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Sedona residents praise man who could be Janesville’s next manager

JANESVILLE — Was the council right in its likely choice of Eric Levitt as Janesville's next city manager?

The answer is a resounding "yes" if you listen to numerous Sedona, Ariz., residents contacted by phone by The Janesville Gazette.

A delegation of council members is scheduled to visit Sedona early this week to verify the favorable impressions they received during interviews.

Council president Amy Loasching said a contract with Levitt could be signed as early as Thursday, when Levitt is scheduled to visit Janesville with his family. The council is meeting in closed session at 4 p.m. today to consider what could be a final contract.

Sedona residents contacted about Levitt say he has been able to keep himself above the political fray in a city wrought with conflict.

A recent controversy over streetlights, for example, caused a councilor to ask for police protection for council members as they walked to their cars after a meeting. Audience members threw things. A recall drive against one council member was launched last week.

But both a former mayor and current mayor—each in different political camps—praised Levitt for his integrity and professionalism.

Words of praise

The praise of Levitt in Sedona came from staff, council members, business people and those representing the arts.

None sounded happy that Levitt, 40, is leaving.

People contacted said Levitt:

-- Has integrity above reproach.

-- Used financial finesse that left Sedona in better shape than many surrounding communities.

-- Works well with staff.

-- Knows his role as city manager.

-- Has a strong work ethic and is intelligent, accessible and easy-going with a dry wit.

-- Thrives on challenges and is able to work with different factions to find solutions and forge compromises.

-- Is a caring family man with a wife, Ginger, and two young sons. He is a huge hockey fan and recently took a midnight flight to a conference so he could watch his son play goalie.

Pat Schweiss, executive directorof the Sedona International Film Festival, recalled that Levitt had big shoes to fill after the departure of the previous, well-liked city manager—described as being outgoing and an incredible public speaker.

But Levitt's soft-spoken, easy-going way won over city residents.

"We were kind of watchful that first couple of months," Schweiss recalled. "And then, he proved that silence is golden.

"He sits and listens. He's there to solve a problem and make the city better.

"Being a city manager is not a real easy time in Sedona," Schweiss said. "There's an ongoing joke that we can't do anything in this town without somebody fighting it.

"It's been absolute insanity for him … If I was in his shoes, I would have run screaming from here years ago.

"I don't know if he goes home and pounds holes through his walls or kicks a stump. But I have never, ever seen the man get shaken.

"To me, that is a real sign of a professional."

'A quiet leader'

Jennifer Wesselhoff, president of the Sedona Chamber of Commerce, represents the business community. Its 1,050 members are the most per capita in the nation, she said.

She said Levitt focuses on collaboration and partnership.

"He has an incredible way of listening to all sides, balancing everything out and coming up with good compromises that everyone can agree on," she said.

He's done an extremely good job of listening to the business community, Wesselhoff said.

Tourism is the city's economic generator and, prior to Levitt, there was no public funding for destination marketing.

"Eric understands that in order for Sedona to be economically vibrant, we have to invest in our economic generator."

He had the foresight to include a marketing contingency fund for emergency situations that impact tourism, such as floods or fire. The city experienced both in the last five years.

"And that's, to me, a perfect example of Eric's leadership," she said. "He is … big-picture oriented and expertly strategic."

"Eric is a quiet leader," she said.

'Very fair'

Pud Colquitt—the name comes from the 'Puddin'' nickname her daddy gave her—is a council member and was mayor for four years.

"Eric is very, very professional," she said. "I have a tremendous amount of respect for him. His integrity is absolutely above reproach.

"Eric is very fair," she said. "He wouldn't know how to tell a lie if he had to."

"He is always trying to protect the city and looks out for the city. He does what the council directs. He understands what the role of the city manager is. He is not political, which is very healthy."

She said Levitt is strong in budgets and finance—"There's no one better with budgets and finances than Eric Levitt, I will tell you"—and the city consistently ends the years with a surplus. It also recently reduced its debt.

He can work with other agencies to get a job done and is respected in other communities and all the way to the governor's office, she said.

Trista Steers, assistant managing editor of the Sedona Red Rock News, said Levitt is open about city business and issues. He is able to help the city understand issues and provides all sides of issues to the council, not just what he's recommending.

"He has his critics, but everyone does," Steers said.

"He will definitely be very missed by us at the newspaper and I'm sure the majority of the community."

Nancy Scagnelli, council member, said Levitt is great to work with.

"One of the things that Eric really brings to the table is that his staff really likes him. He is great with staff, he respects staff, and that's important to an organization."

John O'Brien, the city's community development director, has worked with Levitt since he arrived as chief financial officer 12 years ago.

Sedona said Janesville residents shouldn't worry that Levitt would be coming from a city of 12,000 because the city's population swells by another 10,000 to 15,000 with tourists and employees during the day.

'The grinder'

O'Brien said his boss has a lot of energy, and his nickname for Levitt is "the grinder."

"He is way into being city manager."

O'Brien is the field announcer at the high school football games and Levitt does the scoreboard.

"I'm going to miss him. He and I love our sports."

Mayor Rob Adams beat Pud Colquitt by four votes in a recent, fiercely contested mayoral election, and some told the Gazette the two fall into different political camps.

But both think highly of Levitt.

"I know that Pud thought highly of him, too, and that kind of indicates his ability to remain neutral in a political situation," Adams said. "And Pud and I had a tough race with one another.

"Face it—no matter what you do, not everybody is going to love you," Adams said. "But in my assessment, after being councilman and a mayor, he has a good grasp of the economic situation.

"I think that your city is lucky to get him, and we're unlucky to be losing him."

Said Colquitt: "Your city will do itself proud having this young man as a city manager."