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CITY MANAGER POST Divided Medford council approves Patridge city manager contract Another vote set today as Wheeler retains veto power By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Jul. 21, 2016 @ 2:00 am Updated Jul 21, 2016 at 10:07 PM By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Jul. 21, 2016 @ 2:00 am Updated Jul 21, 2016 at 10:07 PM » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> A divided Medford City Council approved local resident Rob Patridge as its new city manager Thursday night, but the threat of a veto looms as Mayor Gary Wheeler voiced strong objections about a flawed process and a "broken" council. The 5-3 vote on the first reading of the ordinance approving his contract means the council will need to meet again at 12:30 p.m. Friday for a second vote. Councilors Dick Gordon, Eli Matthews, Mike Zarosinski, Chris Corcoran and Tim Jackle supported Patridge. Councilors Daniel Bunn, Clay Bearnson and Kevin Stine opposed the appointment. Wheeler said a veto is an option that he has available, but said he wanted to hear what other councilors had to say Friday before making that decision. If Wheeler does veto, it would require a 6-2 vote by the council to override. Despite Wheeler's objections, as well as three other councilors, eight former city councilors signed a letter of support for Patridge. Wheeler said Patridge, a Klamath Falls District attorney, doesn't have the kind of experience needed to fill the role of city manager. "This city is not an entry-level position," he said. He described Patridge's career as "peripatetic" because he doesn't stay in jobs for long. Wheeler and other councilors described a flawed hiring process that led to the preferred candidate — Jim Thompson, a retired city manager from Casa Grande, Ariz. — backing out. "The interview (with the council) was embarrassing for me," Wheeler said. "I don't know if I would take the job considering how the interview went." Wheeler said he got the impression that some councilors had already made up their minds to support Patridge even as Thompson was being considered as the preferred candidate. Patridge was selected from three finalists. The other two — Jon Amundson, assistant city manager in Richland, Wash., and Thompson — both had city manager experience, while Patridge did not. Patridge has cited his extensive record working as president of Covey Consulting in Medford, as an attorney with Pacific Retirement Services and as general counsel for U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore. He served in the Oregon House for six years beginning in 1999 and was a deputy district attorney for Jackson County for three years before his election. He was also a Medford city councilor for two years starting in 1996, when he was 27. Councilor Chris Corcoran voiced strong support for Patridge because he said the city is going through unconventional times that require an unconventional candidate. "Rob Patridge is the only candidate sold on Medford," he said. Councilor Gordon said Patridge has considerable management background needed to do the job. "His energy level throughout the interviews is phenomenal," Gordon said. Gordon said the $157,100 base pay is far less than other city managers make for cities the size of Medford. Gordon said he agreed with most councilors who thought that Patridge's chairmanship of the Oregon Liquor Control Commission would be an asset for the city. He said the city would encourage other department heads to join state organizations that related to their local positions. Councilor Matthews said Patridge brings communication and listening skills to the job, and he said Patridge is known throughout the state as a "doer." "More than anything, the city needs leadership," Matthews said. "He leads by example." Councilor Jackle said Patridge meets all the qualifications the city is looking for in a manager, including having the tenacity to work through long-term and difficult processes. Councilor Bearnson said he agrees that Patridge has a wide skill set. "I can't say a bad thing about Rob," he said. But Bearnson said he doesn't think it's fair to city staff to hire someone who doesn't have city manager experience. "There are local candidates with more experience than Rob," Bearnson said. Councilor Zarosinski said he didn't see the perfect candidate in the selection process but wholeheartedly endorsed Patridge, citing how "astounded" he was that Patridge could jump into the Klamath Falls District attorney appointment, as well as taking charge of the OLCC when it wrestled with recreational sales of marijuana. "I did not see anyone else with the same passion for this city," he said. "Obviously, this is a guy who knows how to manage people." Councilor Bunn said Patridge is a good guy, but added, "I don't think he's a good fit for this council and this organization." He describe the council as "dysfunctional" and he said the process to hire a city manager was dragged out. He said it would require an extraordinary person to step in as city manager. However, Bunn said, "I don't think it would be the end of the world if he's appointed." Councilor Stine said the city will be losing a lot of senior staff in the coming years as they retire. "It's important that we get someone with experience," he said. Stine said he wouldn't support Patridge remaining as OLCC chair. He also denounced the lack of public participation in the selection process. "This unconventional choice is not working for me," he said. Bill Mansfield, a local lawyer and member of the Planning Commission, said he and Patridge are different politically, but Mansfield said he's got a lot of respect for Patridge and urged the council to support him. "Rob is highly intelligent," Mansfield said. "He's got a great deal of integrity." Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected] . Follow him on www.twitter.com/reporterdm . By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Jul. 21, 2016 @ 2:00 am Updated Jul 21, 2016 at 10:07 PM » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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