City of Lubbock Press Release on Four Finalists - KCBD NewsChannel 11 Lubbock

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City of Lubbock Press Release on Four Finalists

Committee recommends four candidates

Following a day of interviews with the five finalists for the position of City Manager, the Citizen Search Committee narrowed their choice to four late Thursday by recommending Rickey Childers, Tommy Gonzalez, William Pupo and John Watson to the City Council. Kathy Rice, former City Manager in Waco, was the fifth finalist and was not recommended by the Search Committee.

The City Council will interview candidates tomorrow (Friday) and will begin deliberations on their choice for the City's chief executive officer.

The following is a very brief look at the Committee-recommended candidates' careers and education:

Rickey C. Childers

  • City Manager of Longview since March 1999
  • Deputy City Manager for the City of Arlington for 5 years
  • Assistant City Manager for the City of Carrollton for 5 years
  • Assistant City Manager for the City of Abilene for 4 years
  • Assistant to the City Manager for the City of Lubbock for 8 years
  • Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the University of Tulsa
  • Master of Public Administration from Texas Tech University

Tommy Gonzalez

  • Interim City Manager for the City of Lubbock since March 2003
  • Assistant City Manager for the City of Lubbock for 3 years
  • Ports-to-Plains President for 2 years
  • Managing Director of Civic Services for the City of Lubbock for 3 years
  • International Liaison Officer in Bosnia for 1 year with the Army Reserve
  • Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern New Mexico University
  • Master of Public Administration from Texas Tech University

William A. Pupo

  • City Manager of Surprise, Arizona for 3 years
  • City Manager for the City of Spokane, Washington for 2 years
  • Acting City Manager for the City of Spokane for 6 months
  • Assistant City Manager for the City of Spokane for 14 years
  • Assistant to the City Manager for the City of Spokane for 5 years
  • Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Washington State University
  • Master of Business Administration from Gonzaga University

Mark S. Watson

  • City Manager for the City of Temple for 4 years
  • City Administrator for the City of Billings, Montana for 6 and a half years
  • City Manager for the City of Grapevine for 3 years
  • City Manager for the City of Mission for 4 years
  • City Manager for the City of Stamford for 4 years
  • Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Kansas
  • Master of Public Administration from the University of Kansas

Sandy Glass
Public Information and Marketing Manager
City of Lubbock
www.mylubbock.us