Carla Occaso
Following an executive session Dec. 17, Montpelier City Council announced they chose a candidate to be the new city manager, but they will not tell who.
The Montpelier city councilors unanimously voted to get in touch with the candidate.
Before the executive session, resident Steve Whitaker spoke, saying both candidates lacked experience with the kinds of challenges Montpelier presents such as crisis management. He suggested reopening the search and accused the city council of choosing the wrong candidates.
The two finalists are Kelcey Young of California and Kelly McNicholas Kury of Colorado.
From a press release about Kelcey Young’s background: Young has over a decade of government service in Texas, California, and Oregon. She most recently served as city manager of Pinole, California, where she guided capital projects, strengthened financial stability, and built strong partnerships with residents, businesses, and regional agencies. She is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt with a track record of using data, listening, and collaboration to improve services and deliver visible results. She has a strong background in finance and has resolved multiple city deficits.
Young has helped lead community revitalization efforts in Sweet Home, Oregon, including the Let’s Paint the Town initiative, which brought volunteers, businesses, and local government together to renew storefronts and strengthen pride in the downtown. She has also worked closely with service providers, faith communities, and public safety partners to address homelessness, expanding shelter options and supportive services while maintaining community safety and vibrancy. Young holds a Master of Science in Environment and Community and a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies, both from California State Polytechnic University.
From a press release about Kelly McNicholas Kury’s background: McNicholas Kury is a local government professional with 12 years of city and county leadership and over 20 years in strategic planning, budgeting, and community engagement. As a Pitkin County Commissioner, she manages multiple executives and 375 staff, stewards a $258 million budget, and advances major initiatives in housing, sustainability, and infrastructure. McNicholas Kury is also the executive director of the Roaring Fork Community Development Corporation, where she oversees fundraising, management of a multimillion-dollar construction project, and compliance with government grants. She is experienced in intergovernmental coordination, public engagement, and organizational development. McNicholas Kury holds a Master of Arts in Democracy and Governance from the University of Denver and is completing her Certified Public Manager accreditation from the University of Colorado School of Public Affairs.
