With all the comings and goings in California’s local government, knowing where your friends are can be a challenge. Keeping track of the changing dynamics at the top of California’s cities, counties and special districts is former City Manager Jack Simpson and Trackdown. His newsletter, distributed monthly, can be seen free of cost here.
Colma City Administrator Laura Allen has been appointed to serve as the City Manager in Berlin, Maryland. She previously had work assignments with the cities of Berkeley and Phoenix, Arizona.
Deepest condolences to La Mirada Deputy City Manager Anne Haraksin and to her family and friends on the passing of her father Andrew Anthony Haraksin (August, 1932 – June, 2013). RIP!
Stockton City Manager Bob Deis announced that he will retire on November 1 this year. Bob has served as the Stockton City Manager for the past 3-years.
Retired Fairfield City Manager Kevin O’Rourke is currently the Interim City Manager in Santa Ana. He completed “interim management” assignments in Stockton and Woodland. Kevin will be assisting the City of Santa Ana with the recruitment of a new City Manager. Kevin is a past President of the City Managers Department of the League of California Cities; a past member of the ICMA Executive Board; and a former member of the CCMF Board. He continues to serve as a member of the Cal-ICMA Board.
Costa Mesa Sanitary District General Manager Scott Carroll is a former Director of Community Services in Claremont. Prior to that he was as a Management Analyst in Carlsbad. Scott served as the President of MMASC in 2000-2001. Let’s say that Scott likes public agencies with names that begin with the letter “C.”
Bill Fulton, 57, former Ventura Mayor, is the new Director of the San Diego Planning and Neighborhood Restoration Department. He will start his new assignment July 8. Bill is known as a leader in the movement for “smart growth” and “transit-oriented development.”
Former Cudahy City Manager Jack M. Joseph is currently the Deputy Executive Director of the Gateway Cities Council of Governments with offices in Paramount.
Southern California Edison Company has announced the closing of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station calling for the lay-off of some 1,100 employees. San Clemente City Manager Pall Gudgeirsson said that Edison officials, who had been updating the city on an ongoing basis throughout the proposed restart of the facility, had not given any indication that such an announcement was coming.
Former Lemoore City Manager Jeff Briltz has been appointed to the General Manager position for the Templeton Community Services District located in northern San Luis Obispo County between Paso Robles and Atascadero.
Dave Rowlands, 45, is the new City Manager in Fillmore. Dave is currently the City Manager in Clayton, Ohio where he has served for the past dozen years.
Chino Hills Assistant City Manager Kathy Gotch, 60, who began her career as a Student Intern in 1987 in the Chino Hills City Manager’s office, is retiring. Her boss, City Manager Mike Fleager, 57, has announced his retirement in November. Mike has served as City Manager since 2008 when former City Manager Doug LaBelle retired. Kathy has served as Assistant City Manager since 2003.
Former ICMA Executive Director Bill Hansell passed away at the age of 76 on June 4, 2013. Bill served as Executive Director from 1983 to 2002. He most recently served as the County Executive in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. He had resign last month due to health reasons. Current ICMA Executive Director Bob O’Neill said that Bill “…leaves a legacy that will last for generations to come. Bill was a larger-than-life personality who filled a room with energy.” Bill served for nearly 50-years in the public service with several Pennsylvania cities, townships and boroughs.
Aaron Adams is the new City Manager in the City of Temecula where he has been serving in an “interim” capacity.
Former Irvine City Manager and former President of the City Managers Department of the League of California Cities Allison Hart is a Senior Policy Advisor and member of the Board of Directors for The Energy Coalition. The coalition is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization of energy architects who generates capital for communities through energy. Allison also previously served on the CCMF Board.
Lomita City Manager Michael Rock is approaching his first anniversary in his current position. When he first left the Town Manager post in Fairfax, Judy Anderson was appointed Interim Town Manager. In February, 2013 Garrett Toy became the Fairfax Town Manager. Michael served as the Fairfax Town Manager for four and a half years. He took over in Lomita upon the retirement of Dawn Tomita.
Tulare Assistant City Manager Randy Murphy, who commutes to the city from Northern California, has announced his resignation. Tulare City Manager Don Dorman said that he is sad to see Randy leave the city staff. Prior to joining the Tulare staff Randy worked for Glenn County. Don indicates that there are plans to re-fill the ACM post.
Norco City Manager Beth Groves, 52, has announced her retirement. She has served as the Norco City Manager for the past four-years. She will become an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the California Baptist University in Riverside. Her last day in Norco will be August 1.
Edna, Texas City Manager Ken Knight earned a BA in Political Science from California State University, San Francisco and an MPA from California State University, Sonoma. He is a native of the State of Maine.
Darrell Essex retired in June, 1996 after serving as Cypress City Manager for 34-years. He took the position in 1962 when the city’s population was 4,000, made up of dairymen and chicken ranchers. Darrell was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado and grew up in nearby Pueblo. In junior college he was part of a national champion debate team, and was recruited by USC, where he earned a BA and MPA. Prior to joining the Cypress staff, Darrell served as the Assistant City Manager in Santa Fe Springs starting in 1957.
Longtime Glendale Assistant City Manager Charles “Chuck” Briley died at the age of 86 in April, 2000. He joined the Glendale staff in 1947 and retired from the city in 1977. He served as Interim City Manager from December, 1947 to January, 1948, and again from September, 1950 to February, 1952. Chuck was President of the Kiwanis Club of Glendale in 1955.
Marysville City Manager Stephen R. Casey has previously served as City Manager in Avenal, Crescent City, and Solvang. He earned a BA in Political Science from California State University, Stanislaus.
Former Assembly Member and Lakewood Mayor and Council Member Paul Zeltner, a native of Philadelphia, served as a Navy seaman during World War II and spent 26 years with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department before retiring as a Captain in 1974. Paul maintained his Assembly District office at Bellflower City Hall.