Douglas County officials can breathe a sigh of relief. They won't have to search for someone to replace County Administrator Craig Weinaug.

Weinaug, the county's administrator for the past eight years, was one of three finalists for the city manager position in Norman, Okla., which had been open since November.

Craig Weinaug, the Douglas County administrator for the last eight years, was one of three finalists for the job of city manager in Norman, Okla.

But the Norman City Council met Tuesday evening in executive session and passed over Weinaug. The city selected Andy Anderson, city manager of Enid, Okla., since 1998.

Despite his flirtation with a new job, Weinaug said he wasn't actively looking to leave Lawrence. The possibility of being closer to relatives and career advancement were the main reasons he applied for the Oklahoma job, he said.

"Norman is a unique place that had an opening and was attractive enough for me to submit an application," he said.

Weinaug earns $94,000 annually in Douglas County. The salary in Norman would be between $105,000 and $150,000, officials there said.

Before Tuesday night's vote, Weinaug said he would be both relieved and disappointed if he didn't get the job.

Weinaug's wife, SallyDon, grew up in Oklahoma City. Her parents and other family still are in Oklahoma. And Weinaug's brother, Carl, has been city manager in Stillwater, Okla., for several years.

Weinaug also said he would have had more responsibilities in Norman, where the annual budget is about $80 million. Douglas County has a $35 million budget this year.

"Professionally, it would be a career step," he said. "I enjoy the job that I'm in."

Weinaug was in Norman last Thursday, Friday and Saturday, meeting with town officials and a selection committee of officials and residents.

Despite recent disagreements with County Commissioner Charles Jones, Weinaug said he was happy with his Douglas County position.

Earlier this year, Weinaug sent an e-mail correspondence between him and Jones to the Journal-World, which published a story about the e-mail. Jones later said the errant message was purposeful, to embarrass him.

Then, Weinaug misread statutes during the re-appointment of Roland Hurst, a Kansas University employee, to the 7th District Judicial Nominating Commission. Hurst had been nominated by Jones.

Tuesday, Jones said he felt uncomfortable commenting on Weinaug's Oklahoma job search.

"If that's what he wants to do, then I certainly wish him well," Jones said.

Before coming to Lawrence, Weinaug worked from 1983 to 1992 as city manager in Ardmore, Okla. His other jobs were as city administrator in Zion, Ill., from 1980 to 1983, and Scott City from 1977 to 1980.

He and his wife have four children, Charles, 18, Robert, 15, Rebecca, 11, and Clay, 9.