Aurora – City Manager Ron Miller will stay put after losing out on an opportunity to become the top nonelected official for the city of Mesa, Ariz.
The Mesa City Council on Tuesday instead chose 42-year-old Christopher J. Brady, San Antonio’s assistant city manager.
Miller, 57, has been Aurora’s top nonelected official since 1997. He and Brady were the final two candidates remaining from a field of 46 recruits.
“I’m fine with the decision,” Miller said, before getting on a plane from Arizona to Colorado. “I wasn’t actively looking for a new position. I was recruited. I think Aurora is a great city, and I look forward to working with the new council and its new member. I wish Mesa well, and I’m moving forward with a number of endeavors to continue Aurora’s extraordinary progress and development.”
It was the second time Miller and Brady were finalists for the same job. Earlier this year, both were considered for the city manager position in Arlington, Texas.
It’s not unusual for other cities to target Aurora for recruitment, Mayor Ed Tauer said.
“We think Aurora has come a long way in the last 10 years, and it’s common to have employees recruited out of a successful organization,” Tauer said. “It’s a compliment to our organization.”
On Monday, Miller met with Mesa community members, answering questions and giving a presentation. Tuesday, he was interviewed by City Council members, who then met in executive session for several hours before coming to a decision.
It hasn’t been an easy year for Miller, who in the spring was suspended for two weeks without pay after the Brent J. Brents scandal, when police failed to make a timely arrest of the convicted rapist after he admitted to assaulting a child.
Brents went on to rape and attack several women and children before being caught. The city is facing possible lawsuits from the victims. The City Council also suspended Deputy City Manager Frank Ragan. And Police Chief Ricky Bennett stepped down to become a captain in the department.
Miller returns to his $161,712-a-year job, facing a pared-down 2006 budget after voters rejected a $10.4 million property-tax increase that would have paid for public safety, including hiring 24 more police officers. Now the city must take funds from other areas to pay for the new officers, meaning city wide cuts to balance the 2006 budget.
Brady will get $187,500 a year in his new job as Mesa’s city manager, according to Justin Finestone, Mesa spokesman.
Staff writer Jeremy Meyer may be reached at 303-820-1175 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com.
