La Plata County commissioners approved two finalists for the position of county manager Tuesday at their weekly board meeting.
The finalists are Shawna Legarza, the county’s interim manager, who previously served as the county’s emergency management director, and Drew Sanders, the city manager of Cortez.
Both candidates have extensive experience in leadership roles and budget oversight, two key qualities commissioners have previously said they are seeking.
Legarza has bachelor’s degrees in exercise physiology and teaching, and a master’s degree in kinesiology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She has a doctorate in psychology, specializing in organizational leadership, from the University of the Rockies.
The majority of Legarza’s career has been spent in emergency management leadership. Notably, Legarza spent four years as the national director of fire and aviation for the U.S. Forest Service, where she oversaw a $3.6 billion budget, testified on Capitol Hill, and provided briefings to the White House, the Senate and other federal government offices on fire and emergency management, according to her application materials.
She developed the county’s annual wildfire evacuation exercise, along with several other emergency response processes, and played a critical role in organizing cohesive disaster response teams, according to her application.
Sanders received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration from Columbia College and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Utah.
He has been Cortez city manager for more than four years, according to his application. As city manager, Sanders oversaw the correction of a financial crisis in which the city was six years delinquent on its financial audits and was reeling from the embezzlement of a former financial manager.
His application states that during his tenure in Cortez city government, he implemented financial control systems and helped restore public trust in the institution.
Prior to his current job, Sanders had a decades-long career in law enforcement and was chief of the Page Police Department in Arizona for roughly two years.
Sanders and Legarza will undergo final interviews Jan. 21 and 22, and meet with county staff members and members of the public.
A public reception with presentations from both candidates will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Jan. 21 in the boardroom of the County Administrative Building.
La Plata County has been without a permanent county manager since Chuck Stevens’ resignation in June. The initial candidate search ended after negotiations with the sole finalist fell through, and the county paused the search until after the November election.
The county manager is the county’s chief administrative officer and oversees all county departments and divisions. The position reports directly to the Board of County Commissioners. The recommended salary range is $186,000 to $230,000.
Legarza’s application noted her preferred salary would be $200,000. A salary preference was absent from Sanders’ application.
The commissioners will make their final decision after the interviews, said Megan Graham, the county’s spokeswoman.
jbowman@durangoherald.com
