What are Topeka's most pressing issues? Four city manager finalists answer that and more.

Affordable housing, mental health and the lack of a skilled workforce are the three most pressing issues facing Topeka, a group of eight community stakeholders heard Tuesday from Stephen Wade, one of four finalists to be its next city manager.

That was among questions Wade and fellow finalists Mike Harmon, David Johnston and Abbe Yacoben answered from the stakeholders, who are helping Topeka's mayor and city council choose the next city manager.

Topeka's mayor and city council also interviewed the finalists separately Tuesday while meeting behind closed doors in executive session. All the interviews took place at Bishop Professional Development Center.

The mayor and council are expected to discuss hiring a new city manager when they next meet Sept. 6.

Varying views voiced about top concerns

Harmon told the community stakeholders Tuesday that he thought the three most pressing issues facing Topeka are infrastructure, public safety and ensuring the city spreads its investment of public dollars equitably between its various communities.

Johnston said he thinks the most pressing issues are infrastructure, affordable housing and helping citizens to appreciate what a great place Topeka is.

Yacoben said the most pressing issues involve growing the city in a responsible manner by attracting more high-paying jobs, attracting more young families and doing a better job of helping small businesses navigate the process of opening here.

Who was on Tuesday's panel of community stakeholders?

The mayor and council in mid-August chose the four finalists, who were interviewed Tuesday by stakeholders chosen by Mayor Mike Padilla, who said he sought to ensure that those on the panel represented various parts of the community.

Panel members were Mary Cuevas, Curtis Sneden, Marsha Pope, Sandra Lassiter, Michele Godinet, Janice Watkins, Kevin Warta and John Williams.

After meeting with the stakeholders and the mayor and council, the four finalists met Tuesday with reporters, then appeared at a public "meet and greet."

Members of the public were able to provide feedback about the finalists to the mayor and council by filling out comment cards or emailing comments to cmsearch@premierks.com.

What are the finalists' qualifications?

Johnston, 62, was city manager from 2017 to 2021 for Covington, Ky., and from 2009 to 2016 for Maple Valley, Wash.

He previously was village administrator from 2004 to 2008 for Rantoul, Ill.; town manager from 2000 to 2003 for Westfield, Ind.; and village administrator from 1997 to 2000 for Coal City, Ill.

Harmon, 40, is chief operating officer for an electric utility in Wyoming. That pays more than being a city manager but "my heart just isn't into the work like it is in city management," he said.

Harmon was city administrator from 2017 to 2021 for Spearfish, S.D., from 2015 to 2017 for Fairfield, Iowa, and prior to that for Crystal Lake, Minn.. He previously served as a police officer and then as resources coordinator in Pierre, S.D., where he said that in the latter position he was the city manager's "right-hand man."

Yacoben, 46, has been deputy finance director and treasurer since 2017 for the city of Las Vegas.

She was previously finance and budget director from 2015 to 2017 for the city of Avondale, Ariz., and finance director from 2009 to 2015 from the town of Freeport, Maine.

Wade, 55, has been employed since 2020 by the city of Topeka, where he is administrative and financial services director.

He previously spent 30 years in the media industry, including being publisher from 2018 to 2020 of The Topeka Capital-Journal and working previously as general manager at The Augusta Chronicle in Augusta, Ga.

Stephen Wade wants to make city government more approachable

Saying government entities tend to be "scary," "faceless" and "unapproachable," Wade told stakeholders he'd like to "put a face" on the city and make it more customer-friendly.

A graduate of Shawnee Heights High School, Wade noted that he'd left Topeka twice for professional development reasons and chosen to come back both times.

He noted that his parents and a sister live here.

"Topeka's my home," Wade said. "This is where I want to stay."

Wade also handed out a roughly eight-page plan of action detailing what he hopes to accomplish over the first 90 days, one year and five years, if selected as city manager.

Abbe Yacoben served as an elected official in Maine

Yacoben said she has been an elected official, having served 10 to 15 years ago as a "selectman" in the town of West Bath Maine, where she lived while working in Freeport.

"It was an absolute joy," she said.

Yacoben's experience in that office would help make her more well-rounded as Topeka's city manager, she said.

"As an elected official, you have your ear on the ground and you hear everything," she said. "And so you're really reacting to the direct connection and comments from the community. So those things are exciting, but different."

Mike Harmon spearheaded an affordable housing effort

Harmon told stakeholders about he'd spearheaded efforts in Spearfish to create the Sky Ridge affordable housing development, for which construction remains in progress.

He said he and other Spearfish officials put together a public-private partnership that created the development using tax-increment financing, which reduced the infrastructure and land costs involved.

That enabled the city to also put a soccer complex and softball complex on the property, so Spearfish could host national and statewide tournaments, Harmon said.

"I'm very proud of that project," he said. "It'll be a great asset for many years to come."

Rental properties were licensed in communities David Johnston oversaw

Each of the five communities Johnston oversaw brought its own unique issues and challenges, he said.

Johnston told stakeholders about how both Covington and Rantoul require licensing and inspection for rental properties. Owners who wish to rent out a house must apply for a license and allow the inspection by the city of both its interior and exterior, he said.

The licenses are good for three years, during which time the landlord must keep the property in good condition, Johnston said. If the city receives a complaint about a property, it checks out only the specific issue being complained about, he said.

The four finalists each got their turn to ask a question

Each finalist was allowed at the end of his or her interview to pose a question to the community stakeholders.

Yacoben asked each to name his or her favorite thing about Topeka.

Johnston asked stakeholders for their perceptions regarding affordable housing as an important issue in this community.

Harmon asked stakeholders what they thought about the city government's responsiveness, efficiency and organization.

Wade asked them to identify their priorities for the city.

Tim Hrenchir can be reached at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Four finalists for Topeka city manager speak to community stakeholders