City Manager finalists announced

The search for a new City Manager for Whitefish has once again been narrowed to five finalists.

On Monday, Mayor John Muhlfeld and City Council announced the five finalists. They are David Buckingham, city manager for the city of Morro Bay, California; Adam Hammatt, village administrator for the village of Kimberly, Wisconsin; Evelyn Racette, former town manager for Pinetop-Lakeside, Arizona; William Vajda, former city manager for the city of Marquette, Minnesota; and Matthew Vincent, chief executive officer for Butte-Silver Bow city-county in Montana.

This is the second time the city has selected finalists for the job. After its two top candidates withdrew from consideration earlier this fall, the city re-advertised the position.

Buckingham has worked as the city manager for Morro Bay, California, for two years and is a retired Army colonel. Buckingham holds a master’s in international relations, a master’s in national security and strategic studies and bachelor’s in industrial and manufacturing systems engineering. Buckingham served in the U.S. Army for 27 years in a wide variety of leadership and management assignments and positions, completing his service in five senior executive positions.

Adam Hammatt has worked for the village of Kimberly, Wisconsin, as the village administrator for four years. Hammatt holds a juris doctor degree, master of public administration and a bachelor’s in political science and is credentialed through the ICMA Voluntary Credentialing Program. Before his tenure with the Kimberly, Hammatt worked as the village administrator for the village of Suamico and as the city Administrator for the city of Elroy, both in Wisconsin. Hammatt has also served as an EMT/safety officer for St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula and as a firefighter/paramedic for Great Falls Fire Rescue and is a native of Montana.

Racette was the former town manager for Pinetop-Lakeside, Arizona. Racette holds a master of public administration and a bachelor of art in music. Prior to her tenure with Pinetop-Lakeside, Racette served as a city manager for Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, and city administrator for Prairie City, Iowa.

Vajda was the former city manager for the city of Marquette, Minnesota, and currently is the president and owner of Balizarde LLC., a consulting firm offering specialized management and analytic services to state and local government. Vajda holds a master of public policy/administration and a bachelor of arts. Prior to his tenure with the city of Marquette, he has had an extensive public service career holding several senior executive positions within the U.S. Government, NATO, state, and local government as well as private industry.

Vincent has worked as the chief executive officer for Butte-Silver Bow city-county for four years, as the reclamation manger/Superfund planner for six years and as a water quality specialist for two years. Vincent spent his early childhood in the Flathead and then moved to Butte, graduating from Butte High School. Vincent holds a bachelor of science in chemistry from Montana Tech. In addition to his positions with Butte-Silver Bow city-county he also served as the associate director/program director for the Clark Fork Watershed Education Program at the University of Montana, Montana Tech for seven years and as a reporter/columnist for the Montana Standard for eight years.

City Council in mid-August selected four finalists for the job. One candidate dropped out in early September and the city selected another candidate to add to its list of finalists.

All four finalists met with city leaders and staff during an interview process and met with the public during an open house in September. However, the top two candidates for the position dropped out.

The city offered the job to Chuck Winn, assistant city manger of Bozeman, but after several days of discussion he turned down the job. Another finalist, Ken Decker, county administrator for Caroline County, Maryland, also withdrew his application.

City Council in September decided to again advertise the position.

The latest list of finalists will participate in interviews with the City Council, a community interview committee and staff interview committee on Friday, Dec. 16 at interim City Hall.

The Mayor and City Council are set to reconvene into an executive session on either Dec. 16 or Dec. 19 to determine which candidate they would like to extend an offer of employment.

Chuck Stearns, who has served as city manager for the past eight years, is set to retire in early 2017. He announced his plans to step down in March.