REEDSPORT — City Council members called it one of the toughest decisions they’ve ever had to make.

The councilors had met twice in executive session. Then they named Reedsport’s new city manager — Scott Somers, the assistant city manager in Savage, Minn.

“I couldn’t be happier,” Somers said when told of the council’s decision. “I think it will be a nice fit and I’m really looking forward to doing some great things in Reedsport.”

Somers, who beat out Douglas County Assistant Planner Jonathan Wright and long-time Reedsport resident John Lechuga for the position, said he’s been trying to do his homework, checking Web sites to prepare for his relocation.

“But I was careful not to fall in love with anything for fear I might jinx myself,” he said.

Although he’s taking over a town that, like most small towns in the United States, is trying to rebound economically and give itself a bright future, Somers said he’s looking forward to the challenges.

“I see a lot of potential,” he said.

The opening drew 15 people who applied for the position, vacated after Rick Hohnbaum’s resignation in August.

The council was able to narrow the field to three candidates.

“We had three really great candidates and it was a real struggle to pick one,” Councilman Bill Otis said. “Hopefully, that’s what we did.”

The vote was 5-1, with Councilman Bill Walker casting the one vote against Somers.

“I was going to abstain, because I felt one of the other candidates was a better fit,” Walker said.

It wasn’t just Walker who found the decision difficult.

“I’ve been through this search and interview process at both county and city levels before,” Reedsport Mayor Keith Tymchuk said. “This was the toughest one by far.”

Tymchuk, like the other council members said all three candidates possessed certain strengths that made them hard to vote against.

“We did our job as a council well, I think,” Tymchuk said. “We listened to what each other had to say and for me, it came down to experience and I think Mr. Somers has shown that he has that.”

While the decision has been made, it won’t be finalized until the council is able to meet with Somers on contract negotiations, which will be handled by the board as a whole, instead of an appointed committee.