City names two finalists: Out-of-state applicants currently unemployed

After narrowing the applicants for McMinnville city administrator down to two, the Finance Committee will be interviewing one of the finalists this Friday and the second one Monday.

The first applicant to be interviewed is David A. Rutherford from Springfield, Ga. The other finalist is David F. Jakubiak from Jupiter, Fla.

Neither is currently employed, although both have considerable government experience.

Rutherford has both a bachelor?s and master?s degree in environmental health. He also holds certification from the American Institute of Certified Planners and is a Tennessee licensed attorney.

Rutherford?s last position held was county administrator for Effingham County, Ga., from March 2001 to November 2005. His previous experience was as city administrator for the city of Port Wentworth, Ga. Rutherford held that position from May 1999 to March 2001. He has 24 years experience in local government.

According to his r?sum?, Rutherford has held seven positions from 1981 to 2005 in Tennessee as well as Georgia.

Rutherford has been unemployed since November while looking for a job in Tennessee.

Jakubiak has a master?s degree in public administration and a bachelor?s degree in arts of organizational psychology.

Jakubiak doesn?t have any experience as a city administrator, however he has 20 years of local government experience. His last position was executive director in the government services division in West Palm Beach, Fla., from June 2005 to February 2006.

According to his r?sum?, Jakubiak had held seven position from 1984 to 2006. He has held positions in Florida, Michigan, Texas and Kansas, a situation that doesn?t impress one city official.

?I?m not crazy about him,? said Vice Mayor Patti Nunley. ?I?ll be honest.?

The interview process for each of the applicants will be a whole-day endeavor, with breakfast and lunch spent with aldermen. This will give the aldermen a chance to personally meet the applicants before the final decision is made with Mayor Royce Davenport adding, ?You can only tell so much from a r?sum?.?

The Finance Committee will meet formally on Friday and Monday at 5 p.m. at McMinnville City Hall with each applicant. The city hall meetings, as always, are open to the public.

If either of the applicants seem promising, then a formal background check and the psychological screening process will be done. If neither of the applicants is acceptable, the process could begin all over again.

?Which could happen,? warned Davenport. ?It?s a possibility. I?ve already been asked that by a couple of aldermen. If neither is acceptable, we have to start over.?

A look at the finalists

David F. Jakubiak
Home: Jupiter, Fla.
Last time employed: February 2006
Job: Executive director of government services division in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Longest held job: Town manager assistant in Palm Beach, Fla., from 1988 to 2002

David A. Rutherford
Home: Springfield, Ga.
Last time employed: November 2005
Job: County administrator of Effingham County, Ga.
Longest held job: Senior planner for Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission in Savannah, Ga., from 1991 to 1998