Benny Westcott
After a series of executive session interviews, the Sweet Home City Council has selected two top finalists from whom it plans to select Sweet Home’s next city manager.
The two remaining candidates are current Sweet Home Community and Economic Development Director Blair Larsen and Kelcey Young, finanace director for the city of Clearlake, Calif.
The position, vacated when Ray Towry resigned in February, is being filled temporarily by City Manager Pro Tem Christy Wurster.
Larsen grew up in the Washington, D.C. area and lived in several other states before settling in rural Oregon.
He currently serves as Sweet Home’s community and economic development director, a position he has held since 2019.
Previously, he served as city manager for the city of Stanfield, from 2013 to 2019. Prior to that position, he was a budget analyst for Broward County in Florida from 2010 to 2013.
Larsen graduated from the Brigham Young University Marriott School of Business in 2003, with bachelor’s degrees in Russian and media arts studies. In 2009, he earned a juris doctor from BYU’s J. Reuben Clark Law School, also earning an MPA in public administration at the business school in the same year.
Young has been the finance director for the city of Clearlake since August of 2021. Before that, she was the assistant director of procurement operations for the city of Dallas, Texas for two years, and worked for the city of San Antonio as contract administrator and contract manager for three and a half years.
She worked for Bellevue College in Washington from 2013 to 2016, first as assistant program manager and then as procurement and fixed asset manager.
From 2008 to 2013 Young was a freelance photographer in the Greater Seattle Area.
In 2011 she was issued a FEMA Professional Development Series certification, and in 2017 she obtained a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt business certification.
Young graduated from California State University Humboldt in 2002, earning a bachelor of arts in liberal arts and sciences, general studies and humanities. In 2006 she earned a master’s degree in social science (environment and community) from Humboldt. She received an environmental planning certificate from Rutgers University that same year.
The Sweet Home community is invited to meet the two candidates at a City Manager Community Meet and Greet Event at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10, in the council chambers at the Sweet Home City Hall, 3225 Main St.
For more information, contact Administrative Services Manager Julie Fisher at [email protected] or call (541) 367-8969.