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Kenmore council orders competitive search for next city manager after mixed public comments
Summary
The Kenmore City Council voted 6–1 to hire an executive search firm to fill the outgoing city manager post. Public commenters gave both strong endorsements and objections to one internal candidate, prompting debate about residency and past project decisions.
The Kenmore City Council voted 6–1 on a motion to conduct a competitive recruitment with an executive search firm to fill the city manager vacancy left by Rob Carr Lindsey.
Councilmember Julie Shrubnick moved the measure and it was seconded; Councilmember Culver cast the sole vote against the motion. The clerk recorded the roll as Culver: no; Shrubnick: yes; Sassen: yes; Marshall: yes; Lutzis: yes; Deputy Mayor O'Kane: yes; Mayor Herbig: yes. The motion passed and staff will bring proposals from two to three executive search firms for council review and arrange interviews for internal candidates for an interim appointment.
The vote followed an extended public-comment period in which many residents urged the council to consider Assistant City Manager Stephanie Lukasz for the permanent role while others urged a formal search. Edward LaSalle told the council, “I am here today to express my strongest support for Stephanie Lukasz as our city's as a new city manager,” citing her awards and public-sector experience. Several business leaders — including Steve Holmes, chair of the Kenmore Business Alliance, and Sandra Lee, executive director of the Bothell Kenmore Chamber — praised Lukasz’s outreach and local relationships.
Others opposed making Lukasz the automatic choice. Jeff Chisholm said he opposed her “for the simple reason of a role in the Plymouth Housing matter,” arguing the public and council were not fully informed about changes to that project’s eligibility standards. Juliana Pooley urged the council not to require relocation to Kenmore as a selection criterion, saying, “I hope that tonight I want to voice my opinion that Kenmore residency should not be a deciding factor between qualified candidates.”
Councilmembers who supported a competitive search said the process would produce more options and transparency. Shrubnick said she wanted “to make sure we get the very best candidate” through a broad recruitment. Culver, who voted no, said he favored direct appointment when a clearly strong internal candidate exists and raised concerns about token searches.
City Manager Carr Lindsey briefed the council on options earlier in the meeting, describing a range from direct appointment to a full open recruitment.
Next steps: staff will solicit proposals from executive search firms, return with firm proposals for council consideration, and schedule interviews for internal candidates for any interim city manager appointment.
