Three finalists named for Springfield city manager

Search firm Arcus Public on Monday presented information on each of the eight in a closed meeting with Springfield City Council and the city manager search committee. The finalists were selected and have been notified, according to a news release.

The candidates, in alphabetical order, are:

• Greg Burris, vice president for administrative and information services and chief information officer at Missouri State University, where he has been since 1983. He has a bachelor’s degree in computer information processing and a master’s degree in business administration, both from MSU;

• Kent A. Myers, city manager for Hot Springs, Ark., and Converse, Texas; he also worked for the East Texas Council of Governments. He has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Texas at Arlington and a master’s degree in public administration from Texas Christian University; and

• Larry Stevens, city manager for Edmond, Okla., where he has been since 2002. His previous positions include city manager for Pittsburg, Kan., and Brookfield, Mo.; community services director for Nevada, Mo.; and internal auditor for the Kansas City Police Department. He has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice/political science and a master’s degree in public services administration from Central Missouri State University.

The finalists have been invited to Springfield Aug. 3–5 for formal interviews and public events. Open events include: a welcome reception 4–6 p.m. Aug. 3 in the upper lobby of Mediacom Ice Park; a Coffee with the Candidates open house 7:30–8:30 a.m. Aug. 4 at Park Central Square Library Branch; a reception for city employees and the public to meet the candidates 4:30–5:30 p.m. Aug. 4 in the Busch Building lobby; and an ice-cream social open house 5:45–7 p.m. Aug. 4 at the Phelps Grove Park pavilion, or the Busch Building in case of inclement weather.

The city expects to announce the new city manager during the week of Aug. 11, the release said.

See SBJ’s July 28 issue for more on the candidates for city manager.