Friday, May 18, 2012
The six finalists for the position of Clatsop County Manager will come to the area next week to meet county commissioners, staff and other community leaders – as well as the general public – to make their case why they deserve to be the county’s next top administrator.
The Board of Commissioners is seeking a replacement for outgoing manager Duane Cole, who is retiring May 31.
Out of an initial pool of 40 applicants, the board narrowed the list of candidates to six following recommendations from executive search consultant Greg Prothman, who conducted interviews of 15 applicants and shared his findings and impressions with the board.
The six finalists will be the guests at a public meet-and-greet reception Tuesday, May 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Express, 204 West Marine Drive, Astoria. Citizens will be able to meet one-on-one with the applicants and ask them questions.
On Wednesday, May 30 the candidates will undergo interviews by three panels made up of the county commissioners, senior county staff and labor representatives, and local stakeholders including representatives from cities, Clatsop Community College and the Astoria/Warrenton Chamber of Commerce.
The county commissioners hope to make a final selection by early June.
Here is the list of finalists:
Ed Green
Home: Rifle, Colorado
Most recent position: County Manager, Garfield County, Colorado, 1998-February 2012
Education: B.S., Business, University of Colorado; MBA, Colorado State University
Ed Green was most recently County Manager for Garfield County, Colorado, a position he held for more than 13 years. Prior to serving Garfield County, he was Project Vice President and Director for Contracts and Asset Management for the Fluor Corporation in Cincinnati, Ohio, an environmental remediation firm. He has also worked for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Hughes Aircraft and the Department of Energy at Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant, all in Colorado.
Gene Green
Home: Silverton, Oregon
Most recent position: Public Works Director, West Linn
Education: B.A., Organizational Administration, Alaska Pacific University; Master of Education, Boston University
Gene Green was most recently the Public Works Director for the city of West Linn, where he served the city for more than five years. Prior to that, he was City Manager of Molalla for more than eight years. He has also served as Assistance City Manager for Unalaska, Alaska, and has held management positions with the Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility and the Anchorage Capital Projects Office.
Michael McNees
Home: Indianapolis, Indiana
Most recent position: Chief Operating Officer, USA Track and Field
Education: B.A., Chemistry, Indiana University; MBA, Louisiana Tech University
Michael McNees was most recently the Chief Operating Officer for USA Track & Field, a position he held for more than three years. While serving as COO, he was also the organization’s Interim Chief Executive Officer for a year and a half. Prior to working for USA Track and Field, McNees was County Administrator for Blaine County, Idaho, from 2007-2009. He was also City Manager of Sarasota, Florida, for six years, and he was with Collier County, Florida, from 1984-2001, serving in a number of capacities, including six years as Assistant County Manager/Chief Operating Officer.
Tom Mitchell
Home: Bothell, Washington
Most recent position: Chief Executive Officer, Mendocino County, California
Education: B.S., Business Administration, San Jose State University
Tom Mitchell is currently taking time out to travel and visit family following 30 years of work at the county level in California. He was most recently the Chief Executive Officer for Mendocino County from 2007-2010. Before going to Mendocino County, he was County Administrative Officer for Calaveras County for five years. Mitchell was also with the County of San Luis Obispo from 1979 to 2002, serving in several capacities, including Accountant, Administrative Services Officer and finally General Services Administrator, a position he held for 12 years.
Travis Myren
Home: Fitchburg, Wisconsin
Most recent position: Director of Administration, Dane County, Wisconsin
Education: B.A., Political Science, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire; Master of Public Administration, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Travis Myren has been the Director of Administration at Dane County, Wisconsin, since 2009. He has been with the county for 13 years, beginning his career there as Assistant to the Director of Administration, and serving as Deputy Director of Administration for eight years.
James Payne
Home: Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Most recent position: Partner, Precision Organizing and Records Management
Education: B.A., Political Science, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay; Master of Public Administration
James Payne is currently a partner at Precision Organizing and Records Management, a firm located in Rio Rancho, New Mexico that provides comprehensive records management services to corporate and municipal clients. Prior to that, he was City Manager for Rio Rancho from 2007-2008. Payne also served the City of Waukesha, Wisconsin, as City Administrator for eight years, the City of Franklin, Wisconsin, as City Business Administrator for 13 years, and the City of LeMars, Iowa, as City Administrator for four years. He was also Assistant to the City Manager at the City of Roseville, Minnesota, for three years.
Released by: Tom Bennett
Community Relations Coordinator
(503) 338-3622
15 comments:
Isn't it amazing that the person who manages the county has a bachelors and a masters degree, and the elected district attorney has to have a law degree but the elected sheriff merely has to have some form of high school completion, and that is not a county requirement but a state one? Are the county manager and DA over educated or do we need to add some qualification requirements for sheriff?
Of course, being a good old boy has always been sufficient "professional" requirements for Clatsop County sheriff, but does the 21t century where a third of American citizens have a college degree now call for higher qualifications?
"To be eligible to hold the position of Sheriff, a person must possess the minimum standards required of a Sheriff under State law, such as a qualified elector at the time of election or appointment, and have resided in the county one year prior to election. A person must possess or obtain Basic certification from the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training and file with the County Clerk at the time of filing, however, not later than one year after taking office, a person must possess or obtain an Intermediate Police Certification from the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training. A copy of the certification shall be filed with the County Clerk.
To be eligible to hold the position of County Commissioner, a person must be a qualified elector at the time of election or appointment, according to the state constitution, and must have resided within the district which he or she will represent for twelve (12) months immediately preceding the election or appointment. No appointive officer or county employee may serve on the board."
You confuse, it appears, natural intelligence, common sense and leadership ability with a certification of academic accomplishment.
Fortunate for us many of history's greats were not sidelined by the lack of a college degree huh?
I agree Patrick, I did not attend college. I'll take common sense over book smarts any day.
So, college is bad and lots of us wasted a great deal of money trying to get an education beyond high school.
Imagine the money we could save if we shut down the state universities. It appears from what you guys say that they are unnecessary and, maybe, even harmful.
Obviously, we should start our kids off in the work place right out of high school, if they are not in jail, that is.
A college degree honestly earned is and never will be a bad thing and I congratulate anybody fortunate enough to have earned one but it does not guarantee success to the holder by any means and does not assure that the holder has the natural abilities to be a competent, trusted leader in any field of endeavor....in my view.
There is no "fortunate enough" about it Patrick. Getting a college degree takes a lot of hard work, sacrifice, the ability to apply and focus and sufficient intelligence to be admitted. Most people who have not attempted college, or who have failed at it, seem not to realize or appreciate what it takes to earn a degree.
Of course college does not ensure competency, trustworthness or leadership in most fields of endeavor, but not having a degree does not show those traits either.
Not having a degree does does show a person may lack the willingness to work hard, sacrifice, apply oneself and focus on long term goals.
I said "fortunate enough" and stand by it as well as disagreeing with you on your comment about not having a degree.
My own opinion is that, individually, we are all going to be as successful in life as we are intended to be based on our own character, drive and desire, degree or not and have seen that proven-out many times.
Mind if I ask what you do for a living and do you have a degree and in what field?
Sure Patrick, I work in law enforcement, teach college and have a bachelors in political science and a masters in public administration.
And, Patrick, I do not agree with the idea that college educated people lack common sense. I can make anything I can see, I have logged, sold stuff in the private sector, served in combat, successfully fished and hunted and live a great life. Indeed, my life has been enhanced by my education not visa versa. Common sense is an elusive,subjective trait, education is not.
"Anonymous said...
Sure Patrick, I work in law enforcement, teach college and have a bachelors in political science and a masters in public administration.
5:11 PM"
Hence your bias and criticism towards Sheriff Bergin amd easily understandible but, does he meet the qualifications to serve us as Sheriff?
I think he does and he has served the community honorably and well. Do you have any information to the contrary that you would like to share with us?
And to "Anonymous" 6:28PM, I have implied no where in any of these posts that college educated people lack common sense and an advanced education past high school is most definitely beneficial to anybody and none of us should never stop learning....period!
Patrick,
My bias is not directly toward Tom Bergin, and I don't know him well enough to know whether or not he is "honorable". I suppose that if "honorable" in a politician means he has not been caught stealing, lying or cheating, he is "honorable".
My concern is more that I think a person in charge of the largest law enforcement agency in Clatsop County should have professional credentials at least equivalent to the chiefs of police. That is to say that chiefs are selected based on their management training, experience as managers and formal education (college degrees). Every chief in Clatsop County has a bachelors degree and three have masters degrees. Every chief had several years of experience as an upper level manager before being selected, and two were chiefs in another communities. Every chief has taken many leadership and management training classes recognized nationally.
The sheriff has none of these credentials and, actually, does not possess the qualifications to apply for chief of police anywhere but in a tiny town.
Are the chiefs extremely over qualified or is the sheriff underqualified? Looking at the way our money has been spent for value received, I would have to say that underqualified is most correct.
"To be eligible to hold the position of Sheriff, a person must possess the minimum standards required of a Sheriff under State law, such as a qualified elector at the time of election or appointment, and have resided in the county one year prior to election. A person must possess or obtain Basic certification from the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training and file with the County Clerk at the time of filing, however, not later than one year after taking office, a person must possess or obtain an Intermediate Police Certification from the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training. A copy of the certification shall be filed with the County Clerk.
Richard Lee and Julie Leonhardt both met the minimum standards for their offices too.
I guess that's what we want, our elected officials to be minimum achievers?
We usually get whomever wins the vote "Captain "A"".
Yes, well said. Unfortunately, we don't get what we pay for, at least in this case.
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