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After more than 60 applicants, a dozen interviews, five meet-and-greets
and six contract drafts, the city of Spokane Valley has come up
with one qualified city manager: 53-year-old David Mercier.
"All right, we have a new city manager," proclaimed Mayor
Mike DeVleming after the City Council unanimously approved the contract
after a 20-minute private session Tuesday night. Mercier, who will
make $115,000 a year, will start his job with the city May 1.
"This is a wonderful opportunity," he said amidst smiles
and handshakes at the meeting's conclusion. "Spokane Valley
has a lot of potential."
Mercier has a broad background in public administration that stretches
back for over three decades. He currently works as director of Kenbrio
Consulting Inc., a computer/governmental advisory firm. He came
to Washington last year after serving as director of Office Policy
and Legal Analysis for the Maine Legislature.
From 1997 to 2001, Mercier was in southwest Washington in the city
of Battle Ground. There he served as the first city manager after
a switch to a council/manager form of government.
A history of turning budget deficits into surpluses and netting
millions of dollars in grant awards are some of the aspects of Mercier's
résumé that likely appealed to the conservative Spokane
Valley City Council.
Council Member Dick Denenny said he was "very, very satisfied"
with Mercier's credentials.
Council Member Richard Munson said the process of hiring a city
manager was a lengthy one, but "one the city will be rewarded
with."
For his part, Mercier said he genuinely liked the council and had
a good feeling from his first visit to the Valley.
"They've got an attitude that I look for in a city council,"
he said, "which is good, because I'm sure we'll be spending
a lot of time together."
Mercier said he has no immediate agenda, other than to do some
"fact finding" about the Spokane Valley.
Mercier and his wife have three grown sons. His appointment will
become official at next Tuesday's council meeting.
In a warm-up for Mercier's hiring, the council also appointed a
planning commission. It will be made up of Bill Gothman (who will
serve a three-year term), Ian Robertson (three years), John Carroll
(three years), Fred Beaulac (two years), David Crosby (one year),
Gayle Kogel (two years) and Robert Blum (one year).
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