City manager staying in Elgin

Elgin City Manager Sean Stegall is going nowhere, at least for now.

Stegall was the top candidate among four finalists for the job of city manager in Des Moines, Iowa, but he withdrew his name from consideration, Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie said.

Stegall said Des Moines is a wonderful community, but his heart is in Elgin.

"It is affirmation of the work by staff and council to make Elgin an innovative, progressive place where other cities look for talent," he said in a news release.

"I am looking forward to continuing my work in Elgin to continue to build a world-class municipal organization, strong neighborhoods and a vibrant local economy."

Stegall had in-person interviews in Des Moines last week, where he met with city council members, city staff members, business and union leaders, and others, Cownie said. Stegall withdrew his name before a job and salary package could be negotiated and presented to the Des Moines City Council for review, he said.

"There was a consensus that Sean was the strongest candidate to try to move forward," Cownie said. "Unfortunately we ended up with a situation that didn't work out."

The search in Des Moines will continue eventually, but city officials first will evaluate how to proceed, Cownie said. "I am sure Sean will continue doing wonderful things in Elgin," he said.

Stegall was appointed Elgin's city manager in 2009 after serving as its assistant city manager since 2000.

The other three candidates in Des Moines were Jane Shang, deputy city manager of El Paso, Texas; Steve Arbo, city manager of Lee's Summit, Missouri; and Stanley Earley, deputy city manager of Dayton, Ohio, according to The Des Moines Register.