Kelley Gandurski To Become Interim City Manager In October

EVANSTON, IL — Deputy City Manager Kelley Gandurski will become interim city manager upon City Manager Erika Storlie's departure.

The Evanston City Council is expected to vote to appoint Gandurski at its next meeting, according to an announcement from city officials.

"I appreciate Kelley stepping up to lead our organization," Mayor Daniel Biss said. "Kelley has the experience and leadership skills necessary to guide our City through this period of transition, and I look forward to working with her in the months to come."

According to the terms of a separation agreement approved Thursday, Oct. 8 will be Storlie's last day on the job after more than 16 years working for the municipality.

"For the reasons we have discussed, I have elected to submit my voluntary resignation," Storlie tells the mayor in a resignation letter accompanying the agreement.

Some residents objected to her departure on the grounds that an independent investigation into the handling of sexual misconduct allegations by city staff had only recently got underway, suggesting that the City Council wait for the results of the outside probe to be complete before approving the agreement.

"I would also like to extend my gratitude to Erika for her 16 years of dedicated service to our community," Biss said in the statement.

Gandurski has been an attorney in Illinois since 2004. She began as an attorney in the Chicago Law Department for more two years before working for private law firms for the next nearly nine years. She returned to the city's law department in 2016 as a supervisor, and, in 2018, took a position as deputy director of the city's Department of Animal Care and Control, where she became executive director in 2018.

Gandurski was appointed Evanston corporation counsel in March 2020. She succeeded Michelle Masoncup, who departed in January 2020 to become general counsel at the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

In April 2021, Storlie appointed Gandurski as deputy city manager, a position also held by Kimberly Richardson.

Related: Evanston City Manager Adds Second Deputy, Appoints Senior Staff

Gandurski's focus has been on the day-to-day management of city operations, long-term projects and community partnership, according to the announcement from city staff, which promised frequent updates on the search for the next city manager.

"The City Council looks forward to the community’s input and participation in this important process," it said.

Last year, the city hired the Northbrook-based executive search company GovHR, for which several former city staffers work in senior roles, to conduct the search. The search produced three finalists, including Storlie, and the City Council voted 7-3 to approve a contract with her in October.