Unalaska has tapped a veteran local administrator as its interim city manager.

Donald Moore will fill in for Unalaska's outgoing city manager, Chris Hladick, who's leaving the job after 14 years to become the state's new commerce commissioner.

Moore is a former Cordova and Mat-Su Borough manager who's been a professional fill-in around Alaska for many years, in places like Dillingham, Whittier and Palmer. Unalaska Mayor Shirley Marquardt says he came highly recommended by the city of Nome and the Bristol Bay Borough.

"He really is at the very top of the pool of interim city managers in the state," Marquardt says. "He can probably pick and choose what he wants to do -- he’s semi-retired -- so he’s decided he’d really like to come out to Unalaska. … He doesn’t mind following Chris at all in that."

She says Moore was Hladick’s own suggestion. City councilors gave their approval for the hire in internal discussions. Marquardt hopes to finalize Moore’s contract in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, Chris Hladick's last day on the job will be March 13. Marquardt expects it will take about four months to hire his permanent replacement.

She says she’ll work with city staff, councilors and members of the public to narrow down the applicant pool. And she plans to invite some candidates to meet with residents, before doing final interviews in public at city council. Councilors will ultimately choose an applicant in a private executive session.