Looking only at job history, the most qualified candidate appears to be Wyman Winston, director of emerging markets for the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Authority. Prior to that, he was director of multifamily housing for the Authority, and manager of scattered site housing acquisition and redevelopment program in Milwaukee called Home Front.

The other two candidates are: Grace Cruncian, who has held posts as director of ODOT, deputy administrator at the Federal Transit Administration in Washington D.C. and deputy director and capital program manager in the City of Portland's transportation office; and Donald Mazziotti, who had held positions as CIO and telecom advisor to the Governor, chief planner for Portland's planning bureau and deputy assistant director of transportation for the federal Department of Transportation, and chairman and president of Delta Development Group, a regional real estate, community and economic development consulting firm.

The candidates will meet with interested citizens at two events scheduled for next week. The first is set for Wednesday, March 14, at the Mt Bachelor Room, Doubletree Hotel, Lloyd Center, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The second is the following day, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the 2nd floor auditorium of the Portland Building, 1120 SW Fifth Ave. in downtown Portland.