BILLINGS- The current city employee at the top of management celebrated retirement Thursday afternoon.
Billings City Administrator Bruce McCandless will finish his career this week.
McCandless has worked in several jobs with the city of Billings. He has been the interim city administrator since January.
Family and friends along with co-workers from the past and present enjoyed one last party with McCandless Thursday as a city employee, at the Billings Public Library’s Royal Johnson Community Room.
McCandless started as assistant city administrator in 1990, left in 1994, returned to Billings in 1998 and returned to working with the city in 2000.
McCandless took the city’s top job last year when his former boss, City Administrator Tina Volek, retired. He’ll be replaced by Chris Kukulski, the former Bozeman city administrator selected by the Billings City Council this fall.
He has also worked in Kansas, Idaho, Michigan and Colorado.
He says he enjoyed time with the residents, the city council and the city workers.
“It sounds kind of cliche but it’s the people that I get to work with,” McCandless said about what he will miss. “Our city employees are so dedicated to the work that they do. We need to be better about telling our story and good news stories. It has been such a pleasure working for the city. The job has been rewarding. The pay has allowed me to support my family well.”
The last official day for Bruce McCandless is Friday.
He says he and his wife of 31 years, Sheryl, will continue living in Billings.
And he may consider serving on a city advisory board.
