Sarkozy, 46, who currently serves as city manager for Roseville,Minnesota, a town of 34,000, is expected to take over operations ofWashington's fifth largest city at the end of November. He will beresponsible for overseeing 1,100 city workers and a $200 millionannual budget.

Despite the large differences in population, Roseville hasseveral striking similarities with Bellevue, including ahigh-income population and a first-tier job center that features agrowing commercial office core. Among his achievements during his11-year tenure, Sarkozy has been credited with redeveloping partsof the city and attracting outside businesses to the area.

Sarkozy, who has also served as city manager for Wyoming, Mich.,and Geneva, NY, has been awarded a lucrative three-year contractthat includes a $150,000 annual salary, a car allowance, and amonthly housing subsidy of up to $2,250. His salary tops that ofGov. Gary Locke, King County Executive Ron Sims, and Seattle MayorPaul Schell, according to 1999 figures.