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:

Hanford named former interim City Clerk Pam McCarthy to the Interim City Manager post in April. She replaces Interim City Manager Ron Hoggard, who resigned to campaign for a Kings County Board of Supervisor’s post.

Melanie Arner Corona, retired City Manager Brock Arner‘s little girl, formerly with Piper Jaffray, is now the Gilroy Downtown Business Association Coordinator.

Wasco ACM Dan J. Allen is now the Wasco City Manager.

Clearlake City Manager Joan Phillipe credits Public Works Director Doug Herren for the California Boating and Waterways grant the city will use to upgrading boating facilities at Redbud Park. She also credits staff member Adeline Brown.

City of Anaheim Administrative Analyst Brad McKinney is now working as a Senior Administrative Analyst for Claremont City Manager Tony Ramos.

Fairfax Town Manager Michael Rock, 47, is the new Lomita City Manager. His last day in Fairfax is June 22.

Kimberly Hall Barlow Chairs WTLC, a domestic violence shelter and provider of transitional housing services. The Fullerton Chamber of Commerce presented WTLC with their 2012 Quality of Life Award. Kimberly is the City Attorney for Costa Mesa.

Hercules City Manager Steve Duran began his career in real estate in 1975. In 1998 he went to work for the San Jose RDA, and in 2002 he became the Richmond Community & Economic Development Director and Executive Director of the Richmond RDA. Steve was appointed Hercules City Manager in October, 2011.

A jury has ruled in favor of the City of Colton and against its former Chief of Police Ken Rulon, in a wrongful termination lawsuit Ken brought against the city in 2007. Attorney John Higginbotham, who defended Colton and its former City Manager Daryl Parrish, now the City Manager of Covina, was not surprised by the verdict.

Since the dismissal of City Manager Steve Hallam in April, 2011 Oakdale has developed a team of interim executives. Interim City Manager Greg Wellman and Stan Feathers and Dee Tatum currently serve the city. Greg Wellman retired as the Atwater City Manager in November, 2010, and his ACM Stan Feathers was appointed Interim City Manager in Atwater, where he served until April, 2011. Dee Tatum is a former Merced County CEO.

In February, Forbes released a list of the worst places to live in the country. Six California cities made the list: Sacramento at No. 5; Stockton at No. 11; Merced at No. 15; Bakersfield at No. 17; Vallejo at No. 18; and Modesto at No. 19. Forbes devises their list by looking at the 200 largest metropolitan areas in the country and ranks factors that include: crime, unemployment, foreclosures, taxes, commute times and the success of sports teams.

Englander Knabe & Allen (EKA) has been ranked by the Los Angeles Business Journal as the largest Los Angeles Based Independent Public Relations Agency. EKA is a strategic communications firms specializing in lobbying, public affairs, issues and crisis communications and litigation support.

Whittier City Manager Jeff Collier addressed the Friendly Hills Property Owners Association in Whittier, noting that there are reasons for optimism that the local economy is turning around for the better.

Santa Cruz Fire Department Battalion Chief Mike Venezio earned a total salary last year of $229,692, of which $48,656 was for overtime. Santa Cruz City Manager Martin Bernal earned $187,305. Of course, as in most places, the city manager works long hours, but does not get compensated for overtime.

Ridgecrest City Manager Kurt O. Wilson is a former member of the Rialto City Council. He is an alumnus of the University of La Verne. Kurt was among the rescue workers providing medical assistance at Ground Zero of the 9-11 terrorist attack.

Artesia City Manager Maria Dadian has a degree in Sociology from California State University, Los Angeles. She worked in South El Monte and Hawaiian Gardens before joining the Artesia staff in 1994. Maria was appointed Artesia City Manager in 2000.

Weed City Administrator Ronald Stock previously served as City Manager in Leesburg, Florida and then City Administrator of Lamar, Colorado. He started in Weed in March, 2012.