The Seward City Council has chosen the final two candidates in the search for the next city manager.

Scott Meszaros, the former town manager of Meeker, Colorado, and Erin Reinders, the current assistant city manager of Unalaska, have been invited to Seward for in-person interviews with the council.

The interviews are expected to be held on March 28 and will include a tour of city facilities, an interview with city council and a question-and-answer session with the public. The date is subject to change.

At a meeting last Wednesday, the council was evenly split between the two candidates.

“I picked Meszaros as my number one. Erin was number two but it was 50-50,” said Vice Mayor Sue McClure.

“I think Erin is number one,” said Council member Sheryl Seese. “I think she’ll be fresh air in our town.”

After the departure of interim City Manager Jeff Bridges on March 17, Harbormaster Norm Regis stepped into the role of acting city manager until the city decides on a permanent replacement.

The role has been vacant since the resignation of former City Manager Jim Hunt in August of 2018.

The city council hired GovHR, a recruiting firm, to conduct the search for Seward’s new city manager.

Video interviews with both of the candidates are available online at https://www.sparkhire.com/shared/dda04a72-33e0-4196-b217-97860599a0a0.