Interim City Manager Joe B. Montez said Friday afternoon that he has been asked by the City Council to negotiate salary and benefits with one of two finalists for Beeville’s city manager position.

Montez did not say which of the candidates, John Longoria or Tom Ginter, he would be negotiating with first.

If the negotiations with the council’s first choice do not meet the criteria of the council, Montez will be authorized to negotiate with the other finalist.

Montez said a decision as to which candidate will be approached with a job offer first could have come as early as Tuesday evening when the council met in executive session, but the council took no action in open session later.

Both men have master’s degrees. Ginter earned a master’s in public administration from the University of Oklahoma and he has worked with Main Street Programs.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in his native Illinois and has extensive experience as both a city manager and an assistant city manager.

He has been the interim director of public works in Port Aransas since April.

Longoria is a native of Beeville and a 1977 graduate of A.C. Jones High School.

He has a bachelor of science degree from Texas A&M University at College Station and a master of business administration from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio.

Montez said the council made its decision following interviews with both finalists which began during the noon hour Friday and continued until midafternoon.