NEWMAN – City leaders hope the new year brings in a flurry of applications from well-qualified candidates to become Newman’s next police chief.

As of Monday, though, the city’s third go-around at recruiting a successor to retired chief Mike Brady has produced interest but no formal applications.

City Manager Michael Holland said he is not discouraged.

Typically, he pointed out, the majority of applications come in during the later stages of the job posting. Throw the holidays into the mix, Holland said, and the lack of early response was not unexpected.

“Hopefully people may have had some time off during the holidays when they could visit the community, and then apply after the holidays,” the city manager said. “We have sent out a half dozen or more application packages, and our chief has spoken to a couple of prospective applicants, so there have been interest in the position.”

The application period closes Jan. 25.

The city conducted two recruitment campaigns in 2007, but did not hire a police chief.

After the first round of advertising, the City Council approved an increase in the police chief salary from $82,000 to $96,000 annually.

The second police chief search yielded several strong candidates, including a finalist who the city hoped to hire.

“We made a contract offer,” Holland noted. “We just couldn’t come to an agreement.”

This time around, the city has broadened its advertising campaign and has indicated that the salary is being reviewed as part of a compensation study.

Randy Ulibarri has served as interim police chief since Brady’s retirement last spring. The retired Union City police chief received a waiver from the California PERS retirement system allowing him to remain on the job until the end of April.

Holland hopes to have a new police chief on board by early May – but cautioned that he will not fill the job unless the right candidate emerges.

“We need to find the person who is the right fit for Newman, and not just hire a police chief,” he stressed.

Holland is also looking for a candidate with a long-term vision for the department.

“I want someone to come in with a five-year plan, minimum,” he stated.