Council Picks Oregon Man as New City Administrator

Paul Benoit, the current city manager of Astoria, Oregon, has been selected as Piedmont's new city administrator, Piedmont Mayor John Chiang announced at Tuesday night's city council meeting.

Chiang said that Piedmont is in contract negotiations with Benoit. who will replace retiring City Administrator Geoffrey Grote.

Grote is scheduled to retire next month after 25 years as Piedmont's administrator.

Benoit has been Astoria's city manager since December, 2005. He also served as that city's community development director for 17 years, according to his LinkedIn profile. Between the two stints in Astoria, Benoit worked for the City of Alameda, first as director of development services for one year and then as assistant city manager for three years. 

Astoria is a city of about 9,500 people on Oregon's northern border, near the mouth of the Columbia River.

Benoit has a bachelor's degree in marine science and environmental management from the University of Rhode Island and a master's degree in coastal planning from the University of Washington, his profile says.

An article published Monday, Jan. 20,  in the Daily Astorian said Benoit submitted his resignation from the Oregon position on Jan. 17. 

“I’m a finalist in two different cities and I don’t want to name one now until things are finalized, but I am confident it’s going to happen,”  the Daily Astorian quoted Benoit as saying.

The article said Benoit's son lives in California with his wife and their 10-month-old son. 

You may read the complete Daily Astorian article here.

Related article:

"Geoffrey Grote Talks About His Toughest — and Proudest — Moments as City Administrator"

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