A little less than two years after scandal nearly destroyed the Los Angeles suburb of Bell, a new and permanent city manager has been named. Doug Willmore will assume his new duties on June 1.
The city council voted 4-0 on Tuesday to appoint Willmore, who was selected out of a field of 72 applicants. In his new role, Willmore will earn $175,000 per year. His contract will be for three years.
“One of the reasons I considered Bell was because of the respect that I gained very quickly for the City Council members,” Willmore said in a statement. “In addition, in meeting with a group of citizens during the interview process, I fell in love with the citizens and the community in just a brief meeting. I don’t shrink from the issues that Bell faces, and I think the future is a bright one.”
The task of leading Bell forward will be sizeable. The actions of Robert Rizzo and six others who once led the city left its finances in shambles and now face numerous charges of public corruption and fraud.
Willmore had previously served as city manager in El Segundo and Salt Lake City.