Sequim City Council chooses new city manager

Charlie Bush ()

Charlie Bush ()

SEQUIM — The Sequim City Council has offered the position of city manager to one of six finalists vying for the job.

Reconvening in public session after a closed-door executive session Monday, the council decided candidate Charlie Bush of Issaquah was the right man for the job, and will offer him a contract for consideration.

Should he accept, Bush will replace Steve Burkett, who will retire on June 30.

Burkett has served as city manager since October 2009.

“Great things are happening in Sequim and there is potential for much more,” Bush said.

The six candidates were in town last week to meet the public and undergo interviews conducted by the city council in executive session.

In addition to Bush, other finalists were John DuRocher of Des Plaines, Ill.; Belinda Graham of Brinnon; Kandis Hanson of Mound, Minn.; Yvonne Kimball of Dewey-Humboldt, Ariz.; and William Kohbarger of North Las Vegas, Nev.

Bush has a bachelor’s degree from Wittenberg University and a master’s degree from Syracuse University.

He has 17 years experience working for local government, and is now the development services director for the city of Issaquah.

He had previously served in Glendale and Phoenix, Ariz.; Bellevue; and Prosser.

“My experience includes six years as a manager or assistant, six years of overseeing operations, six years of human resources oversight, six years of information technology oversight, five years as planning director, four years of public safety oversight, four years of finance oversight, three years of direct economic development experience and seven years serving as an analyst,” Bush said.

He currently serves as president of the Municipal Research Services Center, and is a member of the NextERA Task Force for the Alliance of Innovation.

He is the former president of the Washington City/County Management Association and previously was a board member of the Association of Washington Cities.

He also is involved with Rotary International, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Meals on Wheels and Kiwanis.

________

Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-681-2390, ext. 5052, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Fred Rix of Port Angeles, right, looks over floral arrangements with Ann O’Neill, an employee of Angel Crest Gardens of Port Angeles at a temporary stand at First and Race streets in Port Angeles on Valentine’s Day. Rix said he wanted roses for his wife, Wendy Rix, for their 55th wedding anniversary. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Valentine’s roses

Fred Rix of Port Angeles, right, looks over floral arrangements with Ann… Continue reading

Port Angeles-owned Lancashire Heeler “Ki” poses with handler and co-owner Chelsy Pendleton of Utah with their ribbon. Ki placed as Best of Opposite Sex at the 149th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
PA dog places at famous show

Lancashire Heeler wins ribbon at Westminster

x
Nominations open for Community Service awards

Forms due March 25; event scheduled for May 1

Poplars to be removed in spring

Boat Yard expansion part of larger project

Jeffco Aquatic Coalition launches pool survey

Results intended to inform design process

Voters approving all Peninsula school measures

Sequim bond passing with required supermajority

A snow-covered Mount Angeles is seen from Black Diamond Road a few miles south of Port Angeles. While the Peninsula has seen temperatures below freezing this week, a warming trend is expected by this weekend with highs reaching the upper 40s and overnight lows in the 30s. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Winter snowscape

A snow-covered Mount Angeles is seen from Black Diamond Road a few… Continue reading

JoAnn declares bankruptcy; Port Angeles store to close

The Joann fabrics and crafts store in Port Angeles… Continue reading

Cheri Sanford of Port Angeles, right, hands a piece of metal debris to her grandson, Damien Millet, 9, after it was located with a metal detector and dug from the sand at Hollywood Beach in Port Angeles on Wednesday. They were combing the beach in search of whatever hidden treasures they could find. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Beach combing

Cheri Sanford of Port Angeles, right, hands a piece of metal debris… Continue reading

Six Peninsula school measures passing

Sequim voters approve bond, levy