It was after midnight before Charlotte city leaders broke from a closed door session.

They are trying to decide who the next city manager will be. As it turns out, they need more time.

The three candidates had up close and personal conversations with the public for the first time Wednesday night.

Citizens learned the candidates have very different backgrounds.

The three remaining candidates are as follows:

Ron Kimble is an assistant city manager who has been involved in some of Charlotte's biggest economic development projects and the point person in the city's negations with the Carolina Panthers.

Ruffin Hall is also an assistant city manager who was the city's budget director and likely has a very firm grasp of the city's finances.

Ron Carlee is now the CEO of the International City and County Management Association.  Before that he was county manager in Arlington, Va.

The last two city managers have been internal candidates, but some sources are telling Eyewitness News there is a preference among some council members for an outsider.

Citizens said they knew about the candidate resumes, but it was good to see their personalities.

“I wanted to come down and speak to all three of them and get a feel,” said Charlotte resident Vickie Fewell.