Salem city manager finalists Keith Stahley (left) and Eric Zimmerman (submitted photos)
The choice of Salem’s next city manager is down to two candidates.
The Salem City Council selected candidates Keith Stahley and Eric Zimmerman to advance for consideration, the city announced Friday, June 17.
The decision comes after three finalists were in Salem June 15 for a day of interviews with the mayor, city councilors, city department and labor union leaders. They later answered questions submitted by the public at a virtual forum.
City councilors will next visit candidates’ current hometowns and meet with residents, civic organizations and elected officials before making a selection, according to a news release.
The city manager is in charge of the city’s day-to-day operations and reports to the Salem City Council.
Stahley has served as assistant city manager in Olympia, Washington, since 2019 and was previously the city’s planning and development director for 14 years.
Zimmerman most recently worked at the U.S. Embassy in Bangladesh and previously worked for Multnomah County, and as deputy city manager in Medford. He has served in the Oregon National Guard since 2007 and is currently assigned to a unit in Salem.
Salem’s previous city manager, Steve Powers, retired Feb. 28 after six years with the city. Kristin Retherford, the city’s urban development director, has since served as interim city manager.
-Ardeshir Tabrizian
