Longview council interviews four city manager finalists; schedules Jan. 20 special meeting to continue deliberations

The Longview City Council on Jan. 17 held a special meeting to interview four finalists for the city manager position and then recessed into executive session under state law to discuss applicants’ qualifications. After returning to open session the council voted to set a special meeting for Jan. 20 at 6 p.m. to continue deliberations.

The interviews followed a predetermined list of seven questions and were scheduled for about 30 minutes per candidate. Candidates who appeared before the seven-member council were Brian Carlson (a candidate who identified himself as a budget and finance director), Blaine Oborn (immediate past city administrator for Oak Harbor), John Walsh (city administrator for St. Helens, Oregon) and Jennifer Wills (current parks and recreation director for the City of Longview). Assistant City Manager Collins managed the logistics and the council said it would accept public comment at the end of the process via comment cards collected in the chamber.

Why it matters: the council is choosing Longview’s top administrator, a role that implements council policy, supervises city staff and manages an annual budget. The council used an executive session allowed under state statute to discuss applicants’ qualifications and scheduled a follow-up public meeting to continue its deliberations.

During their turns, candidates emphasized neutrality in working with an elected body, long-range fiscal planning and community engagement. "I ignore that dynamic," Brian Carlson said of 3-to-3 splits on a seven-member council, adding his approach is "consistent based on a thorough assessment and never a selective analysis." Blaine Oborn said he would work "diplomatically" to bring council members together and emphasized advance communication and one-on-one outreach. John Walsh summarized the manager role as service to the council: "My role as your city manager is to, serve the council."

Jennifer Wills, an internal candidate, said the city manager "is gonna be your brand" and stressed building broad community relationships and transparent communication. Candidates also answered questions about economic development, lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and how they would engage the public; each candidate described past projects or approaches specific to their careers.

The council recessed into executive session citing RCW 42.31.110(1)(g) — the state statute allowing private discussion of qualifications of applicants for public employment — and indicated the session would begin with an expected 30-minute period. After returning to open session, Mayor Boudreau moved to set a special meeting for Jan. 20 at 6 p.m. to continue deliberations. The motion was seconded, the council voted "aye," and the motion carried.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to set a special meeting (Jan. 20, 6 p.m.) to continue deliberations: moved by Mayor Boudreau; second not specified on the record; outcome: approved (voice vote: ayes). The council announced the special meeting would be placed on a public agenda.

Next steps: the council will meet again on Jan. 20 to continue deliberations; any final action to hire a city manager would be taken in open session as required by law. Public comment will be available as indicated on meeting agendas and via the comment-card process the council used at the Jan. 17 session.

(Reporting note: quotes and attributions are drawn from the council's Jan. 17, 2025 meeting transcript.)