SEQUIM ¬ — The Sequim City Council voted unanimously today to hire Steven Burkett, former manager of several large cities including Shoreline, as Sequim’s city manager.
Council members touted Burkett’s open-door policy, in which he sets aside time to talk with community members at City Hall, and his financial acumen, something Sequim needs as it grapples with a budget crisis.
Burkett was a finalist for Sequim’s top job alongside Vernon Stoner, whom the council selected Sept. 1. Stoner was to have come to work in Sequim in early October, earning an annual salary of $120,000.
But a Peninsula Daily News investigation revealed that Stoner was named in a sexual harassment tort claim filed by his then-executive assistant in his former position as chief deputy in the state Insurance Commissioner’s Office.
Stoner’s former assistant, Shellyne Grisham, filed her claim May 14; Stoner, who said he was not aware of the claim, was fired by Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler, and worked his last day June 15.
He has since filed a lawsuit alleging age or race discrimination were factors in his dismissal. Stoner, who is 61 and black, is seeking damages of up to $20 million.
Council member Paul McHugh said in early September that Burkett had been asked to leave his job as city manager of Shoreline. Burkett was forced to resign after an election changed the composition of the Shoreline City Council in 2005.
On Friday, council member Erik Erichsen — who cast the lone vote against choosing Stoner in September — said he felt from the outset that Burkett was the best candidate for the job, “because of his apparent work ethic and [emphasis on] fiscal responsibility.
“He mentioned several times he did everything he could to support and carry out the decisions of the City Council. The only time he’d ever push back was when he felt what was being done wasn’t fiscally responsible,” Erichsen added.
Council member Walt Schubert added that Burkett “is very strong on financial matters . . . and he’s strong on support of the staff, and of council and staff relations. I think he’ll be a good fit for people of Sequim.”
A few minutes after the council’s unanimous vote today, Burkett appeared in the City Council chambers, and went into the executive session with the members and City Attorney Craig Ritchie.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley reporter Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.
