Following a nationwide recruitment effort, Newark City Council conducted interviews for the position of City Manager over the past several weeks. Two candidates were presented to the community on Tuesday, July 24, and feedback from residents and City employees was solicited and collected via comment cards and an online survey. Council members conducted final interviews with the candidates on Wednesday, July 25, reviewed the feedback and deliberated on the finalists on Thursday, July 26. Following the discussion on July 26, Newark City Council chose to not make an offer to either candidate and will continue with the search for a new City Manager.

City Council reviewed a significant amount of material presented by the finalist candidates and appreciated the responsiveness of both candidates to the information requested by the City during the interview process, as well as their participation in various events engaging Council, staff and the community. Council members wish both Vincent Jones and Mark Reeter the best with their future endeavors and thank them for their interest.

Members of Council will work with the City's existing staff, who they feel are performing admirably in their interim roles, to ascertain interest in continuing in those roles as the search process continues. It is expected the position will be advertised again later this year.