Mayor Jackola and the Lebanon City Council announced they have selected two candidates from a number of applications for the city manager position.
Brandon Neish and John Morgan were chosen as the final two candidates, and the public is invited to attend a meet-and-greet from 6-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 7, at the Lebanon Public Library, 55 Academy St.
The candidates will mingle with the community in an informal setting offering an opportunity for the community to provide feedback on both of the candidates to the council via comment cards that will be readily available.
Brandon Neish has a strong financial background beginning with Western Oregon University where he was the budget manager from April 2014 to January 2018. He then moved to the City of Sweet Home as the finance director from January 2018 to July 2022. As the current finance director for the City of Lebanon since August of 2022, Neish is responsible for planning, organizing and directing all functions of the finance department.
The council believes he brings strong analytical skills and unwavering dedication to the principles of sound fiscal management, as well as a deep commitment to fostering an environment of transparency, accountability and collaboration.
Neish has a bachelor’s degree in business and a master’s degree in public administration. His familiarity with the inner workings of the City of Lebanon, along with his experience with the intricacies of municipal budgets, makes him a solid candidate for the position of Lebanon City Manager.
John Morgan has worked in local government since 1974. He is an experienced leader, working in the capacity of city manager and interim city manager for several Oregon cities. Morgan began his tenure in municipality operations in the planning division of the City of Salem. He remained in planning and community development for many years. He was tapped to act as interim city manager in Keizer on two separate occasions. In addition to the City of Keizer, Morgan worked in the role of city manager for the City of Sherwood and remained in that position for three years. Currently, he is the pro tem city manager for Gervais.
He has his bachelor’s degree in urban and regional government, and political science. The council believes his familiarity with community development and planning, along with his established reputation as a strong leader and problem solver, makes him a solid candidate for the position of Lebanon City Manager.
The candidates will have already undergone interviews by a pre-selected community panel and members of the City’s leadership team earlier in the day and will have final interviews with council on Dec. 13. The start date will be determined once a candidate has been selected.
For more information, call Angela Solesbee, HR Director, at 541-248-4261 or Angela.Solesbee@LebanonOregon.