Five candidates vie for Lake Forest Park City Administrator

Lake Forest Park City Hall
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

By Diane Hettrick

The five finalists for the position of City Administrator in Lake Forest Park did a meet and greet with the public on Thursday evening, January 18, 2018 at City Hall.

They were chosen from a field of 41 recruited by the recruitment firm of Colin Baenziger and Associates.

It will be an interesting choice for Mayor Jeff Johnson. All are well-qualified and all have been working in city management. All were low-key, friendly, and personable.

However, each has different areas of strength and experience.

I was interested, but not surprised to find that all of them were drawn to the northwest. Most had been here before – one visits yearly. They have friends or family in Puget Sound. One is a skier, another is an avid hiker. The only one with no previous experience of the northwest has a son who will be attending Central Washington University next fall.

The candidates

Bristol S. Ellington has been an Assistant City Manager in Henderson, Nevada (pop. 293,000) for ten years and served as interim City Manager. He has a background as a city planner and a history of working well with developers. He has a reputation for being deeply involved in the community. He has a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning and a Masters in Public Administration.

Ron Foggin was City Manager of Dallas, Oregon (pop. 14,600), 12 miles west of Salem for five years. Before that he was an assistant city manager in Lehi, Utah for seven years. He has a financial background and was an award winning city treasurer and finance director. He has a B.A. in Political Science and a Masters in Public Administration.

Phillip D. Hill is the Assistant City Manager of Midvale City, Utah (pop. 30,750), part of metropolitan Salt Lake City. He has been in that position for nine years. Before that he was a city planner then department head. In his current position he has been working with the EPA, state environmental quality department, landowners, and developers in the redevelopment of two EPA Superfund sites. He has a B.S. in Urban Planning and a Masters of Business Administration.

Ian McGaughey has been the Town Manager of Clifton, Arizona (pop. 3,700) for over two years. His background is that of a community activist – chambers of commerce, tourism councils, wildlife and recreation land preservation, historic preservation, and seven years as a city councilmember. He has a BA in Communications and a Masters of Public Administration.

J. Mark Rooney is the Village Manager of Carpentersville, Illinois (pop. 39,000). Before that he was Chief of Staff for North Chicago, IL, and Village Manager of Wheeling, IL and City Administrator of Highwood, IL. He has a B.S. in Economics and History and has completed the coursework for a Masters in Public Administration. He is a former Army officer who led troops in Desert Storm.

On Friday, January 19, the candidates and interview teams went through a marathon of meetings, from 8:30am to 3:20pm, meeting individually with the City Council, Leadership Team, Public committee, and Mayor. After that the three panels each met with the mayor.

Now Mayor Johnson will make his selection.