City official a finalist for Kirkland job

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Yakima Assistant City Manager Dave Zabell is one of two finalists for Kirkland city manager.

The Kirkland City Council made the announcement Tuesday. Zabell said he is honored to be a finalist and considers the job in Kirkland, a Seattle suburb of 50,000 that is the corporate home of Costco, "one of the premier city manager positions in the state."

"This opportunity to me is extremely unique and the only one I've applied for," he said, adding, "I'm not actively searching for other opportunities."

Zabell has been the top aide to Yakima City Manager Dick Zais since 2005, when he was hired to replace longtime Assistant City Manager Glen Rice.

Zabell is a self-described Navy brat who grew up in Shoreline, Wash., and has spent most of his career in public administration on the west side. He is the former public works director for the city of Bothell and has also served as public works director and city administrator for the city of Marysville.

Zabell has a master's degree in public adminis-tration from the University of Washington. He earned his undergraduate degree from Upper Iowa University.

The other finalist for the Kirkland city manager position is Kurt Triplett, the former interim King County executive. Triplett stepped into the county executive job after Ron Sims was tapped to serve as deputy secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the Obama administration. Triplett has served a variety of roles in King County, including chief of staff to Sims.

According to published news reports, Kirkland conducted a nationwide search and received 90 applications. Zabell said he's been asked back for a second round of interviews with the City Council next week.

Kirkland has a council-manager form of government that is similar to Yakima's. Under the format, the City Council makes policy and the city manager carries out those policies and administrative functions.