Kenmore holds finalist interviews, enters executive session to evaluate city manager candidates

Kenmore City Council convened a special session of finalist interviews for the city manager recruitment and then entered an executive session under state law to evaluate the candidates’ qualifications; the council said no hiring action would be taken that evening.

The interviews were run by the city’s search consultant, Debbie Terry of GMP Consultants, and included separate panels for department directors and for council members, a tour of the Kenmore community, and a public reception where residents were invited to submit comment cards. Terry told attendees she would transcribe comment-card feedback and provide it to the council as part of their deliberations.

Why it matters: The council’s selection of a city manager determines who will run day-to-day city operations, lead implementation of capital and economic-development projects and oversee the city’s financial plans — topics candidates discussed during the panels and in the public reception.

Consultant and staff outlined the interview process and schedule before the public portion. Council interviews were scheduled for 75 minutes each with a 15-minute break between sessions; department director…