The amount of interest expressed in the Alpena city manager’s position is a good sign for the community.

If Alpena’s reputation wasn’t stellar, or if there was a bad track record with city officials, then the interest wouldn’t have been there.

Instead, it was just the opposite, which really made the selection process all the harder, as good candidates emerged with each application submitted.

Frank Walsh, of Walsh Municipal Services, the firm hired by city officials to assist them in the search process, said 39 people had submitted applications for the job.

Earlier this week, members of the Alpena Municipal Council examined a dozen applications Walsh had screened for the group, and, of those, council members narrowed the group down to six who now will go through a formal interview process.

Walsh described the field of applicants as “diverse,” which we also find exciting.

Indeed, as we learned as the week went on, four of the candidates are women, while two of the candidates are internal. Council members have before them people of many backgrounds, levels of experience, and interests from which to consider.

Open interviews of the candidates will begin Oct. 5. We suspect it will not be an easy process, because of the quality of the group.

Current City Manager Greg Sundin plans to retire at the end of the year.

(THE ALPENA NEWS)