A guide to the recent news with California’s City Managers. This most recent edition includes the comings and goings to city managers, the trial by fire situation with San Luis Obispo’s new city manager, city officials react to accusations of a city manager and more.



  • Talk about a trial by fire. She’s not even on the job yet, and already Katie Lichtig is facing her first controversy as San Luis Obispo’s new city manager. And it’s not even of her making.  – San Luis Obispo Tribune

  • The Arcata City Council heard reports from several city departments during closed session discussions last week for the filling of the city manager position.  – The Times-Standard

  • Covina officials react to accusations of city manager, finance director.  City officials spoke in support of two top executives this week after a Colton councilman accused the men of making budgetary mistakes during the executives’ stints in Colton. – The San Gabriel Valley Tribune

  • Seaside residents and supporters of suspended Police Chief Steve Cercone again demanded his reinstatement and the firing of the city manager at a packed City Council meeting Thursday.  – The Monterey County Herald

  • San Luis Obispo City Council named Katie Lichtig as its new City Manager, a position that will pay her $221,000 annually. Lichtig will replace Ken Hampian, who will leave on Jan. 13 after serving 20 years with the city and nine as the city manager. Lichtig will begin on Jan. 19. – PublicCEO.com

  • The former city manager of Lomita, who was forced out of his job less than three weeks ago, has landed a new position in Rancho Palos Verdes. – The Daily Breeze

  • Sixteen business and community leaders picked by Mayor Ann Johnston and City Council members were at City Hall on Thursday to tell the company conducting the recruitment for a city manager what kind of person they would like that manager to be.

    Interim City Manager Kevin O’Rourke introduced to them Eric Middleton of Alliance Resource Consulting LLC, who said: “I need to know what’s worked. I need to know what hasn’t worked.” – The Stockton Record

  • Lakeport City Council members will create a list of promising applicants from the 61 people who applied for city manager. – The Lake County Record-Bee

  • For 25 of those years, Jack Simpson served as City Manager or City Administrator for the cities of Hawaiian Gardens, Paramount and Bellflower. Read his monthly City Manager Newsletter here. – PublicCEO.com

More City Manager news, contact the editor at jspencer@publicCEO.com