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“My goal is to keep everything moving the way it’s been moving, which is forward,” Anderson said. “I think one of the reasons I was selected as an internal candidate is I think city council has been pleased with how we’ve been doing with our department.”
Anderson, 45, who lives in Vandalia and has more than 20 years experience in local government, also said he was aware of the challenges ahead.
“Like most communities, we’re always trying to figure out how to stabilize our income streams,” Anderson said, adding, “At some point we’re going to need to look at how to address our housing issues.”
“There’s always something that’s going to keep me up at night,” Anderson said, “but the big two issues are maintain relationships with Wright-Patt and Wright State University.”
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In a statement, Fairborn Mayor Dan Kirkpatrick said Anderson was “the best person” to move Fairborn in the direction desired by city council out of “a number of outstanding candidates.”
Three of Fairborn’s original four final candidates for the position withdrew consideration, bumping Anderson, originally an alternate candidate, and Interim City Manager Pete Bales into the running.
Anderson formerly served as Vandalia’s city manager from 2011 to his November 2013 resignation, which came two months after a guilty plea to a charge of operating a vehicle while under the influence. Anderson was ordered into the Vandalia Municipal Court’s diversion program.
The city of Clayton then hired Anderson in 2014 as director of development. The Greene County native was hired by Fairborn in his current role in February 2016.
In Clayton, Anderson earned gross pay of $90,184 in 2015. For the months Anderson worked for Fairborn in 2016, records obtained by the Dayton Daily News I-Team show he earned gross wages of $84,982. His city manager predecessor, Deborah McDonnell, earned $143,544 in gross pay in 2015, her last full year in Fairborn.
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