Minnesota House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, who lost the DFL primary for governor last month and didn't file for reelection to the Legislature, turned up Wednesday on a list of finalists for the job of Minneapolis parks superintendent. Also named were Stanley Motley, who directs parks in Fulton County, Ga., and Steve Rymer, who holds a similar position in Morgan Hill, Calif. Kelliher lives in the Bryn Mawr neighborhood of Minneapolis.

The selection of the three finalists means the nine-member Park Board, which has shown some friction over how to hire a new superintendent, can choose from among two park professionals and a well-connected politician. Some board members feel that the post isn't drawing the quality field of applicants that a nationally renowned park system should, and they want to further extend taking applications while a national convention of park professionals hits town this fall.

Board president John Erwin disagreed, saying, "We have three people I'm very proud to name." He said another potential finalist took a job elsewhere and another was eliminated when an issue arose during background checks.

Kelliher's resume lists no experience comparable to running the park system. She released a statement saying that she was pleased to be a finalist. "Our parks system is a national treasure that has always grown to reflect the needs of a changing city," she said. "Creating and maintaining unique recreational spaces in one of the Midwest's premiere parks settings is an exciting opportunity to serve our community."

The board hopes to interview the finalists during its first meeting in October.

The announcement came even as interim superintendent David Fisher announced a new administrative structure that the new superintendent will inherit. The system of five associate superintendents is one Fisher used when he headed city parks for 18 years.

Taking the top posts will be Corky Wiseman, recreation; Mike Schmidt, operations; Karen Robinson, administration, and Don Siggelkow, development. An associate for planning has yet to be named.

Among those losing their jobs in the reorganization is Richard Mammen, who headed recreation and is a candidate for school board. Mammen said that he had hoped to stay on the job into next year but can return to a consultant organization he helped lead.

Motley has headed Fulton County parks twice, from 1995 to 2000 and again starting last year. His resumé includes 30 years in parks and recreation, including leadership roles in Illinois, Missouri, New York and Florida, according to his biography.

Rymer heads parks under a seven-member commission in a city of 33,000 people that has experienced rapid growth as a Silicon Valley suburb.

The Minneapolis post opened when the board voted 6-3 in February not to renew the contract of Jon Gurban.

Steve Brandt • 612-673-4438