A special committee tasked to lead the search for a new Davenport city administrator has narrowed its candidate pool down to five finalists – all with either city or county management experience.
The finalists hail from the states of Illinois, Georgia, Kentucky and Virginia, and includes one who has served in the same capacity for the City of East Moline.
The finalists, revealed in a news release issued today, Sept. 9, by the City of Davenport, as well as with their most recent employment, are:
- Robert Cowell, former city manager for the City of Roanoke, Virginia.
- George Koczwara, village manager for the Village of Orland Park, Illinois.
- Douglas Maxeiner, former city administrator for the City of East Moline.
- Jamie Miller, city manager for the City of Paris, Kentucky.
- Robert Sivick, county administrator for the County of Whitfield, Georgia.
The public is invited to meet all five finalists at a reception from 5-7 p.m. tonight, Sept. 9, at the Figge Art Museum in downtown Davenport, the city said in its release.
Information about each city administrator candidate will be available at the event.
Later this week, each finalist will participate in five interview panels including with members of the Davenport City Council, city leadership, union leaders and community stakeholders, as well as formal interviews with the special committee.
The committee then will receive feedback from each of the interview sessions to recommend the top three candidates to Mayor Mike Matson. The mayor’s final selection requires confirmation by a two-thirds vote of the entire city council.
In April, the city hired the executive search firm of Colin Baenziger & Associates to lead the nationwide search.
A special committee of 11 members – appointed by Mayor Mike Matson – chose the five candidates to participate in the formal interview process. It is made up of four Davenport City Council members and seven Davenport residents who represent the areas of finance, municipal and/or business administration.
The special committee members are: Steve Bartholomew, Alderman Rick Dunn, Alderman Kyle Gripp, Kelli Grubbs, Mo Hyder, Alderman Mhisho Lynch, Alderman Marion Meginnis, Kent Pilcher, Farrah Powell, and Michelle Russell.
The City of Davenport has been looking for a permanent replacement for former City Administrator Corri Spiegel, who resigned after being its administrator since 2016.
In November 2023, city officials said Ms. Spiegel left her position with the city because of “prolonged and documented instances of harassment by some elected officials.” At that time, the city said her last day on the job would be Jan. 2, 2024.
Later that month, the city announced it would pay Ms. Spiegel $1.6 million for lost wages and “emotional pain and suffering.”
Shortly later, Assistant City Administrator and Chief Financial Officer Mallory Merritt, an 11-year city employee, was named as interim administrator. But this July, the city announced Ms. Merritt was stepping down and leaving the city’s employment in mid-August. To fill her vacancy, Davenport Public Works Director Nicole Gleason was named acting city administrator last month.
