Final four candidates for Fairborn city manager meet the public

FAIRBORN -- City residents were afforded the opportunity to visit with the final four city manager candidates at a reception tonight at the Holiday Inn on Presidential Drive.

About 50 people turned out to the reception.

Mayor Dan Kirkpatrick said that with any luck, one of the four will be chosen to fill the position and an announcement about that decision could happen next week.

Friday, the city council is expected to meet as a whole, and then individually, with the finalists.

Monday night, the council is to meet in special session to discuss whether the members have settled on one candidate, the mayor said.

RELATED: Fairborn city manager departing for out-of-state gig

The search, which began with 10 candidates, has been whittled to a final four. They are:

  • Chris Philbrick: Former U.S. Army garrison commander of Fort Irwin. Calif., from 2005-08. He has some city manager experience, the mayor said.
  • Thomas Thomas: Former Rock Island, Ill., city manager
  • Rob Anderson: Fairborn economic development director
  • Pete Bales: Interim Fairborn city manager

"I think we have four great candidates," Kirkpatrick said. "Any of the four would be great city managers."

He said economic development issues would be of paramount importance to the new city manager, as well as forging a good relationship with the new president at Wright State University (when that choice is made and approved) and continuing good relations with Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

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