Seward City Council members voted Wednesday to offer Seward’s city manager job to Kat Sorensen after interviewing candidates during a special city council meeting.
Council members interviewed five candidates over the course of roughly three hours. Candidates included Sorensen, former University of Alaska professor and candidate for federal office Dr. Edgar Blatchford, former assistant finance director at the City of Dillingham Susana Stinnett, real estate investor George Zoukee and Kittanning Borough Manager Samuel Sulkosky.
The City of Seward has been searching for a new city manager since the May departure of Janette Bower, who now serves as the city manager of Soldotna.
Sorensen, who currently serves as the executive director of the Seward Chamber of Commerce, told council members Wednesday that she’s lived in Seward for six years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Boston University and is expected to graduate this year with a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Alaska Southeast.
Sorensen is also a former reporter at the Peninsula Clarion and currently serves as a member of the Seward Rotary Club, the Seward State Parks Citizen Advisory Board and the Providence Seward Advisory Council. She is also on the Seward Nordic Ski Club’s board of directors.
“Why I’ve stayed and why I continue to call Seward home is because of the community and the people that make Seward really unique,” Sorensen said Wednesday. “With that, I think that’s also part of the reason why I would be a really strong candidate for this position. I have a lot of strong relationships in Seward.”
Among her priorities as city manager, Sorensen said during her interview, would be expanding Seward’s water and sewer to accommodate new housing opportunities, helping shape the future of Seward’s electric utility in light of this year’s failed sale to Homer Electric Association, and maintaining open and transparent lines of communication between city staff and the public.
Sorensen described her management style as one that attempts to find common ground and fosters accountability. She said she’s concerned about Seward’s lack of a finance director and has experience working with Seward’s state and federal representatives, but wants to learn more about the city’s collective bargaining process and the city manager’s role in that process.
“I have a track record in this community of continued responsibility and management levels and have proven time and time again that I rise to the occasion and manage my organizations well and with a level of passion that trickles down to the entire community of Seward,” Sorensen said.
Council member Liz Demoss moved to offer the job to Sorensen after roughly three hours of interviews, saying that she thinks Sorensen is “perfect for the position.”
Seward Vice Mayor John Osenga also threw his support behind Sorensen, who he said “nailed” Wednesday’s interview.
“I am willing to give her a chance,” Osenga said. “I think she will do a fine job and I think she’s very capable of learning what she might not have exactly the best knowledge of.”
Council member Kevin Finch said other candidates have more city manager or financial experience than Sorensen. Seward residents, Finch said, want a city manager with that type of experience.
“I’m going to base my decision on the facts and merits of the qualifications, experience and knowledge of city management duties,” Finch said. “Other applicants have strong city manager backgrounds and should be looked at.”
Council member Robert Barnwell pushed back, citing Sorensen’s strong relationships with Seward’s business and fishing communities, involvement with city groups and volunteer organizations, and success while heading the chamber of commerce as among her attributes as a candidate.
“I think Kat Sorensen’s strengths far outweigh any weaknesses for the city manager position,” Barnwell said. “Obviously she’s very bright … she’s extremely proficient with technology, has a gift for communication and these are key skills for the position of managing large-scale projects as well as interfacing with state representatives to advocate for our city.”
Council member Mike Calhoun said he didn’t think any of the five candidates interviewed Wednesday were the right fit for the job and suggested that the city “hold off” on making a decision until they get more candidates.
“I don’t think any of them have what this city really needs right now,” Calhoun said. “… We have a lot of inexperience in a lot of areas right now and we really need somebody that can come in (and) start doing the job that doesn’t need a lot of training on public administration.”
The council ultimately voted 5-2 to offer the position to Sorensen, pending contract negotiations and a background check. A contract between Sorensen and the city, when finalized, will also be subject to council approval. Seward Mayor Sue McClure, DeMoss and Finch will negotiate on behalf of the city.
Wednesday’s interviews and special city council meeting can be streamed in full on the City of Seward’s YouTube page.
Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.
