Elizabeth City City Manager Rich Olson acknowledged Monday that he is one of five finalists for the vacant city manager's job in Emporia, Kan.

Olson, the city's manager since September 2003, said he made city councilors aware of his decision to apply for the job more than a week ago. He hasn't applied anywhere else, he said, and isn't looking to leave Elizabeth City.

"I'm enjoying very much what I'm doing in Elizabeth City," Olson said Monday. "I've never had a job as challenging as Elizabeth City."

Olson said he learned about the opening in Emporia more than a month ago. He said Emporia, with a population of 26,760, is slightly larger than Elizabeth City. It also has many of the same issues — aging infrastructure, economic development and public safety — that have been issues here, he said.

Reaction from councilors to Olson's announcement was mixed.

"I was shocked," said Second Ward Councilwoman Anita Hummer, the council's mayor pro tem. "But on the other hand, I shouldn't have been (surprised) after all he's been through lately. I would really hate to see him go."

Hummer was referring to the heat Olson has taken from half the council for recommending the hiring of Paul Fredette of Vermont as the city's new public utilities director. Council's four black members questioned Fredette's hiring, saying Olson should have worked harder to find a qualified black candidate for the job. Fredette is white.

Mayor Charles Foster, who is African American, broke a 4-4 tie to hire Fredette.

Fredette's hiring was just the latest disagreement with Olson for Fourth Ward Councilmen Johnnie Walton and Kirk Rivers. Both have clashed with the city manager over issues ranging from Streetscape and street projects to rezoning requests. Both said they would understand if he decides to leave.

"If he leaves, you just have to continue on," Walton said.

"We're sad to see it, but whatever is in the best interest of him and his family, I wish him well," Rivers said.

Third Ward Councilman Michael Brooks also didn't seem surprised that Olson had applied for a new job.

"If he moves on, you have to move on," Brooks said. "Just like there was somebody here before, there will be somebody here after he leaves."

First Ward Councilwoman Jean Baker, who helped recruit Olson to Elizabeth City, said she hopes he stays put.

"It's the worst thing that could happen to the city right now, with everything going on," she said Monday. "I understand why he'd be in demand. I wouldn't be surprised if he got offers and requests to apply every day of the week. (But) I couldn't blame him."

First Ward Councilwoman Betty Meggs agreed.

"Naturally, I hate to see him go," she said. "However, if it means more for his future, then I think so much of him that I will accept it more graciously."

According to the Emporia Gazette, Olson was one of 47 applicants seeking to replace Steve Commons, Emporia's city manager from 1986-06. Final interviews for the job will be held this week, followed by a public forum to enable citizens "to meet and interact with the candidates," the newspaper reported Friday.

If Olson gets the Kansas job, he'll be returning to his roots. In addition to having family and friends in the Hawkeye state, Olson formerly served as city manager of three Kansas communities — Liberal, Iola and Neodsha. Olson said his long-term goal is to return to Kansas where he'd like to both work and retire.

Olson, 48, came to Elizabeth City from an administrative job in Delray Beach, Fla. Since arriving, he has been credited with instituting fiscal control and stability to the city's budget, landing a number of grants and economic development projects, and for addressing decades of neglect to the city's aging infrastructure.

(Contact Bob Montgomery at bmontgomery@coxnc.com)