Three finalists named for city manager job

Three finalists – two of them local to the metro area – have been named for the city manager position in the city of Springfield.

David Cameron, city administrator of Republic, and Brian Weiler, the city’s director of aviation, are in the running for the position, along with outside candidate Bob Cowell, who most recently served as the city manager of Roanoke, Virginia, according to a news release.

Cameron, a native of Miller, has served as Republic’s city administrator since July 2016, coming from a similar role in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting.

Republic’s population is growing by a rate of 2% annually, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures, with a 2025 population of just under 21,000, compared with 18,900 in 2020. Cameron has overseen expansions to the city’s wastewater capacity and aquatic park development, among other projects. The city has an annual operating budget of $32 million, according to its website.

Weiler heads up the Springfield-Branson National Airport, which set back-to-back passenger records in 2023 and 2024, when it ended the year with 1.4 million passengers, a 10.4% increase year over year, according to past SBJ reporting. The airport is undergoing $25.4 million in projects this year.

Cowell’s resignation from Roanoke was submitted via a letter that celebrated all the city had accomplished during his leadership. “Together, we have built a strategic, intentional, creative and welcoming organization based upon empowerment, collaboration, efficiency and diversity and equity,” the letter said. He closed by wishing the city nothing but continued success.

Some controversial personnel action occurred in the months leading to Cowell’s resignation, however. The Cardinal News, which serves southwest and southside Virginia, reported that Cowell left the Roanoke city manager position June 7 after seven years on the job and following several high-profile personnel issues in the Roanoke City Hall.

The news outlet reported that Cowell demoted an assistant city manager after allegations that the assistant had verbally attacked a city budget analyst. That followed a resignation by Roanoke’s parks and recreation director, who alleged “passive aggression and intentional slight” in city offices.

Cowell counts his accomplishments as navigating COVID-19, a city safety initiative, a successful police chief hire and multiple infrastructure projects, according to an interview with TV station WDBJ. In the interview, he referred to his departure from the city as one that occurred by mutual agreement with the City Council.

Prior to working in Roanoke, Cowell was deputy city manager of Amarillo, Texas.

Roanoke has a population of 97,000, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures from 2023, and its 2024 general fund budget is $355.4 million.

The release from the city today said the three candidates will participate in community engagements in Springfield April 15-16, to include meetings and interviews with city stakeholder groups and members of the city’s leadership team. There will be 30-minute live virtual town hall meetings with each, starting at 6:30 p.m. April 15 on Cityview.springfieldmo.gov and the city’s Facebook page. City Council will then conduct a final interview round.

Residents may submit questions for the virtual town hall meetings on the city’s website or in real time by commenting on the livestream broadcast.

The April 15 meet-the-candidate virtual town hall meetings will feature Cameron at 6:30 p.m.; Cowell at 7 p.m.; and Weiler at 7:30 p.m.