Sunnyside officials are negotiating a possible contract with the leading contender to become the city's next top manager.

But councilman Bill Gant, reached Sunday evening, declined to identify that person in case talks fell through for some reason.

If that happens, the City Council already reached agreement on the second and third candidates who would be considered among the four finalists, Gant said. That consensus was reached during an executive session that lasted more than two hours Saturday morning, Gant said. The council unanimously pointed toward the leading candidate, he said.

Gant referred additional questions about the identity of the leading candidate and when the full council might vote on any contract to Mayor Paul Garcia.

Garcia did not immediately return messages left Sunday.

The council's next regular meeting would be May 27.

The finalists are Mark J. Gervasi, city manager of Tillamook, Ore.; Mark Roath, city manager of McAlester, Okla.; Michael Stampfler, owner and managing partner of CivicQwest Consulting in Portage, Mich.; and Eric Swansen, village manager of Yellow Springs, Ohio.

Sunnyside has been without a regular city manager since September, when the council asked Bob Stockwell to resign.

Mark Kunkler, the interim manager and full-time city attorney, said he did not apply for the job.