A top Kennewick leader quit to take another job. Why the city’s glad he’s back so soon
Kennewick’s City Council meeting had a surprise guest last week.
Dan Legard, former finance director and deputy city manager, is back just a few months after leaving for another job.
Legard was with the city for more than two decades and was former City Manager Marie Mosley’s choice to replace her when she announced her retirement last year.
He applied and was one of four finalists for the job but on Tuesday, the city council instead chose Battle Ground City Manager Erin Erdman.
Even though Legard didn’t get the top job, he said he’s happy to be back — and so is the city.
Kennewick has lost a significant chunk of its senior leadership in recent years, mostly to retirements.
Legard’s return to Kennewick means they’re retaining the experience of someone who served as a deputy city manager for a decade.
Evelyn Lusignan, Kennewick’s public relations manager, told the Herald in an email that Legard was interested in returning, whether or not he was the council’s choice for the city’s top job.
“We are very excited to have Dan back at the city and resume his responsibilities as our finance director,” Lusignan said. “His experience and dedication to excellence are invaluable assets to our city team and fulfilling council’s goals and priorities.”
After he left, City Attorney Lisa Beaton took on the deputy city manager role but it’s unclear if she’ll keep that position once Erdman takes over.
The city has had more than one deputy city manager in the past, when former Police Chief Ken Hohenberg served alongside Legard for several years.
City manager search
While Legard was Mosley’s suggestion to succeed her, the council decided to contract with a consulting firm to conduct a nationwide search instead. Several members of the council said the search was in the interest of transparency, not because they didn’t think Legard would be a good choice.
They paid about $24,000 for GMP Consultants to conduct the search. The company also recently helped Pasco find its new city manager.
Legard left the city at the end of November to become Chelan PUD’s chief financial and risk officer.
The salary for that PUD role had a range of $55,000 to $100,000 more than what Legard was making in Kennewick, with the potential to earn up even more with longevity, according to a job listing from Chelan PUD.
The city did not immediately release what Legard will be paid.
Filling department head roles is the responsibility of the city manager, and doesn’t require a council vote. Beaton took on the deputy city manager responsibilities after Legard left and was then moved into the interim role when Mosley retired Dec. 31.
Beaton, who has helped the city navigate a significant amount of change and a high-profile scandal involving former mayor Bill McKay, has not had a deputy city manager.
Kennewick has a council-manager government, with the council hiring the city manager to serve as the city’s executive.
Kennewick is the largest city in the Tri-Cities metro area, at a current estimated population of more than 86,000. The city’s 2023-24 biennial budget is $425 million and has more than 420 employees.
Legard’s history with Kennewick
Legard grew up in Kennewick and raised his family in the city. He spent 21 years with the city, beginning his career when Mosley was the finance director, then stepping into the role when she became city manager. Legard and Hohenberg then became the deputy city managers.
He is a former president of Washington Finance Officers Association and current member of the Washington State Treasurer’s Local Government Investment Pool Advisory Committee. He holds a bachelor’s in accounting from Western Washington University.
New city manager
Erdman was selected by the city council to serve as Kennewick’s new city manager in a special meeting on Tuesday night. She is currently the city manager for the city of Battle Ground in the Vancouver metro area.
She has more 22 years of public service experience. In that time, she worked her way up as city planner for Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Government, permit center manager for the city of Vancouver and community development director for Battle Ground before moving into her current role as city manager.
Edrman holds a bachelor’s in geography, specializing in urban planning, from Central Washington University.
Other finalists included Federal Way City Administrator Brian Davis and Sandpoint, Idaho City Administrator Jennifer Stapleton.
This story was originally published March 27, 2024 at 12:53 PM with the headline "A top Kennewick leader quit to take another job. Why the city’s glad he’s back so soon."
