A city administrator in Oregon is being sued by his predecessor after issues surrounding credit card purchases arose. A Michigan city manager is being criticized for travel expenses, including an ICMA international trip to Belgium. A state commission is looking to takeover the finances of a town with more than 50,000 people in North Carolina. And a Texas city manager has died just two months after retiring.
All that and more news after the job postings.
Job Board Postings
It is free to post all of your senior and executive level recruitments over at the AAME job board. If you would like to include them in this newsletter, select the $199 option.
City/County Manager Recruitments
IL: Decatur - Deputy City Manager (4/19/2026) | in-house
IL: Streator - City Manager (3/23/2026) | Arndt Municipal Support
PA: DuBois - City Manager (4/17/2026) | Kafferlin Strategies
TX: Marshall - City Manager (4/1/2026) | Clear Career
TX: Morgan’s Point Resort - City Manager (Until Filled) | Clear Career
Other
IL: Decatur - Director of Finance (4/5/2024) | in-house
IL: Village of St. Joseph - Public Works Director (Until Filled) | in-house
KS: Osage County - County Controller (4/14/2026) | Bird Dog Consulting
NM: Ruidoso - Economic Development Director (5/6/2026) | Clear Career
NM: Ruidoso - Finance Director (5/6/2026) | Clear Career
NM: Ruidoso - Water Resource Director (5/6/2026) | Clear Career
TX: Dumas - Finance Director (Until Filled) | Clear Career
TX: Bridgeport - Assistant Chief of Police (Until Filled) | Clear Career
TX: Lufkin - City Engineer (3/30/2026) | Clear Career
TX: Marble Falls - Finance Director (Until Filled) | Clear Career
TX: Odessa - Assistant City Attorney (5/10/2026) | Clear Career
TX: Odessa - Chief Financial Officer (5/8/2026) | Clear Career
TX: Weatherford - Assistant Director of Water Utilities (Until Filled) | Clear Career
TX: Wichita Falls - Chief Building Official (4/29/2026) | Clear Career
OR: Questionable Credit Card Purchases Result in City Administrator Being Sued by Former City Administrator
Former Elgin City Administrator Brock Eckstein, along with his wife Laura Eckstein, the former Elgin municipal judge, are suing the city, Mayor James Johnson and City Administrator Alex McHaddad.
The case seems to center around an investigation that reportedly revealed questions about $25,000 in credit card purchases made by Eckstein.
McHaddad counters in a declaration these actions were not done in retaliation. Rather, he argues, the city started an investigation in February 2025 after he discovered unauthorized and unsupported expenses on City of Elgin credit cards.
NC: Rocky Mount Faces State Financial Takeover
Just weeks after the state auditor absolutely blasted Rocky Mount and their former city manager for “financial malpractice,” the Local Government Commission (LGC) has issued a warning — shape up or ship out! The commission is threatening to take control of the town's finances.
Under the leadership of former town manager, Keith Rogers, the auditor claims the town blew through $80 million over two years. The LGC threats should not be taken lightly as the commission has acted on such threats before. However, at more than 50,000 people, Rocky Mount would be the largest community to succumb to such a takeover.
TX: Former Marble Falls City Manager Mike Hodge Dies Two Months After Retiring
Mike Hodge (LinkedIn Profile) retired on January 31, 2026. According to his obituary, he passed away unexpectedly at home last week at just 60 years of age.
I include the death announcements of city managers in the newsletter because I think it is healthy for all of us to remember that our time on this Earth is short. We need to constantly evaluate how we are spending it.
MI: Grand Rapids City Manager Criticized Over ICMA Belgium Trip and Other Expenses
Grand Rapids City Manager Mark Washington traveled to Belgium and various points in the United States in 2024 at a cost of $21,102, according to credit card receipts Michigan Capitol Confidential obtained through a records request.
The Belgium trip cost less than $3,000 — which seems pretty cheap in general — irrespective of its efficacy or value to the city. Grand Rapids is the second largest city in the state, behind Detroit. A one-year snap shot of $20,000 spent on travel and related expenses seems a little nitpicky.
News Around the Country
CA: Indio City Manager Bryan Montgomery has announced that he will retire this summer; him and his wife will go on LDS missionary trip
IA: 2nd IPERS employee placed on leave amid misconduct investigations
IA: ACM Mike Collett to be appointed new City Manager for Sioux City
MA: 2 Marshfield officials, including the co-town administrator, resign within one day of each other
MA: 'Serious cyberattack' impacts phones, public safety systems in several Massachusetts towns
MI: Marcie Gillette, the current community services director for Battle Creek, was named as the next assistant city manager
ND: Minot city manager addresses ransomware attack on water treatment plant
OH: Cadiz council accepts Ludwig resignation, approves interim role
OH: Cuyahoga County overspent millions last year, now braces for new deficits in 2026
OH: Springfield Township trustees appointed one of their own to replace the township's outgoing administrator
OR: Multnomah County auditor launches review of gift cards, citing news report
OR: How did a small Oregon town become a hub for industrial development?
TN: Fairview board accepts city manager's resignation after nepotism controversy
TN: Patrick Lawton served as the city administrator for Germantown for more than 30 years — he wrote an oped piece questioning a push to create a full-time mayor position
TX: ACM Lindsey McNabb-Fox promoted to city manager in Burkburnett
TX: The legacy of Kent Cagle - Killeen’s soon-to-be retired city manager
TX: Guest commentary by Mayoral Candidate: Texas City would benefit from council-manager government
WA: City of Oak Harbor parts way with two department heads
WI: Recently hired Kronenwetter Administrator cleared of wrongdoing
Contracts & Compensation
CA: Flora to remain Clearlake city manager through 2029 - pay bumped 3% to $18,271.10 per month
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