Perrysburg looks to fill key city post

1/12/2005

Perrysburg officials have made a tentative offer to hire John Alexander, former administrator for Lucas County, as the new city administrator.

City Council is scheduled to talk with Mr. Alexander during a special meeting tomorrow and consider hiring him at its meeting on Tuesday, officials said.

Mayor Jody Holbrook and Councilman Tim McCarthy last week interviewed Mr. Alexander and another finalist for the administrator position, Anthony Carson, Jr., administrator of Trumbull County in northeast Ohio. They selected Mr. Alexander as the preferred candidate.

"I think council will be very impressed with John," Mr. McCarthy said.

The city has offered to pay Mr. Alexander $92,000 annually. If council approves his hiring, he likely would begin Jan. 24.

Mr. Alexander stepped down as Lucas County administrator at the end of December because he did not have the support of all the county commissioners. His previous jobs include serving as chief of staff for the commissioners and former Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner.

Mr. Alexander lives in Monclova Township now but said he would move to Perrysburg if he is hired as city administrator.

"I'm very excited. It would be a homecoming of sorts for my wife and me," he said. "We used to live in that area."

Perrysburg received more than 90 applications for its city administrator job, which became vacant when Jim Bagdonas resigned Oct. 1. Law Director Pete Gwyn has been serving as interim administrator.