Gardner one of four finalists for Sealy city manager position

By LYNETTE SOWELL
Cove Leader-Press 

Copperas Cove’s city manager, Andrea Gardner, was announced Friday as one of four finalists for the city manager position in Sealy, Texas, and has been invited along with the other three finalists for interviews to be conducted on January 8 and 10. 
According to a press release from the City of Sealy, the four were chosen from 33 applicants from nine states, with 20 of the applicants having city manager or assistant city manager experience.
Strategic Government Resources (SGR) out of Keller, Texas, conducted the nationwide search and the pool of applicants was described in the press release as “outstanding” and that “Candidate vetting included a comprehensive questionnaire, online interviews, a psychometric assessment, a thorough media search and a rigorous background investigation.”
January 2017 marked Gardner’s 11-year anniversary of employment with the City of Copperas Cove. Prior to her appointment as Copperas Cove’s city manager, Gardner was the assistant city manager and the city’s director of finance. 
This is the third time since 2014 that Gardner has been a finalist for a city manager position in another city.
In October 2016, Gardner was announced as one of three finalists for the city manager position in Palestine, Texas, but withdrew herself from consideration. Prior to that, in November 2014, Gardner was one of five finalists for the city manager of Kyle, Texas. 
Before working for the City of Copperas Cove, Gardner was the Director of Finance for the City of Pearland and the Senior Budget Coordinator for the City of Pasadena. 
The other finalists include Stephen Ashley, who has more than 20 years of local government experience and served five years as the city manager of Spring Valley Village, Texas. Ashley also served as city manager for Grand Saline, Texas, assistant city manager and economic development director for the city of Fairfield, Texas, and economic development manager and assistant to the city manager for the city of Mansfield, Texas. 
With more than 30 years of city management experience, Debi Lee has been the manager for the village of Ruidoso, New Mexico since 2009. She previously served as the city manager for the cities of Portales and Aztec, also in New Mexico, and the assistant city manager and acting city manager for the city of Hobbs.
Lloyd Merrell has 26 years of city management experience and served as the city manager for the city of Madisonville, Ky. and was previously the finance director for the city of Osceola, Ark.