.

Craig Dawson has worked in city management and administration in Minnesota since 1979. His most recent position was city administrator for the City of Shorewood, where he spent seven years. He believes his experience in a similar-sized community and staff will be beneficial for Edgewood, and his mission is to “help Edgewood become the city it wants to be.”

William Elliott has been a city manager since 1983 and has served in five different communities. His most recent position was city manager in Sequim, Wash. He has also been a city manager in Oregon for the cities of Milton-Freewater, Coos Bay, and The Dalles. Elliot said he has spent the past seven years helping the city of Sequim accomplish many significant goals. He said his job is to help shape Edgewood into “what it is that the people want Edgewood it to be.”

Robert Griego has worked in local government for 30 years, most recently as city manager in Irwindale, Calif. He has management experience working in special districts and city, and county governments. Griego said he has the ability to interact with the community, and build strong relationships with council. He said he worked with Irwindale to solve major financial issues, and helped the city create a distinctive identity.

Paul Loveless has worked for the Town of Steilacoom, Wash., for the past 10 years, first as their finance director and then as the town administrator. He previously worked for the City of Tacoma, the Washington State Auditor’s Office and the Washington State Department of Revenue. Loveless noted that he is “quite happy” at his current job in Steilacoom, and views Edgewood as an “interesting challenge” he would like to take on. “Edgewood is a large community that’s facing a lot of the same issues I’ve been facing for the past 10 years.”

R. Kim Wilde has 29 years of public administration experience from cities in five different states. He has served as the village administrator in Waunakee, Wisc., for the past eight years. Prior to that, he served as city administrator in Snoqualmie, Wash., for 11 years. Wilde said Edgewood reminds him of the two communities he has been in previously, in which his key purpose was “helping them realize their vision for their future.”

The public meet and greet June 30 was followed by a day of interviews by both council and city staff. At the end of the hours of interviews, council was ready to make their offer to one candidate (currently referred to as Candidate A) who Mayor Jeff Hogan said simply “rose to the top.”

The identity of Candidate A will not be revealed until the offer is officially made and the candidate accepts the offer. The name of the candidate should be revealed at the July 8 council meeting, according to city staff.

“All the candidates were good,” Hogan said. “Any one would have been great.” But it was the council’s perception of Candidate A’s fit within the community that got him the clear competitive edge.

After the offer is accepted by the candidate, contract negotiations could take up to a week, and Hogan said if everything goes as planned, the new manager should be official within a month.

Since Lawrence’s departure, Financial Director Janet Caviezel has been serving as acting city manager until a permanent replacement could be found. Caviezel has more than 11 years experience with the city, and has been applauded for her ability to fill the interim role. Caviezel did not apply for the permanent position of city manager.

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