As Battle Ground continues to search for a new city manager, the City Council unanimously approved a contract for Kristina Swanson to fill the soon-vacant role last week.
Swanson, a Silver Lake resident, previously served as Longview’s city manager from March 2023 to April 2024. Swanson’s contract was terminated without cause by Longview’s City Council on March 20 in a hotly contested 4-3 vote. Members of the council who voted in favor of the termination cited a need for new leadership.
Swanson took her seat, effective Monday, April 22. Erin Erdman, who has worked with Battle Ground’s city manager for five years, resigned from her position, effective Friday, April 19, to take the city manager position in Kennewick, Washington.
Swanson will be paid $17,333.33 per month, according to her contract with the city, and will receive health and dental insurance coverage. During her tenure, she will receive 17.33 hours of vacation time every month.
Mayor Troy McCoy said the length of Swanson’s contract will depend on when the council can decide on a new candidate. Prothman, a recruitment firm, will assist the city in finding candidates for a permanent city manager.
City staff are currently working with Prothman to prepare the description for the city manager position. Once that is prepared, an advertisement for the role will be posted five weeks prior to interviews for first-round applicants.
