Junction City Mayor Cecil Aska has confirmed that Gerald C. Smith is the frontrunner for the city manager job, but there is no final deal at this point.

Aska said the process is still in negotiations. “At this point in time the Commission is still waiting for further information from Peterson Associates Group. Until we get that information we will not make a final decision.”

When asked if Smith is the frontrunner candidate for the job Aska said, “Yeah he is.”  JCPost.com asked the mayor if he wanted Smith for the job.  Aska replied, “I think he would be a good fit.”

Smith is one of four finalists officials had identified for the city manager’s job.

The Herald Star and Weirton Daily News in Steubenville, Ohio has reported that Smith informed Third Ward Councilman Greg Metcalf that he was turning down the city manager job in that city. The newspaper qouted Metcalf, “Apparently Junction City, Kan. offered Mr. Smith a better benefits package. I understand they are still negotiating the details of the full offer, but Smith said he was going to accept the Kansas offer.”