With all the coming’s and going’s in California local government, it can be hard to keep track of where your friends are or what’s happening in your neighboring municipalities. But Trackdown Management helps keep the state up-to-date with their newsletter.
PublicCEO presents his Picking Up the Pieces:
Hughson’s new City Manager Raul L. Mendez is a former senior management consultant with the Stanislaus County Chief Executive Office. He takes over for former City Manager Bryan Whitemyer, who left to take the Oakdale City Manager post. Retired Modesto Chief of Police Mike Harden has been serving as the Hughson Interim City Manager during the recruitment. Raul worked for Stanislaus County for 12-years and previously worked for San Jose.
Longtime Republican political strategist and pollster Stephen Kinney passed away last weekend at the age of 69. Steve lost his battle with prostate cancer. He is survived by his wife Cynthia. We met Steve in the early years when he worked for then State Senator George Deukmejian. At his death Steve was a partner of Public Opinion Strategies, L.L.C. In addition to Governor Deukmejian, Steve’s impressive client list included: Governor Peter Wilson, former State Treasurer Matthew Fong; Doug Ose, Jim Brulte, Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe and many others. Steve was born in New Mexico. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1962 to 1966. He lived in Redondo Beach.
More than 7,000 attendees are expected for the 107th Annual Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Conference in San Francisco from June 2 through June 5, 2013. San Francisco Chief Assistant Treasurer Pauline Marx is the current President of the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers (CSMFO).
Retired Simi Valley City Manager Mike Sedell has been appointed to serve on the Ventura County Pension Board. Ventura County Taxpayers Association objected. Mike is a highly respected veteran City Manager.
Moreno Valley City Manager Henry Garcia has resigned. Assistant City Manager Michelle Dawson was elevated to the City Manager post. Henry has agreed to retire effective December 1, 2013. Henry previously served as the City Manager in Rialto.
Ralph Andersen has been selected to do the executive recruitment for the City of Anaheim City Manager position.
C. Raymond Wood was the founding President of the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers (CSMFO), 1958-1959. Ray was the Finance Director in Beverly Hills at the time. R. Neal Bearden of Hayward was the President in 1960.
Stan Dean oversees the work of both the Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District (SRCSD) and the Sacramento Area Sewer District (SASD). Stan joined the Sanitation Districts staff in 1993. He earned a BS from Lafayette College and a MS in Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Davis. SASD serves parts of unincorporated Sacramento County and the cities of Rancho Cordova, Elk Grove and Citrus Heights. Claudia Goss is the District’s Public Affairs Manager.
Veteran City Manager Lee M. Roberts, who served as the Napa City Manager between 1953 and 1977, died on April 29 at the age of 94 in his Sacramento home. He was a stamp collector and enjoyed travelling throughout the world. Lee served as Assistant City Manager in Richmond and Yuba City prior to being appointed Napa City Manager at the age of 34.
Former City Manager Robert “Bud” Ovrom has been appointed Interim Executive Director of the Los Angeles Convention Center. He has been serving as the General Manager of the Los Angeles Department of Building & Safety. Bud previously served as the City Manager in Burbank, Downey and Monrovia.
Long Beach City Manager Pat West has appointed Deputy City Manager Reggie Harrison to lead the new Department of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications; a consolidation effort to improve cost-effective services. Reggie will remain a Deputy City Manager for the immediate future.
Sal Flores of the Irving J. Moskowitz Foundation presented a $10,000 check to Matt Asner, Chair of California Autism Speaks at the Hawaiian Gardens Bingo Club in early May. Matt is a film and television producer and the son of legendary actor Ed Asner. Autism Speaks funds research on effective methods for early Autism diagnosis, and increasing Autism awareness. Ernesto Marquez is the Hawaiian Gardens City Manager.
Biggs City Administrator Mark Sorensen participated in the 105th Anniversary celebration for the Biggs Carnegie Library on Saturday, April 20. It was a grand celebration of 105 years of uninterrupted library service in Biggs. The Biggs Volunteer Action Group and the Biggs Women’s Club hosted the day and planned the event, which included a book sale and crafts for the attending children.
Santa Maria City Manager Rick Haydon served as the Assistant City Manager for 11-years prior to his appointment to replace retired Santa Maria City Manager Tim Ness in January, 2012. Tim served as the Santa Maria City Manager for 16-years.
Walnut Creek City Manager Ken Nordhoff, who has been dealing with an internal investigation of four (4) staff members who were places on administrative leave as part of charges of alleged child sex abuse in the city’s Lesher Center for the Arts, has been removed from the investigation replaced by an independent consultant. The consultant will make discipline recommendations.
Retired La Mirada City Manager Gary K. Sloan and his wife Mary have been living in the Palm Springs area. They have decided to relocate to a home in Corona to be closer to friends and family, though they will miss the convenient golf courses.
Joe Guzzetta, General Manager of the Joshua Basin Water District, is the new Twentynine Palms City Manager beginning in June. Joe is a former City Manager in Desert Hot Springs, Hemet and Corte Madera.
Retired Palm Desert Assistant City Manager Homer Croy is the Interim City Manager who followed retired City Manager Richard Warne.
Visalia Assistant City Manager Mike Olmos will fill in behind the retirement of his boss, City Manager Steve Salomon later this year. Mike worked for Quad- Knopt, the cities of Tulare and Reedley and the County of Tulare before joining the Visalia staff as a City Planner in July, 2001. He was appointed Community Development Director in 2002 and became the Visalia Assistant City Manager in 2005.
Claremont Council Member Joe Lyons injured his hand while working at home on April 22 and was transported to USC Medical Center where he underwent nine hours of surgery. Claremont City Manager Tony Ramos reports that the Councilman is recovering and doing well.
Former Signal Hill Mayor and Council Member Ellen Ward used to refer to Lynn Keyth Durham as “Bull;” a take-off on the Bull Durham movie. Keyth served in Hawaiian Gardens, Rosemead and Temple City before becoming City Manager in Firebaugh. He later served as City Manager in West Wendover, Nevada. Ellen worked in Artesia, Hawaiian Gardens and Paramount before retiring from the City of Santa Ana, all previous to her Signal Hill service. City Manager Dave Brennan of Nevada City is a former Sebastopol City Manager. He took over for the retiring veteran City Manager Gene Albaugh, who is remembered as a fine coach and teacher.
Michael B. Giancola is the new Orange County Executive Officer. He previously served as Orange County’s Director of Waste & Recycling. Mike first join the county staff in 1977 as a Park Attendant at Mile Square Park. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1980 to 1985, and rejoined the county working in the Harbor, Beaches and Parks Department. He went to work for the County’s waste & recycling department in 1986. He has a BA from the University of Phoenix.
Corpus Christi, Texas Assistant City Manager Susan Thorpe previously served as City Manager in the cities of Rowlett and Bedford, Texas. Prior to those assignments Susan serve as the Assistant City Manager in Tracy, California for four and a half years (April, 1993 – September, 1997).
Stephanie Hayes, Deputy Recorder/Billing Clerk in the City of Monticello, Utah, attended Foothill Community College in Mountain View, California.
According to a population report released by the California Department of Finance, Santa Clarita, where Ken Striplin serves as City Manager, is the state’s fastest growing city. Los Angeles remains the state’s largest city with a population of 3,863,839.
Missouri City Manager Frank Simpson, 48, of College Station died of a heart attack at the end of April. Frank served as the City Manager in Missouri City between 2004 and 2011. He was the City Manager in College Station for less than a month, though had served as Deputy City Manager and Interim City Manager replacing retired City Manager David Neely in January. He earned a BA and MPA from Texas A & M University.
Following the resignation of Buellton City Manager John Kunkel, Buellton Planning Director Marc Bierdzinski has been appointed Interim City Manager. Marc joined the Buellton staff in 2005 previously working in the Planning Department in the City of Santa Maria. J
effry Gardner is the City Manager/Finance Director in the City of Plymouth, California. Jeff has a long history of working with local governments as a financial and business consultant. He has worked with Plymouth for the past 23-years. He was appointed City Manager in January, 2011. Jeff graduated from Humboldt State University in Natural Resources Planning, and he is a licensed CPA.
Avery Associates has been retained to assist the City of Pacifica recruit a replacement for retiring City Manager Stephen Rhodes. After about 6-years as the Pacifica City Manager Steve has decided to retire at the end of July.
Portola City Manager Leslie Tigan announced her plans to retire earlier in the year. It appears that Blackville, South Carolina Town Administrator Ian Kaiser will be Leslie’s replacement as the next Portola City Manager. Ian earned an MPA a Golden State University.
Kingsburg City Manager Don Pauley has announced that he will retire in July. He has served as the Kingsburg City Manager for 13-years.
U. S. Army Staff Sergeant Michael H. Simpson, 30, has died of injuries he suffered in a bomb blast in Afghanistan. He is the son of Olmos Park, Texas City Manager Michael W. Simpson. Prior to serving as a City Manager Michael W. Simpson retired as a decorated Army Special Forces Lieutenant Colonel.
Anaheim Public Utilities General Manager Marcie Edwards has been appointed Interim City Manager to fill in behind the resignation of City Manager Bob Wingenroth to become the Assistant City Manager/Chief Financial Officer in Surprise, Arizona. Ralph Anderson & Associates has been retained to conduct a search for a new City Manager. Marcie has indicated that she is not interested in the permanent appointment. Marcie has served as the Public Utilities General Manager since January, 2001. She was Acting Assistant City Manager between 2009 and 2011.
Dinuba Director of Finance Beth Nunes has been appointed to the Dinuba Acting Deputy City Manager position. Beth joined the Dinuba staff more than 14-years ago. City Manager Ed Todd will step down in January allowing him a number of months to work with Beth in preparation for her promotion to City Manager. Finance and Budget Manager Cass Cook has been appointed Acting Finance Director. Also, Community Services Manager John Carrillo has been appointed Acting Parks and Community Services Manager.
Christina Gilmore, Assistant to the Town Manager in the Town of Los Gatos, is currently the President of Municipal Management Association of Northern California (MMANC). Greg Larson is the Los Gatos Town Manager and Pamela Jacobs is the Assistant Town Manager.
In November, 2009 Moreno Valley Assistant City Manager Betsy M. Adams was appointed City Manager in Grand Terrace. Betsy was 51 at the time. She replaced City Manager Tom Schwab, who retired. Betsy worked with Moreno Valley for 19-years, including two-years as the Administrative Services Director, and 5-years as Assistant City Manager.
When San Gabriel City Administrator Robert Clute retired in 1992, 35-year old Alhambra Assistant City Manager P. Michael Paules was appointed to the post. Robert had served 18- years in the position and Mike Paules would do the same. Mike currently teaches at USC.
Lindsay Buckley is the Sustainable Communities Program Coordinator for the Institute for Local Government. She previously served as a Member of the Chico Sustainability Task Force, and before that she served as a Sacramento Valley Energy Program Representative for the Great Valley Center. Lindsay earned a BS from California State University, Chico. JoAnne Speers is the Institute for Local Government Executive Director.