NEWPORT BEACH : 9 Candidates Vie for City Manager Post

The nationwide search for a new city manager has been narrowed to nine candidates, who will be interviewed by the City Council in the coming weeks for Newport Beach’s highest staff post.

Most of the candidates are from California and are current or former city managers. Two are from outside the state.

The council hopes to hire a manager in early January to replace outgoing City Manager Robert L. Wynn, who retires Dec. 31. A 20-year manager, the second-longest-serving manager in Orange County, Wynn will remain with the city as a consultant until the new manager is hired.

James Morrison, a senior vice president at Ralph Anderson Associates--the firm heading the search--said the pool of candidates may be further limited to two or three applicants after the first round of interviews.

“Sometimes (a second round of interviews is) not needed. Sometimes someone just jumps out at you,” Morrison said.

Wynn’s $143,000-a-year salary in the post is not guaranteed for the new manager, whose wages will be negotiated with the council. But it is expected that Wynn’s replacement will receive at least $100,000 a year.

Ralph Anderson Associates began accepting applications for the job Oct. 1. The application period ended in early November.