Out of 109 applicants for the next Aiken city manager, City Council narrowed the search down to just three in a unanimous vote Thursday night.
With the exception of Council member Gail Diggs who was not present, Council met in executive session for around 30 minutes, before exiting the private session and voting on the three finalists - John C. Klimm, George L. Korthauer and Howard Kunik.
The city manager position has been vacant since former City Manager Richard Pearce resigned in June 2014.
- John C. Klimm
- Current resident of Saint Simons Island, Georgia.
- Was last the town administrator of the Town of Portsmouth, Rhode Island from 2012 up until his contract expired in January, according to media reports.
- Masters in public administration from Bridgewater State University; bachelor's degree in political science and economics from Boston College.
- Previously, Klimm was an adjunct professor at the University of Massachusetts.
He served as the Southeastern Regional Massachusetts Regional Director of the Massachusetts Housing Partnership from 1987 to 1990 and was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1991 to 1999.
- In his resume, Klimm lists finance, community development and community outreach as his core accomplishments.
- George L. Korthauer
- Current resident of Petoskey, Michigan.
- Was last working in the private sector as a CEO in Harbor Springs, Michigan from 2013 to present.
- Masters of public administration from Roosevelt University; bachelor's degree in political science from Western Illinois University.
- Previously, Korthauer worked as an assistant village manager and administrative assistant in Glencoe, Illinois and, as city manager in Pestoskey, Michigan and as CEO for Allied EMS Systems, a nonprofit corporation providing regional, prehospital and emergency medical services.
- In his resume, Korthauer said the streamline of the city's organization structure was just one of his accomplishments in Pestoskey.
- Howard Kunik
- Current resident of Punta Gorda, Florida.
- Was last working as the city manager in Punta Gorda, Florida from 2005 to present.
- Masters in public administration from George Washington University; bachelor of arts, urban and environmental studies from Case Western Reserve University.
- Previously, Kunik spent time as an adjunct professor at Barry University in Florida; a budget director and director of administration and finance in the City of Allentown, Pennsylvania and the city manager in the City of Cape Coral, Florida.
- In his resume, Kunik said sustainable growth management initiatives, an effort to build a transparent community and the implementation of a strategic, long-range financial plan were just some of his achievements in his last position.
Maayan Schechter is the local government reporter with Aiken Standard.