WICHITA FALLS, Texas (KAUZ) - City officials, local leaders, business owners and more gathered at the MPEC Monday evening to get their first look at Wichita Falls' next city manager - although it is not yet clear who that will be.

The next manager will come from a pool of five candidates, all of whom attended the meet-and-greet function held in on of the banquet halls at the Ray Clymer Exhibit Hall. The event offered a laid-back chance for those interested to gain insight and familiarity with the finalists.

Mayor Tim Short said the event was equally important for both the candidates and the city as a whole to get to know each other.

“These are folks who who are very involved in the community at all different levels, boards and commissions. They’re developers, they’re economic developers, they’re people who, who are extremely involved in our local government who help drive our community in the direction that that we want to go. It was very important for them to get an opportunity to meet our candidates here, and it was also just as important for our candidates to get an opportunity to meet more than just the Council representatives,” Short said.

Short added that priorities for the candidate include strong problem-solving, good customer service and a focus on economic development for the city.

City Press Information Officer Chris Horgen echoed Short's sentiments on how involved the city manager is in the day-to-day of the city's operations and how the chosen candidate will affect both city employees and residents.

"I'm just on the bus, essentially the city manager drives the bus. You know, there are times when I have to go off the bus and do work and take care of things and whatever and but I'm back on the bus and that's what everybody is. But that city manager is who's driving the bus. So it's important for everybody that works for the city to know that we've got a leader and have confidence in them, hoping they get somebody good. I think they will. I have faith in them that they will, but it affects everybody in the city as far as you know, how the city works and how the city runs and it whether you work for the city or not it, it's going to affect you eventually," Horgen said.

The Wichita Falls City Council will meet in executive session on Tuesday, March 25 at 8 a.m. to interview the candidates, although the pick may not be finalized or made public until a later date.