City looks to replace Deb Schildroth as other candidate drops out
The hunt for a new Ames assistant city manager recently hit a snag, with one of the two finalists dropping out.
Julianne Griffin of Colorado Springs, Colorado, was scheduled to offer a presentation introducing herself to the public in Ames on Wednesday. That event is canceled.
The city is looking for a replacement for Deb Schildroth who is leaving to join the staff with Heartland Senior Services.
In a press release, the city stated the hunt would continue through a search firm. Public presentations will be scheduled and announced when an additional candidate or candidates are identified.
No reason was given for Griffin's decision to drop out.
The hunt is on for the next asst. city manager
The assistant city manager coordinates city operations, supports city boards and commissions, and works toward achieving goals established by the city council.
Ames advertised the open position on several sites including the city's website, governmentjobs.com, diversityjobs.com, indeed.com, and the International City and County Management Association website.
"Though applicants generally indicate gender and race information during the application process, this information is protected and not shared with hiring managers," the city stated in an email.
Additionally, as Ames Public Information Officer Susan Gwiasda said Tuesday in an email, the city doesn't track applicant demographics such gender or race information.
After a national search, Ames received approximately 45 applications within Iowa and nationwide. Two applicants were internal. Twelve were granted phone interviews; from that group, two candidates were invited to onsite interviews.
Assistant city manager candidate Roxanne J. Murphy of Deming, Washington publicly presented her candidacy on June 19.
Who is Roxanne Murphy?
Murphy is an eighth-generation member of the Nooksack Native American tribe. She was adopted early in her life by elders who have since "taken their journey to the other side." She was also the first in her family to graduate from college. She carries a bachelor's degree in communications from Central Washington University and a master's degree in public administration from the Evergreen State College.
Her resume includes a variety of management positions for the tribe and for the city of Valdez, Alaska.
She told the public that she is drawn to Ames because of the community's management programs as well as relatives living in Chicago and the Twin Cities.
She was inspired by City Manager Steve Schainker's loyalty as the longest-serving city manager in the state in addition to the city's Excellence Through People organizational structure. She also said Ames seems to have a small-town culture with big-city amenities.
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What did the community ask of this candidate?
Murphy fielded several questions from the audience during her presentation June 19.
Jean Kresse, president and CEO of United Way of Story County asked how Murphy has worked with nonprofits that serve individuals.
Murphy said she has managed city processes that identify how much funding nonprofits receive and simplified that process.
"I love working with the nonprofit community because I think they have enough on their plate without having to work through a five-page form for funding," Murphy said.
City Council member Gloria Betcher asked Murphy to identify what challenges she thinks she will face if she were to be offered the assistant city manger job.
Murphy said that taking a "Northwest girl and putting her in the Midwest" will require some significant adjustments.
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"A new set of laws, rules and regulations," Murphy said. "Every city is different from figuring out how the departments do their work to how council wants the work to be done. It will be an uphill battle, but I'm pretty good at climbing up hills."
Betcher also asked about Murphy's experience as a city council member in Bellingham, Washington from 2014-2018 and how that experience related to the role as an assistant manager in Ames.
"I think serving for five years has helped me see the world through that lens so I can offer more support to council and mayors," Murphy said. "I can read the politics behind the scenes. Sometimes council members can't really say what is going on behind the scenes."
Editor's note: This story was edited to accurately indicate the city's demographic data related to the assistant city manager applications.
Teresa Kay Albertson covers politics, crime, courts and local government in Ames and central Iowa for the Ames Tribune and Des Moines Register. Reach her on Twitter @TeresaAlberts11 and at talbertson@registermedia.com, 515-419-6098.
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Native American descendant finalist in Ames asst. city manager search
