Mountlake Terrace city manager finalists announced

Published 10:30 am Thursday, February 23, 2023

MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — The Mountlake Terrace City Council has narrowed its city manager search to five finalists.

All of them have government administration experience, with three candidates in Western Washington and one each from Arizona and California.

The finalists are:

• Mike Gent, deputy city manager in Surprise, Arizona;

• Carolyn Hope, director of parks, recreation and cultural services in Burien;

• Justin Martin, deputy city manager in Laguna Niguel, California;

• Jeffrey Niten, city manager in Shelton;

• and Tyler Running Deer, executive director of Bellevue-based eCityGov Alliance.

People can attend a reception for the finalists 6:30 to 8 p.m. March 3 at City Hall, 23204 58th Ave. W in Mountlake Terrace.

Mountlake Terrace has a council-manager government in which the seven elected council members hire a city manager to run day-to-day operations and implement policies they create.

Andrew Neiditz has served as interim city manager since November. Prior to him, former city manager Scott Hugill was in the role since mid-2016 when the position paid $151,000 a year, plus benefits and $500 a month for vehicle expenses.

The city has around 200 employees, over 21,000 residents and operates with a $43.3 million general fund budget this year that pays for most city services.

This week, the City Council put annexation into South County Fire on the April 25 special election ballots.

Ben Watanabe: 425-339-3037; bwatanabe@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @benwatanabe.