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Elgin council selects Kozal for city manager job

The Elgin City Council wants to promote Rick Kozal to the job of city manager, forgoing a national search for candidates.

A majority of council members voted in executive session Wednesday night to instruct Assistant Corporation Counsel Bill Cogley to begin negotiations with Kozal, the assistant city manager, on a contract for his new position, which would be effective Aug. 1, Mayor David Kaptain said.

The promotion would be contingent on successful negotiations and a public vote by the city council.

The city has had great success in promoting city managers from within, Kaptain said, pointing to city managers Femi Folarin and most recently Sean Stegall, who's served in the position since 2009. "Rick fits that bill. I would expect the same (success) from him."

Stegall resigned as city manager effective July 31 to take a job as CEO and town manager in Cary, North Carolina.

Kozal, 54, also chief operating officer, has served as assistant city manager since 2009 after working in the city's legal department as assistant corporation counsel. He's been with the city for nearly 21 years.

"I am honored in being selected to continue assisting the city council with the exceptional leadership, vision and fiscal responsibility it has been providing this diverse community," Kozal said. "I am looking forward to building upon the dedication to efficient and effective public service City Manager Sean Stegall has instilled within the organization."

Councilwoman Tish Powell said she was among the minority who voted "no." Although she has no reservations about Kozal, she said, she wanted to conduct a national search.

"Diversity and inclusion are supposed to be major values for the city, part of our strategic planning and how we go about building from within," she said. "Yet when it comes to filling our top-level position, that goes out the window."

A few members of the community, including Elgin Area School District U-46 board member Traci Ellis, also had called on the city council to conduct a national search to have a pool of diverse candidates.

Kaptain said he understands the sentiment, but Kozal is the right person for the job.

"Why do this (search) and spend the money when the majority of the council feels they are comfortable with him?" he said. He said he will recommend conducting a national search for the assistant city manager's position.

Councilwoman Rose Martinez said what matters is Kozal is committed to fostering diversity within the city's ranks. "I feel in my heart (Kozal's appointment) is best for the city."

She also pointed out that Elgin, although fiscally strong, will face budget uncertainties due to the state's financial woes, which makes it important to have continuity in leadership, she said.

Powell said she was among four council members who initially voted to postpone the decision in order to conduct a group interview with Kozal. "Who gets a $200,000 job without an interview?" Powell said.

Councilman John Steffen said he, too, voted to take more time and have a group interview. Still, he supports Kozal "100 percent," he said.

"I support the efforts to cast a wider net that we have been doing at all levels, but there are other interests that pull in the other direction," he said. "You have to have good support for your manager, and you have to have somebody that can work with you."

Kozal holds a bachelor's degree from Lake Forest College, a law degree from Loyola University of Chicago and a master's degree in public administration from Northern Illinois University.

Stegall commended the council's decision, adding he's learned a great deal from Kozal's "pragmatic yet creative approach to solving complex problems."

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