Five finalists for the position of director of planning and code administration for the city of Gaithersburg were scheduled to participate in an all-day interview session and a public meet and greet opportunity May 15.
More than 60 applicants from across the country submitted resumes for the position. Resumes were screened by a recruitment consultant and an internal committee, and video conference interviews were then conducted with 10 candidates. From that pool, the finalists were selected.
The finalists are: Darryn Burich of Appleton, Wisc.; Charles Graves of Cincinnati, Ohio; Margaret Pearson of Gastonia, N.C.; John Schlichting of Gaithersburg, Md.; and Eric Soter of Emmitsburg, Md.
Schlichting and Soter both have previous experience with the city. Schlichting, a long-time Kentlands resident, recently retired from his position as executive development officer at The JBG Companies, a Maryland-based real estate development firm. He served as a Gaithersburg City Council member from 2001 to 2007 and has served on several city committees, including the Gaithersburg Planning Commission from 1995 – 2001. He held the position of committee chair from 2000 – 2001. Soter was the senior planner/urban design director for the city from August 1999 through March 2002. He is currently the community development director for the Frederick County Government.
Currently, Burich works as the planning director for the city of Oshkosh, Wisc. Graves is the director of the Department of City Planning and Buildings for the city of Cincinnati. Pearson is the planning and neighborhood development director for the city of Concord, N.C.
During the day on May 15 the candidates were scheduled to be interviewed by four panels, two comprised of representatives from the community and members of city boards, commissions, and committees, one made up of staff members from the Department of Planning & Code Administration, and one comprised of the city’s Senior Leadership Team.
From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. the public was invited to meet the candidates at a reception held at the Activity Center at Bohrer Park. The candidates were scheduled to make brief statements to the audience before answering individual questions. The public was encouraged to give feedback on the candidates using comment cards provided.
According to Gaithersburg Human Resources Director Margaret Daily, the city hopes to make a decision about the position by the end of May, although no name will be released until a thorough background check is completed.
OK, sometimes you are good and sometimes you are lucky. Gaithersburg is lucky. John Schlichting has applied to be our Planning Director. Let me see how long this will take City Hall to decide….
Four microseconds: John Schlichting wins!!!
Without even investigating the other applicants, Schlichting is uniquely qualified. Here is why:
• He lives in the City. That means that he knows us better than any of the other candidates
• He has volunteered for and been elected to positions of responsibility in the City, so he knows our peculiarities
• He has demonstrated a level of achievement in private industry that none of the other candidates can match. Unlike anyone else in the City government, John has proven that he knows how to lead an organization to improve itself and the way it benefits all of the stakeholders in each of its projects.
• He has a degree in Architecture from UVA and an MBA from UNC Chapel Hill with a focus in real estate and urban planning
So I would like to suggest that this is an IQ test. One that I have not seen City Hall pass in the past. Pick John Schlichting and prove to us that you deserve your jobs.
I have no idea why John Schlichting would want this position other than altruism. He doesn’t need the money. This is the man who can change the direction of the city. Tell all of your friends to write, call, email, go the the M&CC Meeting and shout out that we want a winner on our team.
Please?!!