Three candidates for the position of Cook County administrator have already gone through an extensive process to make it to this point in the hiring process. There are a few more steps to complete before the county board extends an offer for the job. The three candidates in the running are James Thoreen, Jeff Cadwell and James Ericson.
The candidates will be interviewed by the county Management Advisory Team (MAT), consisting of county department heads and supervisors on Thursday, April 30.
Later that day, at 6:30 p.m. at the East Bay, the public is invited to meet the applicants.
The board will conduct final interviews with the three candidates on May 1 and a special meeting will be posted for May 5 in the event the board feels it is ready to enter into negotiations with the top candidates.
About the applicants
Jeff Cadwell holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Minnesota – Moorhead and also a bachelor of arts in history and political science from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota.
Cadwell is the city administrator for Mahnomen. He has held that job since 2012. From 2010 to 2012, Cadwell was city administrator/clerk/treasurer for the city of Browns Valley. From 2008- 2010, Cadwell was a service manager for McLaughlin’s. He spent one year as the city of Moorhead’s CAMA assistant, one year as a chemical dependency tech for the Anchorage Adult Treatment Center, two years as an agent for the Farm Bureau Financial Services, one year as a service manager for Crystal Pierz Marine and he worked from 1989 to 2003 as director of operations for Concordia Moorhead Auxiliary Services.
James Ericson has been the city administrator for Mounds View since 2008. He has worked for Mounds View since 1996 and has also held the title of city planner and community development director.
He has a master’s degree in planning and public administration from the Humphrey Institute at the University of Minnesota. He also holds a bachelor of arts degree in sociology and metro urban studies from Augsburg College.
James Thoreen is presently the interim county coordinator for Pope County. He has held that position since 2011.
From 1975-1981, Thoreen was the county auditor for Beltrami County. He worked as a lobbyist for Minnesota Counties from 1981-1982 before leaving to take the position of county coordinator for Clay County from 1982-1985.
Thoreen then left to work as a fiscal advisor for Ehlers & Associates from 1985-1988. From 1988-1993 he was county coordinator for Stevens County then left to become county administrator for Chisago County from 1993-2003. He then served as Stevens County coordinator from 2003-2010 until receiving his present position.
Thoreen is a graduate of Bemidji State with a bachelor of arts degree. He is past president of Minnesota Association of County Administrators and in 2001 was the recipient of Excellence in County Administration award.
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