DURHAM - City Council members emerged after a two-hour closed session without any news about who will replace Patrick Baker as city manager.

The council will resume the meeting at 11 a.m. Thursday in City Hall.

George Kolb, Randy Oliver and Pat Salerno are vying for the city's top job. Each has recently left a manager position over disagreements with the political leadership of Wichita, Kan., Peoria, Ill. and Sunrise, Fla., respectively.

City Council members have said they want a manager with years of managerial experience, something Baker did not bring when he took the reins. All three finalists are in their late 50s and have decades of experience working in city halls across the country.

Baker announced in December he would leave the city manager's office in July to become the city attorney. Baker was an assistant city attorney in 2004 when he was named interim manager. He was named the permanent manager in 2005.

While he was credited with helping shepherd downtown revitalization efforts and improving employee morale, he was dogged by a series of scandals. Baker was criticized for his handling of the Duke lacrosse case, which led to a still-pending civil lawsuit, as well as revelations that lead had leeched into some drinking water.

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