By GARRET JAROS/YachatsNews
YACHATS – The executive director of the Yachats Chamber of Commerce, the administrator of a small but growing Eastern Oregon community, and a Washington state government employee are the finalists for Yachats’ city manager position.
The city and the recruiting firm Jensen Strategies announced the finalists Friday after meeting in executive (closed) session Tuesday to discuss eight candidates.
The three finalists are Bobbi Price of Waldport, Benjamin Burgener of Stanfield, Ore. and Jeanne Colvin of Anderson Island, Wash.
The three will undergo a multi-day interview process the week of Oct. 9 before the city council considers choosing one to replace former city manager Heide Lambert who left in May after 15 months. Rick Sant has worked as interim manager since June.
Price has been the executive director for the Yachats Area Chamber of Commerce since September 2022. Before that she was tourism development and festival manager for the Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce, and worked as the program coordinator for the Newport Parks and Recreation Department.
“I am passionate about Yachats, and I am really excited about continuing to work and serve the community in whichever capacity that ends up being,” Price said in a statement released by the city.
Burgener has been the city manager in Stanfield, a city of 2,400 near Hermiston in Umatilla County, since September 2019. He also served as the city administrator in Ada, Minn., and as the finance manager and administrative services manager for the Utah Department of Transportation. He has a Master’s in Public Administration from Brigham Young University. In 2022 he turned down a job offer to become Warrenton’s city manager, according to news reports.
“I’m excited to meet with the wonderful community of Yachats and explore this great opportunity further,” Burgener said in his statement.
Jeanne Colvin is the regional coordinator/liaison for the Washington State Department of Health. She has served in multiple roles within Gov. Jay Inslee’s office including director of constituent services and executive correspondence manager. She has a master’s degree in sociology from Arizona State University.
“I am honored to be selected as a finalist for the city manager position, a critical role serving and supporting the Yachats community, city council, and staff to thrive and flourish,” Colvin said.
Yachats community members are invited to meet the finalists and participate in roundtable conversations from 6-7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 9 in the Commons multipurpose room. Other interviews are:
- Monday, Oct 9: meet with city staff;
- Tuesday, Oct 10: Panel interviews with administration and community members;
- Wednesday, Oct 11: Council executive session for interviews;
- Thursday, Oct 12: Council executive session deliberations followed by possible public meeting if there is a selection.
- Garret Jaros is YachatsNews’ full-time reporter and can be reached at GJaros@YachatsNews.com
