Muskegon could have a new city manager as early as Friday evening, following an all day interview process with finalists for the job.
The Muskegon City Commission set aside all-day Friday to interview the six candidates in the running for the vacant City Manager position.
Those finalists would be Dennis Durham, city administrator of Windsor, Iowa, Jerry Gabrielatos, city manager of West Linn, Oregon, Joe Neeb, city manager of Roswell, New Mexico, Jonathan Seyferth, who has been the township manager for Gaines Township, Gerald C. Smith, city manager of Creedmoor, North Carolina, and LeighAnn Mikesell, who is interim city manager in Muskegon and previously served as deputy city manager since July 2021.
A source told WGVU, the job is Mikesell’s to lose, having “done an incredible job as interim” since City Manager Frank Peterson announced his resignation earlier this year to take a job in the private sector.
Whomever the city commission decides to offer the job to, the new hire will complete a major shakeup at City Hall in 2022, as Mayor Ken Johnson replaced longtime mayor Steve Gawron in January, and the city recently hired Tim Kozal as its new Police and Fire Chief.
Following the city manager candidate interviews, a source told WGVU the commission could make a decision as early as Friday, but may also take the weekend before an announcement is made.
