By Kim McDarison

Interviews are underway today in the village of Salem Lakes to determine which of four finalist will become the community’s next village administrator, according to Interim Village Clerk Eileen Anderson.

Whitewater City Manager John Weidl is among four finalists vying for the position, according to information released by the village on its website Thursday.

As stated in the release, the four candidates, along with Weidl, are: Cassandra Hiller, assistant county administrator for Lake County, Ill., Zeke Jackson, village administrator for Waterford, Wis., and Matt Mortwedt, deputy public works director for Walworth County, Wis.

Within the release, Village Board President Rita Bucur noted that the four finalists “will participate in assessment activities next Monday (Oct. 9) and Tuesday (Oct. 10).”

“We received a total of 15 applicants, each having various levels of experience and talent. The selection committee took a great deal of time to review, weighing what our community needs, to select the finalists. This process will be assisted by a four-person department head panel who will interview the applicants, as well as a five-person community stakeholder panel,” Bucur stated in the release.

Additionally, she wrote, “Each panel will submit a written summary with a recommendation for consideration. The final decision on which candidate to pursue will be the sole decision of the village board (which) will meet on Wednesday (Oct. 11) to review the recommendations and discuss which candidate to pursue.”

Speaking to WhitewaterWise by phone, Anderson said the village board will meet Wednesday in closed session during which time the four finalists will be discussed. The board is anticipated to reconvene in open session following its closed session discussion and announce any decision regarding the four candidates it may have made. The board will meet at 6 p.m., she said.

The candidates are:

Cassandra Hiller

According to the release, Hiller serves as an assistant county administrator for Lake County, Ill., a position she has held since 2019. Prior to that she served as the city administrator and economic development director in Brainerd, Minn., from 2017 to 2019. Hiller was a senior scientific policy advisor for the Officer of the Governor in North Dakota from 2016 to 2017. Prior to that, she served as the environmental section leader for the North Dakota Department of Transportation from 2013 to 2017. She received her bachelor’s degree from Western Washington University and her master’s degree in public administration from the University of North Dakota.

Zeke Jackson

According to the release, Jackson is the village administrator for Waterford, Wis, a position he has held since 2017. Prior to that, he was the village administrator for Sister Bay, Wis.,  from 2013 to 2017. He served as the town manager for Exmore, Va in 2013. Jackson started his public sector career as the assistant administrator for the town of Fremont, N.C., a position he held from 2011 to 2013. Jackson earned his bachelor’s degree from East Carolina University and a master’s in public administration from Wayland Baptist University.

Matt Mortwedt

According to the release, Mortwedt serves as deputy public works director for Walworth County, Wis., a position he has held since 2020. Prior to that, he held several positions with the city of Milwaukee. From 2017 to 2020 he was a facilities manager. He served as an operations and maintenance manager with the city from 2013 to 2017 and as security operations manager from 2008 to 2013. He received his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and a master’s in business administration from Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee.

John Weidl

As stated in the release, Weidl is the Whitewater (city) manager. He has held that position for the past year. From 2013 to 2021 he was the village administrator/director of economic development with the village of Mukwonago, Wis. He served as the city administrator/clerk/treasurer/director of public works to the city of Princeton, Wis., from 2011 to 2013. Weidl earned both his bachelor’s degree and master’s in public administration from Northern Illinois University.

This story may be updated.