Administrator search narrowed down to six

Published 12:00 am Thursday, February 20, 2003

It's down to six.

That's how many candidates the Austin City Council will decide for the impending city administrator vacancy.

In the coming days, officials with The Brimeyer Group, the Hopkins-based search firm involved in the process to replace current City Administrator Patrick McGarvey, said it will disclose the names of the finalists who will be interviewing for the position on March 14 and 15.

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James Brimeyer, the firm's president, was on hand Tuesday to go over with the council which of 10 candidates should be selected for the final interviews. He said there were about 60 resumes received for the position and that 18 of those initially fit the criteria for the job.

Brimeyer said Data Practices Act prevents him from publicly disclosing the names of the finalists until they are notified that the council selected them.

However, there were glimpses given Tuesday into some of those finalists.

n One candidate is currently the executive director of a planning council near Sioux City, Iowa, and is the only one of the finalists to hold a doctorate's degree. The candidate wants to get back into a city administrator position and has also worked in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

n Another candidate was in his previous position for 13 years. The candidate, who has been out of work for a year, holds a master's degree and has experience in financial management, is strong in computer technology and is "a pretty solid, stable person," Brimeyer said.

n The candidate that garnered the most votes from the council to bring in for an interview was voted to his district's school board at 19. This candidate has been involved in industrial development and is knowledgeable of tax increment financing districts. Brimeyer said this candidate isn't a "charismatic" speaker.

However …

"If you had this candidate draw you up a plan for developing the Cook Farm site, he would knock your socks off," Brimeyer said.

Brimeyer said when the finalists are brought to Austin, they will meet with city department heads, local school officials and real estate workers. The public will also have a chance to meet and talk with each of the candidates at an informal gathering on March 14.

March 15 will find the candidates in individual interviews with council members in the morning, then separately interviewing with the council in the afternoon, Brimeyer said. The council is expected to pick the new city administrator that night.

Brimeyer said that person should begin work by mid-April.

McGarvey's last day is slated for April 30.

Dan Fields can be reached at 434-2230 or by e-mail at :mailto:dan.fields@austindailyherald.com