City manager finalist in Colorado

By LISA GREENE

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 6, 2001

LARGO -- After a visit to Colorado last week, City Manager Steven Stanton is now among four finalists for the same position in Westminster, Colo., a suburb between Denver and Boulder.

Westminster officials cut the pool of six finalists to four after the candidates visited last week.

"It's an extremely professional organization and it's a beautiful area," Stanton said.

Westminster's rapid growth would present some new challenges for him, Stanton said.

But Stanton wants to talk with Largo city officials about his future here. He said he doesn't know whether he would accept an offer in Westminster.

"I love my community. I love my job," he said. "The last thing I want to do is give any impression that I'm unhappy."

Stanton says a search firm asked him to apply in Colorado. He interviewed there a few weeks after he asked Largo officials for a three-year contract.

Stanton has been praised for not raising taxes and for annexing land east of Largo, but recently, some commissioners have complained about his communication style.

Mayor Bob Jackson persuaded Stanton to withdraw the contract request. Now, Stanton says he wants to revisit the issue.

"If I don't have the support to be here, to stay in Largo, I need to know that now," he said.

Stanton doesn't want to pressure city officials, he said, but he does want to know more about his job security.

In Westminster, city council members planned to discuss the selection process again Monday night and possibly narrow the field further, said Steve Smithers, assistant city manager there.

Council members plan to visit some finalists in their cities as early as next week, Smithers said.

The other three finalists are: John Bramble, city manager, Brighton, Colo.; Brent McFall, chief executive officer, Kent, Wash.; and Bonnie Kraft, city manager, Gresham, Ore.

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