From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for March 17, 1990:

Lawrence city commissioners, rejected by their first choice, were now returning to the search for a new city manager. “The only thing I can say is it’s been an extremely long week for the commission,” Mayor Bob Schumm said today after a 2 1/2-hour closed-door meeting of commissioners. “We’ve worked very well together, very hard. We’ve not reached a consensus at this time this evening.” Schumm declined to confirm reports that the Lawrence city manager’s job had been offered to, and turned down by, Gary Eide, city manager of Salem, Oregon. However, two Salem city council members had told the Journal-World last week that Eide had been offered the Lawrence job and had turned it down. Lawrence commissioners were now back in executive session with consultant Bob Saunders to try to reach an agreement on a second choice. Buford Watson, who had served as city manager for almost two decades, had passed away in November.