Three candidates for town manager

Three candidates are still in the running for the Pahrump town manager position.

Geoffrey Smith, of Las Vegas, was most recently Emergency Management Program Administrator for the U.S. Department of Energy in Albuquerque, N.M., from 2000-01. Before that, Smith was DOE emergency management specialist from 1996-99, DOE senior budget analyst from 1992-96 and director of public safety in Faribault, Minn., from 1987-92.

Smith was also an adjunct professor in the Graduate School of Public Administration at the University of New Mexico, where he taught public budgeting, finance, human resources management, strategic planning, organizational theory and development. He received his master's in public administration from the University of Nebraska in 1985 and his bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska in 1983.

E. David Howard was city manager of Monte Vista, Colo., from 1995-2001. Prior to that, he was director of operations and utilities at Natrona County Airport in Casper, Wyo., from 1983-95. He received his bachelor of arts degree from Glencullen University, and performed civil engineering work at the University of Wyoming, the Casper College Department of Environmental Quality and the International Center for Degree Studies.

Dennis Dalbeck has been city manager of Williams, Ariz., since 1997. Prior to that, he was president of Dalbeck-Vought Inc., a representative organization for several large aerospace companies from 1989-96. He was vice-president of sales and marketing for Bourns Inc. of Riverside, Calif., an electronic component and instrument manufacturer, from 1972-89. Dalbeck graduated from the school of management at the University of California, Riverside and received a degree in business administration from California State College, Los Angeles.

A screening committee consisting of interim town manager Peggy Warner, town board members Mary Wilson and Joe Sladek, private citizens Mike McInerney and Neal Couch reviewed the applicants. A list of about 40 candidates was narrowed down to eight individuals for phone interviews. The screening committee then picked three candidates to call in for personal interviews. Smith and Dalbeck were interviewed by the screening committee this week, Howard will visit Pahrump for an interview next week.

The successful candidate will replace Chuck Stidham, who took office June 21, but was fired Nov. 19. Stidham replaced Frank Hersman, who was hired July 12, 2000, but his contract wasn't renewed beyond his six month probationary period in January 2001.


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