Sarkozy, 46, who currently serves as city manager for Roseville, Minnesota, a town of 34,000, is expected to take over operations of Washington's fifth largest city at the end of November. He will be responsible for overseeing 1,100 city workers and a $200 million annual budget.

Despite the large differences in population, Roseville has several striking similarities with Bellevue, including a high-income population and a first-tier job center that features a growing commercial office core. Among his achievements during his 11-year tenure, Sarkozy has been credited with redeveloping parts of the city and attracting outside businesses to the area.

Sarkozy, who has also served as city manager for Wyoming, Mich., and Geneva, NY, has been awarded a lucrative three-year contract that includes a $150,000 annual salary, a car allowance, and a monthly housing subsidy of up to $2,250. His salary tops that of Gov. Gary Locke, King County Executive Ron Sims, and Seattle Mayor Paul Schell, according to 1999 figures.