La Plata County has identified two finalists – both from outside the immediate area – for its next county manager.
The finalists were announced Tuesday: John Cattles, assistant county manager for Gunnison County, and Gurjit Chima, assistant county manager for Arlington County, Virginia.
The Board of County Commissioners selected Cattles and Chima from a pool of more than 45 applicants, a county spokesperson said.
Cattles serves as assistant county manager for Gunnison County, where he had previously held the role of sustainability director. Before working in county government, he owned and operated a home building and design company.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental design and architecture from Western State University and earned a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Colorado Denver in 2018.
Chima, in addition to her current role, has served as chief equal employment officer in the Arlington County Manager’s Office.
She was previously a human resources management consultant and has worked as a legal consultant for the Smithsonian Institution and the U.S. Department of Commerce. She holds a bachelor’s degree in foreign service from Georgetown University and a law degree from Seton Hall University School of Law.
“It is not unique to have people with very varying backgrounds,” Commissioner Marsha Porter-Norton said.
She said the board sought candidates with proximity to the role who were ready to take on a challenge after observing what the top job entails. Both finalists’ current positions, along with their experience in government, were key factors in their selection, she said.
The Durango Herald made an open records request for the two finalists’ application materials Tuesday morning, but the county required a fee and did not provide the materials by 4 p.m. Tuesday.
La Plata County is facing challenges that include population growth, budget constraints and adapting to rapidly changing federal regulations. As the county’s budget officer, the county manager will play a central role in addressing those issues, Porter-Norton said.
She also stressed the need for executive-level public sector experience, given the complexity of La Plata County’s government. The role involves everything from collaborating with sovereign nations to managing vital county services.
“My take on both individuals is that they will not come in and be top-down, but they are collaborative leaders and learners and doers; and both of them are also focused on results,” Porter-Norton said. “Part of the job is managing people, and both of them are used to dealing with very difficult situations, very tricky situations, which as we know happen every day in government, no matter what size.”
The board will interview the finalists in an executive session from 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 27. A staff meet-and-greet will be held that day, followed by a public reception from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Board Room of the County Administration Building, 1101 East Second Ave. Residents are encouraged to attend.
Porter-Norton said commissioners take community and staff input seriously. In a recent questionnaire to county employees, two priorities emerged: strong financial management, a nod to the county’s ongoing budget constraints and effective communication.
“In my mind ... this is one of the most important things we’ll do during our entire tenure,” Porter-Norton said. “What a county manager does affects the day-to-day, hour-by-hour operations of this county. In many ways, this is a generational decision.”
jbowman@durangoherald.com
