Assembly uses video to interview finalists

Frontiersman

WASILLA — The Mat-Su Borough Assembly got its first facsimile of face-to-face encounters with a handful of people who hope to be the next borough manager.

Using video teleconferencing equipment in a classroom at the Mat-Su Career and Technical High School, most of the assembly spoke to as many of the candidates as possible, asking each the same five questions. The borough announced two weeks ago that the assembly had winnowed a list of 75 applicants to 11 finalists. They are:

• James Wilson, county manager for Galveston County, Texas.

• Melinda Carlton, township manager with Vernon Township, N.J.

• Don Baird, town manager of Granby, Colo.

• Gary Adams, administrator with the city of Oswego, Ill.

• Philip Oates, city manager for Seward.

• Robert Reardon, director of operations and maintenance with Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority, Tampa, Fla.

• Eric Strahl, city manager with the city of Menominee, Mich.

• Charles Whiting, administrative coordinator for St. Croix County, Wisc.

• Dr. Martin Moore, general manager with Timberon Water and Sanitation District, N.M.

• Gregory Young, city administrator of Ferndale, Wash.

• Desmond Mayo, director of finance with Crowley Petroleum Distribution.

The first question had to do with Alaska and how the winters here can drive away employees who were unaware what they’d signed up for. To hear the candidates tell it, they’re a hardy lot, unafraid of snow and cold.

“It’s not only not a problem, it’s something I would look forward to,” was Moore’s answer.

Another question, about finding efficiencies in government, brought a follow-up question from Assemblyman Jim Colver, who asked some of the candidates how they’d go about tackling a consolidation project the borough has been mulling.

Colver said that now, the Department of Public Works, Department of Emergency Services and the school district all have maintenance departments for their fleets of vehicles and their buildings.

“Bear in mind there are several labor unions involved,” Colver said in asking how that consolidation might be accomplished.

Oates said that the first thing he’d do is meet with everyone involved and see why those departments hadn’t already been consolidated and what consequences he could expect if he consolidated them. The project seems like a worthy one on its face.

“It sounds like efficiency could be gained,” he said.

Candidates were also asked how they would manage to work a job that requires lots of travel and overtime while also keeping the borough running smoothly. Like they were with the weather, the candidates all were unafraid of overtime.

“Every position I’ve ever held has required a significant amount of travel,” Adams answered. “You don’t go into local government and think you’re going to work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and that’s it.”

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.