The final candidates for Whitewater’s city manager position will meet residents and answer questions during a public forum on Friday.
The Whitewater Common Council whittled down the applicants to five during a meeting Sept. 11.
The council reviewed 12 applications for the position with their recruitment consultant, Dr. Karl Nollenberger of Voorhees Associates.
“The council was impressed by the caliber of candidates presented. We will have a great opportunity to evaluate the candidates through the interview process and community feedback,” said council president Patrick Singer. “The Council is excited to make a selection that will move our community forward.”
Former city manager Kevin Brunner began his new job as Walworth County’s director of central services and the highway commission on June 22.
The following five (appearing in alphabetical order) will vie for the position.
1. Cameron Clapper currently serves as Interim City Manager for the City of Whitewater with a population of 14,757.
Clapper has seven years of experience in local government management. He received his Master of Public Administration degree and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.
2. Edward Gil de Rubio most recently served as City Manager for the City of Trinidad, Colo. with a population of 10,400.
Gil de Rubio has 22 years of experience in local government management.
He received his Master of Science in Public Administration from Sage Graduate School in Albany, N.Y., and his Bachelor of Science in Management from Johnson State College in Johnson, Vt.
3. Richard Johnston currently serves as Town Administrator/Clerk for the Town of Clayton with a population of 4,000.
Johnston has 20 years of experience in local government management. He received his Master of Public Administration and his Bachelor of Science in Economics and Political Science from UW-Oshkosh.
4. Jeff Kooistra has most recently served as City Administrator/Clerk for the City of Waukee, Iowa with a population of 12,600.
Kooistra has 34 years of experience in local government management.
He received his Master of Public Administration from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa and a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies from Central College in Pella, Iowa.
5. Paul Moderacki currently serves as Village Administrator for the Village of Mukwonago with a population of 7,200.
Moderacki has 32 years of experience in local government management. He received his Master of Science in Urban Affairs from UW-Milwaukee and his Master of Arts in English and Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Fordham University, Bronx, N.Y.
The Common Council is hosting a public reception to meet the candidates on Friday, Sept. 21 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the Whitewater Innovation Center, 1221 Innovation Drive.
A public forum, where questions can be submitted for the candidates, will be held in the City of Whitewater Municipal Building Community Room at 6:30 p.m.
Anyone wishing to submit questions in advance can send them to City Clerk, P.O. Box 178, Whitewater, WI 53190 or to msmith@whitewater-wi.gov.
