The Lincoln City Council has unanimously selected Daniel Hunter as the permanent City Manager, capping a leadership transition that began with the resignation of former City Manager Daphnee Legarza in June 2025.

“Lincoln City is a beautiful community with an engaged population. It is the kind of place city managers hope to end up.” — Daniel Hunter

The decision was made during the council’s meeting on Monday, January 26. Hunter, who has served as city manager pro tem since October 13, 2025, stepped into the interim role after a period of instability that included the brief tenure of prior interim manager David Benson, whose contract was terminated without cause in July 2025.

As previously reported in our September 30, 2025, article “Hunt On for New City Manager”, the city launched an open search following Legarza’s departure after three years of service. The position—overseeing a $105.7 million budget, 160 full-time employees, and a tourism-heavy community where the population balloons from about 10,000 residents to over 30,000 in summer—remained open beyond the initial October 10, application deadline, with qualifications emphasizing a bachelor’s degree, senior management experience, and expertise in coastal planning, budgeting, and labor relations.

Our October coverage “Lincoln City Names Daniel Hunter Interim Manager” detailed Hunter’s appointment as pro tem, selected for his 11 years of Oregon local government experience, including his progression from Administrative Fellow to Human Resources Director at the City of The Dalles. Mayor Susan Wahlke expressed optimism at the time, stating she was “pleased that Daniel Hunter has accepted the pro tem manager position” and looked forward to working with him.

In the months since, Hunter has had the chance to lead in an acting capacity, build relationships with staff and council, and demonstrate his fit for Lincoln City’s needs as a vibrant coastal community along Highway 101, known for its beaches, casino, outlet mall, and seasonal influx of visitors.

During Monday’s vote, the council made the role permanent. Mayor Susan Wahlke shared: “Since Daniel Hunter has served for the last few months in a temporary capacity, Council and staff have been able to learn his leadership style and how it works for Lincoln City. He has been able to get to know us and is happy here. On January 26th Council agreed to hire Daniel Hunter as our next City Manager. I look forward to Mr. Hunter being a part of our community.”

Hunter, a U.S. Air Force veteran who earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Linfield College and a Master’s in Public Administration while working for the Montana Department of Transportation, responded enthusiastically: “Lincoln City is a beautiful community with an engaged population. It is the kind of place city managers hope to end up. It is my honor to serve this community and the City Council as your City Manager.”

With his background in municipal HR, policy, and administration, Hunter is well-positioned to address ongoing priorities, including updating the city’s master plan, managing development impacts from tourism and short-term rentals, and fostering community partnerships.