Candidates for the open Washoe County manager job are scheduled to be interviewed next week during a special meeting with commissioners. Patricia Hurley, Washoe County human resources director, said that three candidates would be interviewed. She said search firm Ralph Andersen & Associates is drafting interview questions with input from commissioners.
Names of candidates are as follows: Assistant Washoe County Manager Kate Thomas; Eric Brown, president/CEO of California Telehealth Network in Sacramento; and Jon Hager, director of planning and performance for Hometown Health in Reno.
Former County Manager John Slaughter retired in June. He had held the post for the previous five years after serving since 1986 in various capacities. Assistant County Manager David Solaro has been filling the managerial role in the interim.
County human resources recruited managerial candidates in April for 2 weeks and 11 of 17 applicants met the minimum qualifications.
On May 21, commissioners directed human resources to work with an executive search firm while keeping the previous candidates in the pool.
Rocklin, Calif.-based Andersen & Associates then conducted a nationwide search, with the recruitment closing date of Aug. 16.
During the Sept. 30 special meeting, public interviews will start with each candidate providing commissioners a five minute introduction. Candidates will be called in alphabetical order.
Following introductions, commissioners will interview each candidate for about 30 minutes in a random order, which will be generated by human resources.
Once interviews are complete, each of the five commissioners will identify their top candidates.
The process
Round 1 – Each commissioner nominates one applicant; nomination conducted by marking ballot, then clerk will read aloud nominations, tally, and record.
If there is a clear nomination (minimum of 3 nominations for a single applicant), the chairman will entertain a motion to appoint that applicant.
Round 2, if needed – Each commissioner will nominate one applicant from those applicants previously selected with the highest number of nominations; nomination again conducted by marking ballot, then the clerk will read aloud nominations, tally, and record.
If there is a clear nomination (minimum of 3 nominations for a single applicant), the chairman will entertain a motion to appoint the individual to the manager position.
If necessary, the nomination process then continues until a motion to appoint a candidate to the position is approved.
