Aurora has named four finalists for the position of the city’s fire chief and the group will be available to meet with the public this week.
The finalists, which resulted from a nationwide search, are Richard Davis, assistant chief of the Austin (Texas) Fire Department; Alec Oughton, fire chief of the Henrico County, Virginia, Division of Fire; Allen Robnett, interim fire chief of Aurora Fire Rescue; and Froilan “Pepper” Valdez, fire chief of the Billings, Montana, Fire Department.
The four are scheduled for a public meeting from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the lobby of the Aurora Municipal Center, 15151 E. Alameda Pkwy., according to a news release. Also on Thursday, as part of the process, finalists will tour fire rescue facilities and meet with civilian and sworn members of the department. On Friday they’ll meet individually with city council members, the mayor, city department directors, community panel members and an executive team.
Thirty-six candidates applied for the position, according to city officials. Robnett, an Aurora native and AFR firefighter for 33 years, is serving as interim chief pending the hiring process outcome.
Aurora’s city charter requires the city manager to hire a fire chief and receive approval from the majority of the Aurora City Council. A selection is expected later this month or by early February.
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