Cortez City Council announced at its regular meeting Tuesday night that it chose career law enforcement officer Drew Sanders to serve as its next city manager.

More than 45 candidates applied for the job. Peckham and McKenney Inc., the executive search firm hired by the city, helped to narrow down the list of applicants. City Council and a separate staff panel consisting of city department heads interviewed the final three candidates.

Sanders worked for the West Jordan Police Department in Salt Lake County, Utah for 27 years, retiring as a lieutenant.

He spent the past two years as the chief of the Page Police Department in northern Arizona. Aside from overall leadership of the department, his responsibilities there included overseeing the dispatch center, emergency management and crisis communications.

Sanders earned a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Utah in 2006. He also is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, a 10-week professional course of study for U.S. and international law enforcement managers to improve local agencies and departments.

Councilor Rachel Medina said Sanders was the best choice. She also mentioned that Page has some similarities with Cortez, including city size, water issues and proximity to reservations.

“I feel like a lot of the skills and management of being a police chief will transfer into being city manager,” Medina said. “Like dealing with conflict, understanding the community, overseeing a large staff and budget. I think he values his time as a police chief, but I think he’s ready to move on to a different role.”

It was also important that the next city manager have a track record and experience.

“This is a community that values people who work their way up through the ranks and don’t come in with a degree and expect to know everything,” Medina said.

“It was important that we do our due diligence in bringing in someone who is the right fit for our community, and we are delighted to have Drew Sanders come to Cortez!” Mayor Mike Lavey stated in a news release. “We feel he is the person to lead our employees in a post COVID and prosperous time for the City of Cortez!”

City Manager John Dougherty announced his resignation earlier this year, and agreed to stay on until April 30 to ensure a smooth transition. Dougherty said he was resigning because he wanted more time with his family.

Grants and Special Projects Administrator Chris Burkett will continue to serve as interim city manager until Sanders officially starts the job on May 17.