BI City Manager finalist withdraws from consideration

Published 1:30 am Friday, June 26, 2026

Bainbridge Island city manager finalist Jeff Niten has withdrawn from the recruitment process and has decided to remain in his current position as Mountlake Terrace City Manager, the city of Bainbridge Island announced June 26.

The City Council’s recruitment process will continue with the remaining finalist, John Mauro, who has served as Port Townsend city manager since 2019. Additional information will be shared as the process moves forward, per the city.

The next city manager will replace Ellen Schroer, who has been serving in an interim capacity since previous city manager Blair King retired in March.

Bainbridge Island operates under a council-manager form of government, in which the council is responsible for hiring and overseeing the city manager, who serves as the organization’s chief executive officer and reports directly to the council. City staff report to the city manager, COBI’s website says.