NEWPORT BEACH : San Diego County Official Is a Finalist

A San Diego County official is among the finalists for the Newport Beach city manager’s post.

“All I can say is the answer is yes, I’m a candidate,” said Lauren M. Wasserman, director of planning and land use for San Diego County.

Wasserman, 50, oversees 300 county planners and employees and earns an annual salary of $116,000. He has worked at his current job since 1989 and earlier spent 11 years as city manager of Rancho Cucamonga and eight years as Montclair city manager.

Newport Beach’s four-month search to replace retiring City Manager Robert L. Wynn is expected to be completed within a week. The City Council interviewed the remaining three candidates last weekend and early this week and is scheduled to meet in a closed session Saturday for what may be final deliberations.

Another finalist is Alhambra City Manager Kevin J. Murphy, 38, who has been with that city since 1980 and moved through the ranks to the city manager post in 1983. Murphy recently received a 15% raise, to boost his salary to $100,000 yearly.

A third finalist has not been identified but is said to be from another state.

Wynn, who has been city manager for 20 years, earns $143,000 annually. He had been expected to retire in December but agreed to stay on as a consultant at $70 an hour until a new manager is chosen.