Duluth City Manager Finalist Selected

A selection committee appointed by the Duluth City Council recommended Tim Shearer, former city administrator for Angels Camp, CA, as the sole finalist for the position of Duluth city manager. The council will soon act on the committee’s recommendation, according to an announcement by the city.

Shearer was selected following a nationwide search that included rounds of interviews and in-depth reference and background checks. The city received a total of 31 resumes from individuals throughout the United States. If approved, Shearer would succeed Phil McLemore, who is retiring after 15 years of dedicated service as city administrator. The council recently changed the name of the position from city administrator to city manager to reflect the actual duties of the position.

“I am pleased that I can turn over the reins of the city at my retirement with confidence to a person of such high caliber and integrity” said McLemore in the announcement. The city council is expected to formally vote to appoint Shearer and approve his contract at a meeting later this month.

McLemore officially retires on Dec. 31. “I have been blessed with the opportunity of serving Duluth for the past 15 years working with great people to take Duluth to a higher level of quality and livability,” he said. McLemore plans to stay on for a few months to assist with the new city manager’s transition into the job.

“The selection committee was delighted that we attracted so many highly qualified applicants,” said Councilmember Marsha Anderson Bomar, who chaired the selection committee, in the announcement. “And we are confident that we have chosen an excellent leader who understands and can help us fulfill our vision for the future.”

Shearer has more than 20 years of experience in local government, including the past 15 years as the administrator for Angels Camp, a city with a population of 3,441 in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Angels Camp is the only incorporated city in Calaveras County, the home of Mark Twain's famous “Jumping Frog Jubilee.” The remainder of the county is unincorporated.

Prior to his service in Angels Camp, Shearer spent six years leading Sycamore Township in Ohio.  He also has over 28 years of military service and is a colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve.

“I am looking forward to meeting and getting to know the employees and citizens of Duluth. I have family in the area and was attracted to Duluth for all the good things that are happening. It is a warm, friendly city with many assets, and I am excited about getting to work with the residents, businesses, staff and officials,” Shearer said in the announcement.

“Shearer’s passion to become an active member of the Duluth community was a key factor in his selection,” Duluth Mayor Nancy Harris said in the announcement. “I am sure Tim will add much value to our vision for Duluth.”

During his tenure in Angels Camp, Shearer was responsible for bringing stability and financial security to the city by restructuring its finances and aggressively pursuing grants and other outside funding sources, the announcement stated. He also formed a regional transportation agency and worked with the business community to develop a Branding Marketing Action Plan. Shearer is also reportedly knowledgeable and proactive in economic development.

Shearer holds a master’s degree in International Relations and Strategic Studies in addition to a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration and Political Science. 

He and his wife Paula are parents of three boys.