Two finalists hoping to become Marinette County’s next administrator faced questions about the county’s financial future, leadership, and long-term priorities during a meet-and-greet with county officials Monday evening.

Brian Chapman and Colin Kennedy outlined their qualifications and discussed how they would approach the county’s growing financial challenges.

Among the concerns raised were the elimination of forty-two positions from the county’s operating budget since 2024, along with an estimated fourteen-and-a-half million dollars in backlogged highway construction and maintenance.

County officials also questioned whether financial pressures have forced decisions based strictly on dollars and cents, rather than the long-term value of facilities and services to the community.

Kennedy, a retired Navy commander with local government experience in Rhode Island, emphasized the importance of five-year financial planning, collaboration between departments and stronger relationships with state lawmakers.

Chapman, who previously served as a city manager in Michigan and worked for the City of Oshkosh, focused on strategic planning, gathering community input and establishing priorities that reflect residents’ needs.

Both candidates acknowledged the challenges of balancing limited resources with essential county services.

The finalists also addressed questions involving public safety, human services, infrastructure and their approaches to leadership.

The meet-and-greet is part of a larger selection process that includes additional interviews and feedback from county employees.