LINCOLN CITY – The Lincoln City city council has voted unanimously to hire Daniel Hunter, their pro-tem city manager as its permanent city manager.

Hunter has served as city manager pro-tem since October, after a short stint with pro-tem city manager David Benson. The position became vacant when Daphnee Legarza resigned last June after three years as the manager.

As city manager, Hunter will oversee Lincoln City’s 160 employees and $101.7 million yearly budget.

“Since Daniel Hunter has served for the last few months in a temporary capacity, council and staff have been able to learn his leadership style and how it works for Lincoln City,” Mayor Susan Wahlke said in a statement. “He has been able to get to know us and is happy here.”

Hunter has 11 years of local government experience in Oregon. He comes from the city of The Dalles, where he was hired as an administrative fellow and worked his way up to human resources director.

He served in the U.S. Air Force and moved to Oregon to attend Linfield College where he received a bachelor’s degree in political science. He has worked for the Montana Department of Transportation and holds a master’s degree in public administration.

“Lincoln City is a beautiful community with an engaged population,” Hunter said in a news release. “It is the kind of place city managers hope to end up. It is my honor to serve this community and the city council as your city manager.”