Battle Ground City Council selects Kristina Swanson as new city manager

The Battle Ground City Council chose a new city manager Wednesday morning.

Kristina Swanson, 54, currently Battle Ground’s interim city manager, will become the permanent city manager after her contract is negotiated, Battle Ground Communications Manager Alisha Smith said.

“Today is the culmination of a day that’s several months in the making,” Cliff Moore, with executive recruitment firm Prothman, said at Wednesday’s special meeting. Prothman conducted a nationwide manager search on behalf of the city.

Twenty-one people submitted applications in response to ads on Washington and Oregon websites and social media, Moore said. The city chose three candidates June 17: Swanson; Robert Maul, Camas’ interim community development director and planning manager; and Joseph Valtierra, senior manager for Multnomah County’s Aging, Disabilities and Veterans’ Services Division of Human Services in Oregon.

They interviewed each during a lengthy city council executive session Wednesday before declaring Swanson the preferred choice.

Swanson, who served as Longview’s city manager from March 2023 to April of this year, began as interim city manager for Battle Ground on April 22 after former city manager Erin Erdman left to accept a position with the city of Kennewick.

Swanson’s contract with Longview was terminated without cause March 20 in a 4-3 vote.

She has 33 years of experience in public service and a degree in accounting from Western Governors University.

Swanson’s current salary as interim city manager is $17,333.33 per month. Her new salary will be determined during contract negotiations in a closed-door executive session of the Battle Ground City Council.

Her first day as permanent city manager will be decided at that time, Smith said, but there will be no gap between her interim and permanent positions.

Learn more about the search process and other candidates at cityofbg.org.