News Summary

MIDDLETOWN — Four candidates are under consideration to be selected as Middletown's next assistant finance director.

According to Finance Director Russ Carolus, the city received 70 applications for the position that has been vacant since last summer. He said he expects to have a final candidate selected by the end of the week.

The position pays between $55,000 and $72,708 a year, Carolus said.

The finalists include:

• Nancy Benroth of Bluffton, Ohio. Benroth has served as Bluffton's assistant village administrator since 1997. She also served 12 years as the budgetary/payroll/personnel clerk for the village of Ottawa.

• Rob Fredericks of Madiera. Fredericks has a wide background in media relations, legislative affairs and governmental finance. He has served as director of financial operations for the Hamilton County Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services Board; has been chief of staff and a budget analyst to former Hamilton County Commissioner John Dowlin; and has served as the chief fiscal officer for the city of Silverton.

• Kristin L. Kern-Spiekerman of Maineville. She is completing her second term as Deerfield Twp.'s fiscal officer. Her past experience also includes work as Waynesville's finance director on a six-month contract as well as private sector experience. She is a member of the National Government Finance Officers Association and the Ohio Government Finance Officers Association.

• Edgar Duane Wooton of Middletown. He is currently the senior budget/cost analyst at the Atrium Medical Center, where he also worked as a senior accountant. He has worked for several other area firms.

Carolus, who was the assistant finance director, became finance director in early January as he succeeded John Lyons who retired in August.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2871 or erichter@coxohio.com.

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