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3 finalists for county job to interview By PETER WONG Three finalists for Jackson County administrator will visit this weekend and be interviewed by county commissioners Monday. Chairman Ric Holt would not name the finalists but said all of them are from outside Southern Oregon and each is "superb." "Any one of the three would match this community to a T," Holt said. "For me, it will be one of the hardest decisions I will make while in public office." Each finalist will spend time with Holt and commissioners Sue Kupillas and Jack Walker before the formal interviews. Holt said he expected they will announce a decision next week, but probably not immediately after the interviews Monday. One of the finalists is believed to be from Mankato, Minn., the others from northern Oregon and Florida. Holt's comments appeared to exclude Assistant County Administrator Sue Slack as a finalist. But he said if the three visiting finalists do not meet their expectations, the commissioners will extend their search and Slack would be in the running. A panel of community and business leaders screened applicants to help commissioners come up with the finalists. The appointee would succeed Burke Raymond, who will retire Sept. 30 after 13 years as county administrator and decades in public service. The appointee would be only the third county administrator in history. Paul Steinbrenner was county administrator from December 1980 to January 1986, when he left to become city manager in West Palm Beach, Fla. Appointment of Raymond's successor will complete a turnover in the top administrative positions in the three largest local governments outside of education. Mike Dyal became Medford city manager last year, replacing Harold "Andy" Anderson, who was forced to resign in 1997 after nine years. Mike Freeman became Ashland city administrator last year, replacing Brian Almquist, who retired after 27 years. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA