DURHAM — One of three men vying to become Durham's next city manager was named today as a finalist for the same post in Wichita, Kan.

Pat Salerno, former city manager of Sunrise, Fla., is in the hunt for the Wichita top job, according to that city's Web site.

Wichita's search is aided by Jim Mercer of The Mercer Group, the same Atlanta firm helping the city of Durham.

In another parallel, Durham finalist George Kolb recently left the city manager job in Wichita. Salerno declined comment when reached Tuesday afternoon.

Salerno and Kolb are joined by Randy Oliver, erstwhile manager of Peoria, Ill. All three finalists recently left their jobs after disagreements with political leadership.

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