Maple Valley residents will get a chance to meet the candidates for city manager when the City Council hosts a reception at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday in the banquet room of the Lake Wilderness Grill, 25400 Witte Road S.E.

Officials will release the names of the candidates early next week after the final screening process is complete.

The city hired Dallas-based Waters Consulting Group to help conduct the search for a new city manager to replace Anthony Hemstad, who resigned July 17, but has been working as a consultant for Maple Valley on issues such as Summit Place and DMU (diesel multiple unit) commuter rail.

A candidate profile was developed by the consulting firm with input from the City Council as the hiring process started.

“The successful candidate will be a consensus builder who reaches out to create beneficial public and private sector partnerships,” the candidate profile said. “Subordinates and community members will find the City Manager to be open and accessible and committed to strong internal and external two-way communications. The ideal person for this position will be an energized, self-motivated and pragmatic leader with a high degree of integrity and professionalism.”