Published April 1 2014
The city of Bellevue announced Tuesday, April 1, the four finalists for the city manager position. The candidates were here last week for interviews with the City Council and the city's leadership team, receptions with city staff and the public, and a tour of the city.
The council could make a choice at tonight's meeting, and direct staff and the executive search firm to negotiate a contract with the candidate selected.
The final interviews come after months of meeting with various stakeholders to develop the job description and requirements, conducting a national recruitment, and evaluating the candidate pool, which included nearly 50 resumes. Following the Saturday interviews, the council will discuss candidate qualifications. Both the interviews and review of qualifications are done in executive session. The council's selection of a final candidate could happen as early as Monday's regularly-scheduled public meeting. Once selected, the council will direct the executive search firm and city staff to begin negotiations on a final contract.
The council invites the public to attend a reception this Friday, April 4, at City Hall (450 110th Ave. NE) 7-9 p.m. City staff will have an opportunity to meet candidates during a separate event Friday afternoon. Members of the public are invited to share feedback on the candidates by filling out a written comment card at the Friday reception or visiting the City Manager Search page. In order to be considered as part of the council deliberations, comments should be received by Saturday, April 5, at 2 p.m.
Below are the biographies of each candidate. The public may visit the City Manager Search page to sign up to receive Alerts when new information is available about the recruitment and selection process.
Candidates for City Manager
Belinda Graham, City of Riverside, California
Belinda Graham has worked for the city of Riverside, a city of 310,000 population near Los Angeles, since 2004 and has been an assistant city manager for the past six years. During this time, Graham has worked with the mayor, City Council and city team to change the face and direction of the city. She has overseen nearly all departments of the city, including Police, Fire, Public Utilities, Public Works, Human Resources, Museum, Library, Airport, General Services, Parks Recreation and Community Services, Information Technology, Development, and Community Development.
Prior to working at Riverside, Graham worked for the County of Riverside for nine years, including a position as the assistant director of the Economic Development Agency. She has also served on boards and/or participated with various community and business organizations in the Riverside area.
Graham graduated from California State University, San Bernardino with dual Bachelor of Arts in geography and Spanish and earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Redlands.
Pat McDonnell, Shinetsu SEH-America
Pat McDonnell is the senior director of site services with Shinetsu SEH-America, an international silicon wafer manufacturing corporation based out of Japan. Prior to his work with Shinetsu, he spent 23 years in city government, including city manager and deputy city manager for the city of Vancouver, Wash., a city of more than 160,000, and county administrator and assistant county administrator for Clark County, Wash. McDonnell is most proud of being part of the team that developed several critical services and amenities within Vancouver and Clark County, including creation of a major hotel/conference center and Vancouver's waterfront development. His return to public service brings the experience and knowledge he has gleaned from his current position in the private sector.
McDonnell graduated with a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Mankato State University and a Master of Arts in public administration/urban studies from Minnesota State University. He also participated in the Rocky Mountain Public Administration program at the University of Colorado.
Brad Miyake, City of Bellevue, Washington
Serving as Bellevue's acting city manager since May 2013, Brad Miyake oversees all city operations and carries out the policies established by the City Council. He currently leads initiatives in the areas of economic development, regional affairs, neighborhood outreach and strategic planning. A champion of the city's outcome-based budget process, Miyake has been instrumental in building a high performing organization and enhancing the city's culture of excellence. He has held a number of positions throughout his 23 year tenure with the city including deputy city manager, utilities director and deputy director, as well as budget manager. Prior to joining the city, Miyake worked with King County, Wash., and the U.S. Government Accounting Office.
Born and raised in Seattle, Miyake is a University of Washington graduate with a bachelor's degree in business administration. He participated in the Senior Executive Institute sponsored by the University of Virginia.
Carl Swenson, City of Peoria, Arizona
Carl Swenson has served as the city manager in Peoria, a city of more than 160,000 adjacent to Phoenix, since 2008. Prior to this role, he was deputy city manager overseeing all growth, development, and construction for this fast growing city. Before moving to Peoria, Swenson served as village manager in Oak Park, Ill. for 10 years, and earlier served for 14 years in a variety of city management positions in Bellevue, including three years as deputy city manager.
Swenson earned the credentialed city manager designation (ICMA-CM) from the International City/County Management Association in 2003 and has served in numerous national and state leadership positions in the field of city management.
Swenson has a bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Washington and a Master of Public Administration from Seattle University. He also participated in government management programs at the University of Colorado and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.