Applying to become the next city manager never was in Les Landen’s plans. He was perfectly content serving as the city’s law director, a position he has held for more than 14 years.

But when Judy Gilleland, the city manager, announced she was retiring in June, at about the same time Landen said he “developed an interest in leadership,” he threw his hat in the ring. When Gilleland is unable to attend a City Council meeting, Landen is her replacement.

He was one of the five finalists selected from the 29 applicants, and today and Saturday, Landen and the others — Doug Adkins, director of community revitalization, Middletown; Cathy Davison, former city manager, Steubenville, Ohio; Jane Howington, city manager Newport, R.I.; and Willie Norfleet, city manager, Socorro, Texas — will interview with city officials and the public.

The public portion of the forum will be from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday in the City Council chambers in the lower level of the City Building.

Landen never had applied for any city manager position before, and since he was born and raised in Middletown, the job was more attractive.

“This place is important to me,” said Landen, a 1970 Middletown High School graduate. “It’s Middletown; it’s my home.”

Whoever is the next city manager must understand Middletown has to be “really vigilant” with its finances, Landen said. He said the city isn’t fortunate enough to have the financial resources to make any mistakes.

“We have to run a tight ship to stay on a financial path,” said Landen, who then compared the city’s budget to a household budget. “You can’t spend more money than you bring home in your paycheck.”

That means every decision — like whether to improve the city’s infrastructure or make cuts to public safety — won’t be popular throughout the community, he said. Landen said the city’s budget must be balanced, a practice “we have to do forever.”

Landen was asked to describe his hometown. There was no hesitation.

“This is a positive place right now,” he said. “We have been through a very, very difficult period and that’s important to understand.”

Even before the 2008 Great Recession, the city received a “significant hit” when AK Steel, its largest employer, moved its corporate headquarters down Interstate 75 to West Chester Township. Through it all, he said, Middletown has survived.

“We are still standing,” he said. “Still smiling. We are moving forward.”

Landen knows only one of the five finalists will be offered the city manager’s job. He realizes the odds are long, and if he isn’t offered the job, there would be “a level of disappointment,” he admitted. But the next day, he’d be back in his office, doing his job.

“I will be a good soldier,” Landen said. “I’m here to serve the people.”