Evanston's new city manager, Julia Carroll, will begin her first day of work on Jan. 18.
Aldermen selected Carroll as a finalist in November out of almost 50 applicants in a nine-month nationwide search, said Ald. Elizabeth Tisdahl (7th).
"It took longer than we wanted to, but we got it done well," Tisdahl said. "Carroll was on the top of every alderman's vote."
Carroll, who is out of town until Jan. 12 and could not be reached for comment, completed her job as assistant city manager in Naperville Dec. 30. She will replace Evanston's former city manager Roger Crum, who retired in June.
Her experience in Naperville, a Chicago suburb with many similarities to Evanston, will be helpful during creation of next year's budget, Tisdahl said.
Carroll's goals include balancing the budget, bringing in major tax revenues and creating jobs, Tisdahl said. Carroll also wants to improve relations with Northwestern.
However, the budget will be the primary concern, especially with the city facing a $3-million projected deficit.
Gary Karafiat, Naperville's community relations manager, worked directly under Carroll when she was the assistant manager last year. Carroll put together a $300 million budget for Naperville, the fourth largest city in the Chicago area.
"She is absolutely experienced with the budget," he said. "She will bring a comprehensive look at how cities finance. She has the knowledge about it and understands taxing systems."
Carroll also served as the finance director in Lawrence, Kan., for 12 years before moving to the Chicago area in 1991. Her duties included overseeing the finance department and preparing budgets.
Although Carroll has experience with city budgets, differences between Naperville and Evanston will bring new challenges.
Naperville is an expanding suburb, while Evanston is landlocked and struggles to grow in different ways.
Regardless, Carroll worked hard to improve the quality of life and to keep finances strong in Naperville, Karafiat said.
Despite residents' concerns about Carroll's ability to deal with diversity issues, Tisdahl said she believes Carroll is qualified. In Naperville, she hired a diverse group of city employees, Tisdahl said.
"She is very bright and forthright," she said. "She may not have all the experience, but she has a very good background."
-- Stephanie Chen
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