By Kelli Latuska
The City of Duluth is announcing it has begun the search for a new city administrator. The job position was posted late last week.
“It has been a privilege to have spent this year assisting in getting Mayor (Roger) Reinert’s administration up and running,” said current city administrator David Montgomery. “In many ways it is like I never left. This is a great team, all through the city organization. Dedicated, hard-working, and creative. I’ll miss it and them. My thanks to everyone I’ve shared this work with over the past year. It’s flown by—but I am ready to try retirement again, to spend time with my family and grandkids, to travel, and to explore a bucket list full of new adventures.”
Montgomery is the longest-serving city administrator since Clarence Maddy, who served six consecutive Duluth mayors. Montgomery leaves difficult shoes to fill.
“I’m so grateful to Dave for his commitment to the City of Duluth, and for his willingness to take the position on an interim basis and to support my first year in office. Dave was instrumental in the restoration of the city’s financial stability back in 2009. He was at the helm during the 2012 flood and those recovery efforts, and the 2016 windstorm,” said Reinert. “He’s led the NorShor project, the Superior Street reconstruction project, the modernization of Duluth Energy Systems, the Sofidel expansion, the Incline Village development, and the Sales Tax Street Improvement Plan. All huge projects that will positively impact Duluth for generations to come.”
The city administrator is responsible for providing executive leadership for all administrative affairs of city government. The city administrator’s work involves planning, organizing, leading, and coordinating the general operation of all executive departments in the municipality. The position reports directly to the mayor and oversees all city departments including Police, Fire, Finance, Public Works and Utilities, Planning and Economic Development, Property, Parks and Libraries, Administrative Services, Workforce Development, and the Energy and Sustainability Office.
The full position description is available on our website here: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/duluthmn/jobs/4719806/city-administrator?pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs. The position is open until November 24, at which time the selection committee will begin reviewing applications and contacting candidates they wish to interview.
The goal is for a new city administrator to begin on or near January 1, 2025, with Montgomery remaining for a short period to assist with transition and onboarding.
