In that role, he'll be charged with attracting businesses and revitalizing Ogden's downtown, including overseeing development of a retail, office and housing project that is slated to replace the failed Ogden City Mall.

Reid resigned earlier this month and said he would consider several job offers in the private sector after taking a month of vacation.

Harmer, who had been the city's public-works director since February, when he replaced John Patterson, was endorsed unanimously by the Ogden City Council on Tuesday night.

A resident of Ogden, Harmer was executive director of the Utah Department of Community and Economic Development for nearly three years after being appointed by former Gov. Mike Leavitt. He lost that state job when Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. took office in January.

Harmer has worked in international business in Europe, South America and Asia, and held executive positions in Chicago and Pittsburgh before returning to his native Utah in 1997 to become president of Ogden-based FMC Jetway Systems.

Replacing Harmer as public works director will be George Benford, who has been Ogden's engineering and building-services manager since spring 2003.

- Kristen Moulton