The Sedalia City Council and interested residents spent three-and-a-half hours Thursday, June 5 hearing from the three men seeking to become the city’s next administrator.

Each of the three finalists were allotted 40 minutes to present about themselves, their qualifications, philosophy, and how they’d approach the task of running the city over the next five years.

Jon Holmes

Jon Holmes, former city manager for Southwest Missouri’s Aurora, focused on his philosophy and approach to maintaining the combination of good governance and organizational management.

Matthew Wirt

Sedalia’s current interim city administrator Matthew Wirt reflected on his Pettis County roots and his longtime affiliation with the city, first as a police office and later chief of police before joining the city administration team in 2023.

Steven Rasmussen

Steven Rasmussen, who recently wrapped up seven years as city manager in Cameron, highlighted his previous work around the state, including as an administrator in the City of Jefferson, also reflecting on the partnerships he’s built with civic leaders and the media.

The three candidates spent the final hour as a panel answering questions submitted in advance by residents. The city council will conduct additional interviews Friday, and is expected to select their next administrator within 30 days.