This final four is not March Madness.  Not even July Madness. This Final Four is the list of the candidates selected by the Yakima City Council to be included in the finalist pool for the Yakima city manager position.

In April of this year, the City Council approved a competitive process to find a replacement for Cliff Moore, who served as Yakima city manager from July 2016 through August 2019.  From a total of 39 applicants, the City’s Human Resources staff presented the Council with a pool of 13 semi-finalists.  During a June 22^nd special meeting, the City Council reviewed the semi-finalist pool and selected four finalists.

They are:

1.) current Public Works Director for the city of Paso Robles, California,  Dick McKinley.  2.) current Broward County, Florida Public Works Director Thomas Hutka          3.)Robert Harrison, served as the chief administrative officer for the City of Renton      4.)current City of Yakima Interim City Manager Alex Meyerhoff.

The four finalists will be interviewed via teleconference on Tuesday, July 7^th by a panel of seven community members and panel of seven senior City staff members, both of which were chosen by the City Council.

On Wednesday, July 8^th, the finalists will be interviewed individually via teleconference by the City Council during a special meeting that will begin at 9:00 am in the Council Chambers at Yakima City Hall.  The special meeting will be aired live on Y-PAC, Charter Cable channel 194, and live streamed on the City’s website (www.yakimawa.gov).

Dick McKinley

Before joining the City of Paso Robles as public works director in 2015, McKinley served in the same role in Surprise, Arizona (2013-2014), Tacoma (2009-2013), Bellingham (2001-2009), and Walla Walla (1994-2001).

Thomas Hutka

Prior to being hired as Broward County public works director in 2009, Hutka was the city manager of the City of Port Huron, Michigan (2001-2006), and served as the deputy county manager for Osceola County, Florida (1997-2001)

Robert Harrison

Harrison was Renton, Washington's chief administrative officer from 2018 until May of this year.  Before that, he was the city administrator in Issaquah (2010-2018), city manager in Wyoming, Ohio, city administrator/clerk/treasurer in Mosinee, Wisconsin (1996-1998), and assistant to the city administrator in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin (1995-1996)

Alex Meyerhoff

Meyerhoff was hired as Yakima’s interim city manager in October 2019.  He served as city manager/executive director for the City of San Fernando, California (2017-2019), city manager/executive director for the City of Hemet, California (2016-2017), city manager/executive director for the City of Holtville, California (2011-2014), and director of planning and economic development for a private architectural firm in Palm Springs, California (2008-2011).