Following a competitive recruitment process that drew 29 applicants, the City of East Ridge has selected two finalists to interview publicly for the City Manager position.
The new City Manager will succeed Scott Miller, who announced earlier that he would retire. Miller served the City since January 2023 after returning as Interim City Manager in November 2022. Miller previously led East Ridge from 2016 until his retirement in November 2018 and has continued to guide the City through this transition period.
Candidate Kevin Owens currently resides in Birmingham, Alabama, and brings more than 25 years of municipal government experience. He currently serves as City Administrator for the City of Fayetteville, Tennessee, and previously held the position of City Manager for the City of Tuskegee, Alabama. Owens has also served as Chief Administrative Officer for the Office of the Mayor of Birmingham, Alabama, and has professional experience in community and economic development, grants management, and budget preparation. He holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration in Urban Management from Clark Atlanta University.
Candidate Michael Powers lives in Tulare, California where he served as Assistant County Administrative Officer for the County of Kings in Hanford, California. His prior experience includes serving as Borough Manager for Kodiak Island Borough in Kodiak, Alaska, and as a City Manager for the cities of King, Ferndale, and Dunsmuir, all in California. Powers has professional experience in capital project administration, economic development, and finance and budget. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration from California State University, Fresno.
Following a thorough screening process, the applicant pool was narrowed to five candidates. Virtual interviews were conducted by Honna Rogers of the Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS), City of East Ridge Human Resources Director Michelle Sinigaglio, and City Manager Scott Miller. Following this phase, one candidate was eliminated, and two candidates declined to move forward due to personal reasons, thus leaving the two finalists who will advance to in-person interviews.
Community members are encouraged to attend a special-called meeting on Monday, January 12, at 6 pm at East Ridge City Hall, where the East Ridge City Council will conduct interviews of both finalists. The meeting is open to the public, and residents are welcome as the city works toward selecting its next City Manager.
