The Clatsop County
Board of Commissioners has offered the job of county manager to Scott
Somers.
Somers, 44, currently
the city manager of Reedsport, is expected to start with the county July 16. He
replaces former county manager Duane Cole, who retired May 31 after three years
with the county.
The board is
scheduled to approve an employment contract with Somers at its June 13 meeting.
His starting salary will be $112,000 a year plus benefits.
“I think this is
going to be a great fit,” he said.
Somers’ selection
followed a thorough recruitment process, assisted by consultant Greg Prothman,
that included a public reception and interviews with six finalists May 29 and
30.
Clatsop County Board
of Commissioners Chair Peter Huhtala said that after a search that brought in
applications from around the country, “we were fortunate to find Scott right
here on the Oregon Coast.
“He is intelligent,
energetic and aware of Clatsop County’s challenges and opportunities,” he said.
“I very much look forward to working with Scott – I believe that he can look
forward to a long and successful tenure.”
Somers was born in
Tucson, Ariz. and raised in Arizona and central Oregon. He earned a bachelor of
social work degree from Arizona State University and master of public
administration degree from the University of Arizona. His career in public
administration began in 2004 at White Bear Lake, Minnesota where he served as
assistant to the city manager. In 2006 he was hired as assistant city manager
for Savage, Minnesota.
Somers joined
Reedsport, a city of 4,300 on the central Oregon Coast, in January 2009. The
city has a staff of 33 and a $14 million annual budget.
Among the city’s
accomplishments during his tenure are completing a $12 million wastewater
treatment plant; brokering a partnership between the U.S. Forest Service and
Army Corps of Engineers on levee certification; pursuing downtown revitalization
efforts; and developing a strategic plan.
Somers said one of
his top goals in Reedsport has been building relationships – with city council
and staff, citizens and civic groups, neighboring districts, lawmakers and state
and federal agencies. “I am very open to work with – people recognized that,” he
said. “We may not always agree, but we can respect each other’s
opinion.”
During his tenure
Reedsport actively promoted itself to regional and state economic development
entities, Somers said. Like communities in Clatsop County, it has faced the
challenge of diversifying its economy in an area historically dependent on
fishing and logging.
Somers believes the
transition from city to county government won’t be difficult. He has not
overseen public health programs in his city jobs, but said his background in
social work – he was a case worker as a college undergraduate – gives him some
insight into services provided through the county Public Health
Department.
As part of the
selection process the county and consultant Prothman arranged for Somers and the
other five finalists to be interviewed by three separate panels: the board of
commissioners; county department heads and labor representatives; and a
community stakeholders panel that included city officials, Clatsop Community
College President Larry Galizio, Circuit Court Judge Cindee Matyas, three
citizens and state lawmakers Betsy Johnson and Deborah Boone. Following the
interviews all three groups assembled to share their input.
“Elected officials,
department heads and several community leaders helped the board with the
interview and selection process,” Huhtala said. “We very much appreciate the
participation of each of these individuals.”
