City Manager Candidates to Stampede Iowa City

In an apparent about face about the type of city manager they are looking for, the Iowa City city council has selected four candidates with a combined experience of 107 years between them. While it is not exactly a cattle call, the City of Iowa City will be interviewing a new group of City Manager candidates on Thursday, April 24. The candidates to be interviewed are:

Paul Beecher, former City Manager of Kingman, Arizona - 33 years city management experience

- "Assistant Kansas City Manager Paul Beecher resigned for buying a $948,000 lighting system for Kemper Arena without City Council approval."

- Local (Kingman, AZ) developer and business owner Scott Dunton, who has made repeated calls for Beecher's termination at public meeting after public meeting, was relieved. "He was a scoundrel from the beginning. He was a scoundrel in Kansas City, Missouri, and he was a scoundrel in Dover, New Hampshire," Dunton said, referring to Beecher's two previous places of employment. "What he said is that when he left the city (of Dover) ... the city was better off. I believe that the city was better off because he left."


A. J. Johnson, City Administrator of Muscatine, Iowa - 31 years city management experience

- "Johnson has been Muscatine’s city administrator for nearly 18 years, according to Stephanie Romagnoli, head of human resources for the City of Muscatine.Johnson was hired on March 1, 1989, and is earning a salary of $102,018 this fiscal year, 2006-07, Romagnoli said. She said Johnson receives the same health ($12,002 for family policy), dental ($276.72 for single coverage) and leave benefits as other employees. Romagnoli said Johnson is also compensated with an annual car allowance of $3,000, and a contribution of 6 percent of his salary plus $1,500 into his retirement account."

Michael A. Lombardo, former County Administrator of Allegan County, Michigan - 10 years city management experience

- About Lombardo: "I think by and large everyone seems to be pleased," Board Chairman Jon Campbell said. "He has some good experience, yet he's still young enough that I believe he has a lot to offer." "He has an enthusiastic personality -- very articulate, extremely neat and well-organized," he said. Bill Sikkel of Laketown Township said, "He will provide, in my judgment, a (fresh) approach ... a willingness to think outside the box."

Carl M. Metzger, City Manager of Ankeny, Iowa - 33 years city management experience

- "Ankeny's investment in trails is really an investment in people of all ages," said Carl Metzger, Ankeny city manager. "Expanding our trail system offers recreational opportunities, including bicycling, hiking and walking, and improves the overall quality of life in Ankeny."

A Meet and Greet event is planned from 7:30-9:00 AM on Friday, April 25, in Room A of the Public Library. The public is invited to attend and meet the candidates.

More information on the candidates and the City Manager Search process may be found on the City website www.icgov.org.