SEQUIM — The Sequim City Council has offered the position of city manager to one of six finalists vying for the job.
Reconvening in public session after a closed-door executive session Monday, the council decided candidate Charlie Bush of Issaquah was the right man for the job, and will offer him a contract for consideration.
Should he accept, Bush will replace Steve Burkett, who will retire on June 30.
Burkett has served as city manager since October 2009.
“Great things are happening in Sequim and there is potential for much more,” Bush said.
The six candidates were in town last week to meet the public and undergo interviews conducted by the city council in executive session.
In addition to Bush, other finalists were John DuRocher of Des Plaines, Ill.; Belinda Graham of Brinnon; Kandis Hanson of Mound, Minn.; Yvonne Kimball of Dewey-Humboldt, Ariz.; and William Kohbarger of North Las Vegas, Nev.
Bush has a bachelor’s degree from Wittenberg University and a master’s degree from Syracuse University.
He has 17 years experience working for local government, and is now the development services director for the city of Issaquah.
He had previously served in Glendale and Phoenix, Ariz.; Bellevue; and Prosser.
“My experience includes six years as a manager or assistant, six years of overseeing operations, six years of human resources oversight, six years of information technology oversight, five years as planning director, four years of public safety oversight, four years of finance oversight, three years of direct economic development experience and seven years serving as an analyst,” Bush said.
He currently serves as president of the Municipal Research Services Center, and is a member of the NextERA Task Force for the Alliance of Innovation.
He is the former president of the Washington City/County Management Association and previously was a board member of the Association of Washington Cities.
He also is involved with Rotary International, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Meals on Wheels and Kiwanis.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-681-2390, ext. 5052, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
