By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Four finalists with broad experience have been named to become the next St. Joseph City Manager.
A nationwide search by Strategic Government Resources reviewed the applications of 26 candidates from 15 states and will continue to help the city in the selection process.
Robert Cowell has 30 years of local government management experience, servicing as Roanoke, Virginia City Manager after as the Deputy/Interim City Manager in Amarillo, Texas. In Roanoke, Cowell managed 1,800 employees and a $379 million budget.
Jason Gage has more than 25 years experience in local government, including 20 as a City Manager. Gage has served as Springfield, Missouri City Manager since 2018. He resigned, but agreed to stay on until early next year. Gage served as City Manager of Salina, Kansas prior to accepting the job in Springfield. In Springfield, Gage manages a $507 million annual budget and oversees a staff of 2,112.
Darron Leiker was the long-time City Manager of the City of Wichita Falls, Texas where he managed 1,240 employees and a $233 million budget. A native of Kansas, Leiker previously served in Salina and Sterling, Kansas.
Mike Schumacher has worked in local government for more than 34 years, the last 12 in executive management. Schumacher is the current City Administrator for Lebanon, Missouri where he manages 177 employees on a $72 million budget. Schumacher has served as an Assistant City Manager in Kansas City between 2012 and 2018.
The four finalists have been invited to participate in an onsite interview process scheduled next week. The two-day process will include a community tour, engagement sessions with City staff and community members, and extensive interviews by the City Council.
You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.