Assistant City Manager Named as Finalist for Cincinnati Post

Assistant City Manager John F. Shirey is one of seven candidates for the city manager’s job in Cincinnati.

City officials there released the names of the finalists last week. Shirey said he has not been officially notified that he is on the finalist list and has not been interviewed.

Shirey, the second-highest ranking official in city government, has been assistant city manager for three years. He said Thursday that he is not actively looking for a job but was contacted by a recruiter about the Cincinnati post and decided that he is interested.

“I don’t want you to say that I’m unhappy and disgruntled and looking to leave, because I’m not,” said Shirey, 41. “(Cincinnati is) a large city with large city problems and large city challenges and a lot like what we find in Long Beach. The difference is I would be the city manager and not No. 2.”

Shirey said he expects he will go to Ohio for interviews next month.