CITY MANAGER FINALIST STRESSES PARTNERSHIPS

Larry Stevens doesn't hide behind closed doors.

A city manager should be visible in the community, said Stevens, a finalist for the Cape Girardeau city manager job.

He said it is important to build partnerships between city government, the community, the university and the press.

Stevens toured Cape Girardeau Monday and then met with the City Council.

The 42-year-old Stevens was the fourth candidate to be interviewed by the council. The fifth and final candidate will be interviewed Thursday.

Stevens believes in being active in the community. He is involved with the United Way and the chamber of commerce in Pittsburg, Kan., where he has been the city manager for the past four years.

"I think people need to see the manager not only as leader of the city organization, but also as a member of the community," he said.

Stevens likes talking to the press, which he views as a good sounding board on city government.

He rates "people skills" as vital to the success of a city manager.

Stevens said a city manager can't do it all by himself. He has to depend on a team concept. "'We' is really the group that gets things done."

Stevens said Pittsburg and Cape Girardeau are similar. Both have growth and development problems. Both recently passed sales taxes. Both have state universities, which Stevens views as a plus.

Both Southeast Missouri State University and the school in Pittsburg are searching for new presidents.

There also are differences.

Cape Girardeau is about twice the size of Pittsburg.

Cape Girardeau also has the Mississippi River. "You look at something over half a mile wide, it definitely gives a certain flavor to the community," he said.

Stevens and his wife, Kay, are from Missouri and want to return to the state. Stevens held various city management jobs in Missouri prior to taking the job as Pittsburg city manager in February 1991.

The couple have two daughters, ages 7 and 20.

Stevens said he views any job change as a family decision. "I think it has to be a situation where we feel it is a good fit for the family."

The City Council, on the other hand, must decide if it is a good fit for the community, he added.