Lake Forest Park Announces City Administrator Finalists

The City of Lake Forest Park announced today the six finalists for the position of City Administrator, following a nationwide recruitment process.  The finalists are:

Ronald F. Chandler         City Manager, Cedar City, Utah

Mark Hoppen                  Interim Deputy Director, Snohomish Health District

Deborah Knight               City Administrator, Sultan, Washington

Phil Messina                    City Manager, Central Point, Oregon

Donald (Pete) Rose        County Administrator, San Juan County, Washington

Michael Sauerwein         Director of Administrative Services, Sammamish, Washington

Mayor Mary Jane Goss invites the City Administrator candidates and the community to a Community Open House on Monday, April 16, 2012 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at City Hall in the City Council Chambers.  Citizens will be able to speak informally with the candidates at the Community Open House and have an opportunity to provide feedback to the mayor.

The finalists will be interviewed by four panels including the Mayor, City Council, Leadership Team, and a Public Advisory Panel on Tuesday, April 17, 2012.  The Public Advisory Panel will include representatives from Lake Forest Park Commissions, the local business community, Lake Forest Park Rotary, local water and utility districts, and Youth Court. 

Lake Forest Park is a three-and-a-half square mile residential community bordered by Seattle to the south, the Snohomish County line to the north, with Lake Washington and Kenmore to the east, and Shoreline to the west.  Less than 4 percent of the city land is zoned commercial; most of that is in one location, and there are no industrial areas. The City's population grew 210% in the 1990's, largely as a result of annexations.  Today, Lake Forest Park’s population is just over 12,500.

Lake Forest Park utilizes the Mayor/Council form of government and provides a wide range of government services.  The Executive Department is led by Mayor Mary Jane Goss, who started her first term as Mayor January 1, 2012. Lake Forest Park is a full service city with eight departments, 54 fulltime employees and a $7.3 million operating budget.