Tucson announced four finalists Monday to become the city's new fire chief, unveiling one local candidate and three others from California, Ohio and Florida.
The finalists will be evaluated over the next few weeks as the possible successor to Fire Chief Dan Newburn, who retired earlier this month. Newburn beat out five other candidates to become fire chief in June 2001. He had served as interim chief for six months after former Chief Fred Shipman retired.
The four candidates will have final interviews with the City Council and top administrators over the next few weeks, said Tameron Collins, a manager in the city's human resources office.
Collins said a final selection will be made over the next few months, and a decision definitely will be made before the end of the year.
Suzanne Machain, Tucson's deputy human resources director, conducted the national search, Collins said. The finalists were culled from 33 applicants, Collins said.
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The finalists include one candidate currently with the Tucson Fire Department and a former member of the department who has worked in California for the past 10 years.
A closer look at the candidates:
● James E. Critchley Jr., deputy fire chief of operations and labor relations, Tucson Fire Department. He has a master's degree from the University of Arizona and a bachelor's degree from Arizona State University.
● Keith Richter, fire chief of the Contra Costa (Calif.) Fire Protection District. He was assistant chief of operations for the Tucson Fire Department in 1997 and '98. He has master's degree from Grand Canyon State University and a bachelor's degree from Cogswell Polytech College.
● Larry Collins, fire chief of the Dayton, Ohio, Fire Department. He has a bachelor's degree from LaSalle University and Franklin University.
● Patrick Kelly, fire chief for the city of DeLand, Fla. He has a master's degree from Loyola College of Maryland.
