NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CITY OF LAWRENCE

Friday, September 29, 2006

CONTACT: Mayor Mike Amyx, (785) 842-9425

Mayor announces city manager selection

(Lawrence, Ks) – Mayor Mike Amyx made the following statement at this morning’s media briefing.

“Good morning. I am pleased to be here this morning to announce the next city manager of Lawrence, Kansas.

My fellow commissioners and I have spent many hours in discussions, many hours in personal reflection and as much time listening to the thoughts of the community. Vice-Mayor Hack and Commissioners Schauner and Highberger are here this morning. Commissioner Rundle’s schedule didn’t allow him to join us today. Let me recognize all of the Commissioners for the dedication, professionalism and the energy that each has contributed to this process. Thank you all for serving the Lawrence community and for working together to make a very important decision for the community.

And the reason we are all here this morning is to learn what decision has been made. Let me delay no longer. I would like to introduce Lawrence’s city manager, David Corliss.

David, congratulations on your new position. You take the position during an exciting time in the Lawrence community.

Let me also thank you for serving as the interim city manager. Your ability to ensure that city services continued to be in place, decisions continued to get made and actions continued to be taken is very much appreciated. You led staff and commissioners through an amazing budget process and you have worked with the community on a number of issues. We didn’t miss a beat at the city. Thank you.

Today, Lawrence is a thriving city of diverse interests and citizens actively participating in the decision-making process. As city government, we are challenged to continuously improve, to go further, to reach higher. Our community has come to expect the best from city services. I am confident that David will continue to meet and exceed those expectations while guiding the community into a future that includes Lawrence as a great place to live.

Because we selected our interim city manager and an internal applicant some of you may think this was a selection process in which we just “went through the motions” or perhaps was a waste of time and money. Let me address that. We started this nationwide search from the standpoint of selecting the best city manager we could find because the citizens of Lawrence deserve no less. We recruited nationwide and interviewed some outstanding city managers. David’s skills and abilities matched up and exceeded those other candidates. David Corliss demonstrated through his answers to difficult questions that he has the vision, energy and passion for this community to make this city even better. In the end, David earned the city manager’s job.

Congratulations again David!”

BACKGROUND

CITY OF LAWRENCE

Mayor announces city manager selection

Timeline

David Corliss named Interim City Manager – March 10

City entered into contract with Executive Search Firm – May 16

Received input on current/future issues and qualities necessary for successful city manager from community leaders and neighborhood association representatives – June 12 and 13

City manger position opened – July 20

City manger position closed – August 25

Interviews conducted – Sept. 23 and Sept. 24

Biographical statement

David Corliss was appointed Interim City Manager in March of 2006, previously serving the City as Assistant City Manager and Director of Legal Services.

David is originally from Wichita. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Master’s in Public Administration, and law degree all from the University of Kansas. David worked as a Research Attorney for the League of Kansas Municipalities from 1987-1990. David has been with the City of Lawrence since 1990, serving as Director of Legal Services beginning in 1996 and as an Assistant City Manager since 2000. David is a member of the International City Management Association and the Kansas Association of City/County Management. David served as a member of the Board of Trustees of Lawrence Memorial Hospital from 1999 to 2004. David and his wife Sarah have three daughters: Emily, 16, Katherine, 13, and Laura, 10.