Hilton Head’s Riley not going to Savannah, but Iowa still option

Hilton Head Island’s long-time town manager Steve Riley is out of the running for the city of Savannah’s top spot, but he continues to be in the running for a similar job in Iowa.

Six finalists for the city manager job in Savannah have been notified of their status, said Colin Baenziger, of Colin Baenzinger & Associates, the firm conducting the search.

Riley said Wednesday he did not receive a call, likely meaning he is not a finalist. He confirmed late last month that he was one of 12 finalists for the position.

After 25 years as Hilton Head Island’s manager, Riley has been zipping through a series of interviews throughout the country. He returned to work Wednesday after wrapping up a two-day interview process for the city administrator position in Davenport, Iowa, where he is one of three candidates for the position.

The visit included private and public meetings with council members, administrators and the public, Riley said. He said it also included a public candidate panel discussion.

“It was very intense and interesting,” Riley said Wednesday. “ I have no idea how it will all turn out.”

Davenport officials have said it could take two weeks for a decision on the position, Riley said.

Riley also was named as one of four candidates for a city manager position in Forney, Texas, but pulled out of the search soon after being announced as a finalist.

As for any other places Riley could be a finalist, he declined to comment.

“I have had some inquiries out, but nothing I want to confirm,” Riley said.

This story was originally published July 13, 2016 at 4:35 PM with the headline "Hilton Head’s Riley not going to Savannah, but Iowa still option."