Clint Middleton knows Clarion. Essentially, it would be hard not to know the community you’ve lived in for the last forty years. Middleton also cares deeply about Clarion and its residents. In fact, he is so invested in Clarion that he applied and eventually accepted a job that he originally had no designs on. Now, a few months later, he is busy at city hall as Clarion’s new city administrator.
Middleton’s path to the administrator seat was a winding one. He explains that he moved to Clarion in the early 80s and graduated from the local high school. After that, he made his way around the state a bit. He earned an education degree from UNI and then found himself teaching in southern Iowa for a time. He then went back to Iowa State to studygraphic design.
When Middleton found himself back in Clarion, we worked as a designer for SportsGraphics for a couple years. He eventually moved on to Hagie Manufacturing where he was employed for over a decade in various leadership and management roles. Throughout all of this, he also held a seat on the C-G-D school board for almost 20 years.
Middleton explains that these positions and all the others along the way were setting him up for something great. “Every job and post I held along the way taught me something important,” he says. The experiences he gained were varied, unique and informative. Apparently, people around Middleton took notice of his experiences and leadership qualities, because last fall he was asked to do something that he was not planning on- apply to be the city administrator of Clarion.
This all came about last September. After the city parted ways with former city administrator Jordan Cook, they started to look for their next leader. Andy Young, one of the councilmen who was on the hiring committee, explained that the council was hoping to find someone who was going to stick around. “We wanted someone who was not going to use Clarion as a springboard.”
Even though he originally did not see it himself, other people around Middleton saw him as that leader the city needed. Middleton admits he personally was not thinking about applying for the job. But when he was approached by various people, including business leaders in the community, his interest was piqued. While at first he had his doubts, Middleton says he understood the pleas of the community. “They felt that our town needed stability, not a stepping stone. They were looking for someone who already had an interest in the community.”
Middleton says he started to ask questions. He talked to community members, he met with the mayor and council members to ask what they were looking for and what the position would entail, and he finally formally applied.
The interview process was rigorous. He guessed that he went through over 16 hours of interviews and discussions with everyone from the council to current city staff to community members. Young, who had been helping with administrative duties, admits that he put Middleton through the wringer. “I handed him a city report without giving him much background on it and asked what he could make of it,” Young chuckles. He was then impressed with the incites that Middleton provided after asking a few questions and looking the report over. Finally, at the November 5 city council meeting, the council voted to offer Middleton an employment agreement for the city administrator/clerk position.
After about two and half months in the position, Middleton says there has not been a dull minute yet. Whether he’s preparing for council meetings, meeting with concerned citizens about ordinances, or figuring out how to better handle late water bills, he has been busy. He laughs and says, “Not one day has gone exactly as planned,” but says he likes the variety and is eager to learn.
Middleton also explains that he will be taking part in various workshops and classes over the next few years to fill in the gaps. There will be budget workshops, clerk certifications, leadership academies and more on tap for Middleton. Mayor Duane Asbe appreciates his eagerness to learn. “Clint has a good foundation but he is willing to acknowledge where he needs to grow and is excited to learn.”
Even as he furthers his education, Middleton is already working to better Clarion. He says, “I want to tackle items that will help the community grow. I plan to work on those things that will bring families to town and BACK to town.” For him, that means confronting everything from ordinance enforcement to wastewater to a recreation center. “We can’t do everything at once, but we can sustain consistent progress,” he adds.
Both the mayor and councilman Young are also excited for Middleton’s visions for the future of Clarion. “As a lifelong resident, he knows what’s right for Clarion. He can keep things in perspective and set appropriate goals for us,” Asbe states. Young agrees, saying, “I already see people embracing his strong voice and leadership skills around the city.”
Middleton plans to continues these positive steps for the foreseeable future. He does not hesitate to say that he plans to stick around city hall for a while. “Before I applied for his job, I said my next job will be the one I retire in,” he asserts. Even after a few crazy months, he is sticking with that promise.
When he is not taking care of the business of the city, Middleton enjoys following his daughter’s sporting events. Morgan is a junior at C-G-D High School while his wife Mandi is an elementary literacy coach in the district. He also enjoys cheering on the Iowa State Cyclones.
Middleton is looking forward to opportunities he sees for Clarion over the long term. “I’m most excited that people in Clarion are optimistic about the future. Hopefully we’ll change for the better by the time I retire.” In the meantime, Middleton invites citizens to visit with him and bring him their concerns about the city. “I want to help people get answers and solve the problems,” he declares. So far, he has been doing just that.
