Four finalists for the position of Traverse City manager will make their way from as far as Florida and as close as Grand Traverse County to the Governmental Center Saturday for a day of first-round interviews with city commissioners. Here's your introduction to the finalists:

Candidate 1: Dave Benda – Traverse City, Michigan
Resume Highlights: County administrator for Grand Traverse County from 2012-present, county administrator for Midland County from 1999-2009, county administrator for Clinton County from 1993-1999. Served as a marketing consultant for public sector clients and worked in various budget analysis positions; holds a Master’s in Public Administration from Michigan State University.

In His Own Words: The only candidate from northern Michigan, Benda cites his “knowledge of the community” and existing relationships with city officials and staff as a key advantage. “This is my town, it’s important to me and I’d love to continue working toward its improvement,” says Benda. “I’ve also got a finance background that’s worked well for me in every place I’ve been.” While the other three candidates have backgrounds specifically in city management, Benda says the transition from county to city government would be an “easy” one for him. “I understand the public sector and public finances and budgeting…and my expertise would lend itself well to the city,” he says. Though already familiar with local politics, Benda says he’s been reviewing commission minutes and city documents to prepare for Saturday’s interview.

Candidate 2: Martin “Marty” Colburn – Mason, Michigan
Resume Highlights: City administrator for Mason from 1999-present, city manager for Rawlins, Wyoming, from 1995-1999, city manager for Coolidge, Arizona, from 1993-1995. Served as an office manager for U.S. Senator John McCain in 1986-1988 and in the Arizona National Guard from 1979-1988; has a Master’s in Public Administration from National University in San Diego.

In His Own Words: While Colburn says “no two communities are alike,” he believes 25 years of experience managing “the day-to-day and long-term” goals of various cities across the U.S. makes him an ideal fit for Traverse City. “I’ve worked on housing issues, public facilities, streets, infrastructure, water…all the public services that strengthen a community,” Colburn says. “I’ve not only worked as a city administrator handling budgets and HR…I took over for five years as director of public works when we lost our last director.” For interview prep, Colburn has “researched a lot of the financials of the community,” talked to individuals familiar with the area and browsed local media sites and board agendas.

Candidate 3: James Drumm – Zephyrhills, Florida
Resume Highlights: City manager of Zephyrhills, Florida, from 2011-2014, city manager of High Springs, Florida, from 2004-2010, city manager of Lake Alfred, Florida, from 1994-2001. Served as a planning, management and grant-writing consultant; has a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of South Florida in Tampa.

In His Own Words: Drumm will travel nearly 1,400 miles for his interview this weekend, but he says in spirit, Zephyrhills and Traverse City are not far apart. “I see a lot of similarities between the two as well as other communities I’ve worked for,” says Drumm. “Ecotourism, a vibrant downtown, a lot of recreational opportunities.” Drumm hopes his 25-plus years of experience will compensate for any disadvantage in being an out-of-state candidate. “Other candidates might have government experience, but mine is specific to city management and all of the challenges that come with that,” he says. Drumm has researched Traverse City board meetings and news stories online, as well as scoped out the local real estate market and school systems. “I have a six-year-old son and family, so I’m looking for a good community to raise him in with a nice school system,” he says.

Candidate 4: Marvin “Marc” Collins – Fort Myers, Florida
Resume Highlights: Assistant city manager of Fort Myers, Florida, from 2009-present; worked up from county planner to assistant county manager/planning director of Morganton, North Carolina, from 2001-2009; county parks supervisor of Newton, North Carolina, from 1999-2001. Has a Master’s in Public Administration from Appalachian State University in North Carolina.

In His Own Words: While Collins couldn’t be reached for comment for this story, he wrote in his cover letter to commissioners that he offers “over 18 years of ethical, local government experience” and hopes to “continue the development of a world-class community with superior municipal services through steady leadership and innovative practices.” Collins also says he brings an extensive background in economic development, community planning, parks and recreation, tourism development and utility replacement projects to the table. “I demonstrate daily a commitment to the value of citizen accessibility and community engagement,” he wrote.

Commissioners Weigh In
So what do commissioners hope to see during interviews this weekend? Mayor Michael Estes says “experience with cities or entities facing the same types of issues as Traverse City” is a crucial factor for him, as well as an ability to oversee developments and act as a “watchdog” for projects like Clinch Park and the Boardman Dam removal. Commissioner Gary Howe calls strong communication skills “the number one” part of the job. “Someone who has an ability to listen but also communicate their professional opinion is really critical,” he says.

For Commissioner Jeanine Easterday, meanwhile, the city’s former manager still looms large. “I don’t want to dwell on Jered (Ottenwess), but I’m a little gun-shy now of someone who hasn’t had experience in a decent-sized municipality,” she says. “I’m looking for someone with the personal strength not to be affected by all the ups and downs of public life. You need someone with a calming personality who can take things seriously, but not let it bother them personally.”

Traverse City commissioners will interview city manager candidates Saturday beginning at 9:30 am at the Governmental Center. For an interview schedule and agenda, click here.

Pictured clockwise from top left above: Dave Benda, Martin Colburn, Marvin Collins, James Drumm