And the news is … we can’t tell you yet

At last Thursday’s meeting, Steve Newton of Russell Reynolds Associates told City Council and the public that he recommended that the names of the finalists be released either Friday or Monday. But after 10 p.m. on Sunday, Mayor Steve Adler posted a message on the City Council Message Board from Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo and himself to the rest of the Council members beginning with the following: “Our search firm reiterates that we should be honored to have a very impressive group of candidates.” But the news was not all good, because he had to add that a candidate had withdrawn, “and the search firm recommends we spend 1 or 2 additional weeks reviewing other potential candidates to ensure that we have the finest and most diverse candidate pool. As such, the search firm also recommends we not release candidate names until sometime later this month.” Last week, Newton predicted that up to five finalists would meet with Council and the City Manager Search Advisory Task Force in early December and “then a later date would be set for that third round.” He promised that the third round would include introduction of the finalists to the community. So if the names are not released for two more weeks, that would put the release of the names on Nov. 27, making it difficult for Council to select a new manager before mid-January. Then that person would have to quit his or her current position and move to Austin.