With all the comings and goings 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 Jack Simpson’s Picking Up the Pieces.

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City Manager Patricia Martel of Daly City, an ICMA past President, recently attend a conference in Hobart, Tasmania, AUS. While Pat was out of the office Joseph F. Curran served as the Acting City Manager. Joe’s “day job” is serving as the Director of Library and Recreation Services, as well as Assistant to the City Manager for Daly City. Joe earned a BA and MPA from the University of California, Irvine. Joe joined the Daly City staff in 1996 after working about 5-years as a Management Analyst for the City of Norwalk (1991-1996).

Lake Havasu City, Arizona’s City Manager Clarence “Charlie” Cassens has announced that he will retire at the end of 2017. He plans to leave his position on December 28. He was hired as the Interim City Manager in October, 2009. The “Interim” was dropped in June, 2010. Charlie is from San Diego, California, he worked for the Otay Municipal Water District (1987-2001). He was the Lake Havasu City Public Information Officer prior to being elevated to City Manager. Charlie is a 2013 graduate of the Arizona City/County Management Associations Harvard Senior Executive Program.

Beverly Hills Assistant to the City Manager Timothy Hou earned a BS and MPA from Cornell University, and an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania. Timothy began his career as a Management Assistant in the City of Long Beach in July, 2007. He also worked for Burbank and Burbank Water and Power before joining the Beverly Hills city staff in August, 2016.

Weed City Administrator Ronald W. Stock is a former City Administrator in Lamar, Colorado. Ron has been in Weed since 2012. Ron also served as the City Manager in Leesburg, Florida; Craig, Colorado; and County Administrator in Wabasha, Minnesota. Ron also was the City Attorney in Sterling, Aspen and Steamboat Springs, Colorado. He earned a Law Degree from the University of Denver. In 2011 he received a 30-year ICMA Service Award.

Martinez Assistant to the City Manager Michael Chandler has authored a report being on joining the Marin Clean Energy program that promises to supply electricity from cleaner sources than PG&E. One of the goals of the Martinez Climate Action Plan, adopted in June, 2009, is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from sources within the city limits.

Hugh McKinley retired as the City Manager in Glendale in December, 1983. Hugh was hired in Glendale in 1978 after he had served as the San Diego City Manager from 1975 to 1978. Hugh started his career in Oregon where he went to college, earning a BA from Reed College. He first worked for Corvallis as an Administrative Assistant in 1952. In September, 1953 Hugh was appointed City Manager in Sutherlin, Oregon. He moved from there in 1956 to become the City Manager in Grants Pass, Oregon. He left there in October, 1960 to serve about 15 years as the City Manager in Eugene, Oregon, moving to California in 1978. Hugh served as an ICMA Regional Vice President on the Executive Board in 1969-1971. Hugh worked in the private sector from 1988 until 1990.

Jeff Milkes started as the new Recreation and Community Services Director in Cupertino in January, 2017. Jeff, previously worked as the Parks and Recreation Manager for Southeast Portland, Oregon. He took over the Cupertino post from Acting Director Christine Hanel, who served in the position after the retirement of Carol Atwood. Mike earned a BA in Recreation and Park Management from the University of Oregon, and an MA in Recreation, Tourism and Resource Development from Texas A & M University.

The original name for the City of Pleasanton was “Alisal.” One of California’s must mythic characters, Joaquin Murrieta, is said to have spent time in Alisal.

Sutter Creek City Manager Amy Gedney also serves the city as their Public Works Manager. Amy was first appointed Interim City Manager in January, 2014. She previously worked for Modesto, and as the City Manager in Gustine. At this point, Susan Peters continues to serve as Interim City Manager in Jackson. By the way, the City of Jackson has a Police Officer with the same name as NCIS super star Mark Harmon!

William R. Smith is the current Colton City Manager starting in 2015. He previously worked as the Colton Community Services Director from 2004 to 2015. He earned an MPA from Bellevue University.