The Aurora City Council on Friday announced it has narrowed the field of city manager candidates to two: Nancy Freed, the city’s interim manager, and George “Skip” Noe, a management consultant from Corpus Christi, Texas.
After narrowing the pool of 45 applicants for the job in closed door meetings, the council now will allow members of the Aurora community to submit comments about and questions for the candidates. The council also will host a public reception for the candidates Sept. 28 from 4-6 p.m. at the Aurora Municipal Center.
The new manager is expected to be hired in the first half of October.
Freed has been interim city manager since Ron Miller retired in March after 13 years in the post. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Goucher College in Baltimore, Md., and a master’s in public administration at the University of Denver.
Her career in public administration spans more than 30 years and includes serving as an Aurora Deputy City Manager over Police, Fire, Library, Neighborhood Services, Water, Public Works, Planning, and Parks, Recreation and Open Space, the Interim and Assistant City Manager of the city of Lakewood and the Executive Director of the Lakewood Housing Authority.
Freed has been involved in many major projects and issues including balancing the budget during difficult economic times, water supply, economic development, development and redevelopment including at Fitzsimons, planning, transportation, public safety and community development to name a few.
Noe became a management consultant in 2008 after 30 years in city management. Noe served as the city manager and deputy city manager for the city of Corpus Christi between 1999 and 2008, where he oversaw 3,300 employees and an annual budget of more than $500 million. He also worked for the city of Fort Collins, and for the Texas cities of San Antonio, College Station, and Kingsville.
Noe earned a bachelor’s degree in English and political Science from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio. He is also a Labor Relations Fellow from the Labor-Management Relations Service in Washington, D.C.
Throughout his career Noe has worked on many key projects and issues including but not limited to, strategic performance measurement, development and public works projects, information technology and telecommunications, destination development and economic development, public safety, and budget challenges.
Residents who wish to submit potential questions for the finalists can do so online at or by mail to Kin Shuman, 15151 E. Alameda Pkwy, Aurora, CO 80012 by Sept. 10. A group of community leaders will select a number of questions to which the finalists will be asked to respond in a video that will be shown at a public reception and on the city’s website.
Community members also can provide comments for Council’s consideration in the final selection. Comments regarding the finalists should be submitted no later than Oct. 1 online or in writing to Shuman.
