Following a nationwide search for Sedona’s next city manager, the list of 108 applicants was reduced to 17 then to seven. And now, the Sedona City Council hopes to narrow that down to one.

The finalists — who come from as close as Phoenix to as far away as Maine — were busy this week with formal interviews with council to less-formal meet and greets with department heads, staff and the general public. If one of these candidates is chosen, he or she is expected to begin the job in June. Until then, Assistant City Manager Karen Daines will be serving in an interim role, following the recent retirement of Ernster.

While meeting with city staff on Wednesday, March 4, the finalists were all asked one
question by the Sedona Red Rock News, “What was it about this job that made you apply?”

The seven finalists include:

• city of Albert Lea, Minn., City Manager Chad Adams

• city of Delta, Colo., City Manager Justin Clifton

• city of Yakima, Wash., City Manager Anthony O’Rourke

• town of Tremont, Maine, Interim Town Manager Dana Reed

• Snowmass Village, Colo., Local Government Consultant D. Michael Segrest

• city of Mt. Angel, Ore., City Manager Eileen Stein

• Maricopa County, Ariz., Deputy County Manager Sandra Wilson

To read each of the candidates’ biographies and answers, see the Friday, March 6, edition of the Sedona Red Rock News.