FAYETTEVILLE — Thirty-one applications for Fayetteville's fire chief include four current Fayetteville firefighters and many out-of-state candidates. Applications had to be received or postmarked by Monday.
Retiring Chief Tony Johnson's last day with the city is Oct. 10.
A five-person committee will review the applications and shorten the list to about five, said Mayor Lioneld Jordan. They will probably recommend one person to the mayor for hire, and he can veto that decision.
"I always look for a strong leader who's good with budgets andfinances. I think we've got some great choices, but it's got to be somebody I can work with because they answer to me," Jordan said.
The selection committee includes Chief of Staff Don Marr, Police Chief Greg Tabor, Finance Director Paul Becker, Communications Director Lindsley Smith and Jeremy Jackson. Jackson is a "rank-and-file" firefighter, said Missy Leflar, human resources director.
The pay range for the position is $74,353 to $113,314.
Johnson, a 37-year veteran of fire departments, is paid $97,144.32.
According to information on the city's Web site, an applicant should have a bachelor's degree or at least 11 years of related experience or training - or an equivalent combination.
The applicants
◊Bernard W. Becker III of Springboro, Ohio - Fire chief, deputy chief and firefighter, Clearcreek Township in Spring Grove, Ohio (1997-2008), $79,500. Former assistant chief,Anderson Township in Cincinnati, Ohio (1996-97), $50,000.
◊William M. Bell of Winfield, Ill. - Fire chief and former firefighter, Village of Oak Park, Oak Park, Ill. (1980-present), $121,000.
◊Gary W. Birch of Liberty, Mo. - Fire chief, Liberty, Kan. (2003-present), $90,000. Deputy chief, captain and firefighter, Kansas City Fire Department (1976-03), $96,000.
◊Robert Carr Boyd Jr. of Charlotte, N.C. - Captain, Charlotte Fire Department (1998-present), $71,000. Adjunct faculty, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, (Aug. 2004-present) $4,000/ course.
◊Wayne Brashear of Rogers - Fire marshal, University of Arkansas (2003-present) for $36,000. 911 operator and dispatcher (2002-03) for $23,000. Former fire chief, Siloam Springs (1985-97) and deputy fire chief, Rogers (2000-02).
◊Joseph L. Buda of Plainedge, N.Y. - no salary info provided. Teacher, Woodward Children's Center, Freeport, N.Y. (2007-08). Captain, New York City Fire Department (1994-2004) until retired. New York Police Department (1989-94) transferred to fire department.
◊Christopher Campbell of Williston, Tenn. - Project manager and inspector, Ledford Engineering and Planning in Arlington, Tenn. (2006-present), $22.50/hour. Fire chief, Shelby County Fire Department (1980-2007), $78,000.
◊Mauro Campos of Fayetteville - Battalion chief at Fayetteville FireDepartment (promotion application). Promoted to battalion chief in 2006 from a shift commander. Has been with fire department since 1994.
◊David C. Dayringer of Skiatook, Okla. - Retired deputy chief, fire marshal and former firefighter,Tulsa (Okla.) Fire Department (1980-2009), $105,400.
◊Sean Douglas of Warrensburg, Mo. - Assistant fire chief and former fire marshal, Warrensburg Fire Department (2004-present), $55,000. Instructor, University of Central Missouri.
◊John Eeten Jr. of Cheyenne, Wyo. - Fire chief, Laramie County Fire District No. 1 (2007-2009), $35,000. Fire chief, Eagle Fire Department (2006-2007), $45,000.
◊Keith Frazier of Havana - ALE coordinator, Western Yell County Schools (2009-present), $31,500. Fire chief, Malvern Fire Department (2005-2008), $41,000. Also worked for Arkansas Fire Academy and Benton and Russellville fire departments.
◊Howard Giles of Topeka, Kan. - Fire chief (2004-09), $101,504. Former chief of Gainesville (Ga.) Fire Department.
◊Sidney Johnson of Jackson, Miss. - Fire chief, Yazoo City (Miss.) Fire Department (2008-present). Fire chief, Unalaska Fire Department (2007).
◊James Kimbrough of Fayetteville - Operating manager, logistics (2004-present), $76,700. Owner, Salem Transportation (2003-04). Former assistant fire chief and firefighter, Springdale Fire Department (1980-2000).
◊Dominick Lanza of Beachgrove, Tenn. - Assistant chief of operations,Broward Sheriff's Office Department of Fire Rescue and Emergency Services (1975-2007).
◊Dennis Ledbetter of Farmington - Fire investigator, Fayetteville Fire Department (2004-present), $45,000. Retired as fire marshal from Fayetteville Fire Department (1973-2003), $62,000.
◊Terrence Lewis of Kentucky - Fire chief, Henderson, Ky. (1999-2009), $80,000. Battalion chief, Loveland-Symmee Fire Department (1980-1999), $50,000.
◊Chris Lynch of Fayetteville - Assistant fire chief, former battalion chief and firefighter, Fayetteville Fire Department (1986-present).
◊Roger Melchior of Ellenton, Fla. - Program director and lead faculty, fire science and emergency management, St. Petersburg College (2003-08). Former director of public safety,Village of Allouez, Wis. (1995-01). Former Baltimore firefighter (1968-90).
◊Jarett Metheny of Choctaw, Okla. - Coordinator and instructor, Eastern Oklahoma Technology Center (2006-present), $25.25/hour. Major, assistant chief of training and safety, and firefighter, Midwest City (Okla.) Fire Department (1995-present), $85,000.
◊Steven Moody of Stafford, Kan. - Retired fire chief, Leavenworth, Kan. (2006-09), $88,000. Emergency services director, Stafford Emergency Services (2009-present), $51,000.
◊James Moore of White Hall - Battalion chief and firefighter, Pine Bluff Fire Department (1984-present), $61,000.
◊ Christopher Neal of Edmond, Okla. - Director, Oklahoma State University Fire Protection Publications (2001-09), $96,000. Former fire chief, Claremore, Okla. (1988-1994). Firefighter for Stillwater and Jenks fire departments in Oklahoma.
◊John Neal of Harrison - Fire chief, Harrison Fire Department (1989-present), $52,121.
◊Stephen Reid of Myersville, Md. - Director of Emergency Medical Service, D.C. Fire/EMS Department (1977-2003) $105,687.
◊Clinton Shelley of Hunt, Texas - Fire chief, Colleyville (Texas) Fire Department (1996-present) $101,000.◊David Stoppel of Berryville - Captain, nonemergency services, Central Emergency Medical Service. Chief of emergency services and firefighter, Eureka Springs Fire Department (1985-2007), $125,000.
◊Brian Sturdivant of Mesa, Ariz. - Deputy fire chief, Scottsdale (Ariz.) Fire Department (2005-present), $120,000. Former firefighter with Fulton and East Point fire departments in Georgia.
◊Gerald Thompson of Fayetteville - Assistant chief and former battalion chief and captain, Fayetteville Fire Department (1993-present).
◊William Watts of Farmington - Deputy fire chief, Farmington Fire Department (1994-present), $10,000. Fire suppression captain, Fayetteville Fire Department (1996-present), $82,500. Deputy director, Washington County Emergency Management Department (2001-present), $15/ hour.
News, Pages 1, 6 on 09/26/2009