Trackdown Management’s City Manager Newsletter: Volume No. 13, Issue No. 12
For over 13 years, Jack Simpson’s Trackdown Management has published the City Manager Newsletter. Jack is a retired city manager and former Willdan executive. His newsletter content weaves together the personal side of the profession in California and helps keep the city manager community, especially retired city managers, connected with each other.
We apologize for our stupidity! We misstated Tracy City Manager Jenny Haruyama’s career path on Page 9 of the June 2020 Special issue of the City Manager Newsletter by Trackdown (Vol. 13, No. 11). While indicating that Scotts Valley City Manager Tina Friend took her position behind Jenny’s exit to take a new City Manager position, we wrongfully said that Jenny went to Livermore, rather than her actual destination: Tracy. We apologize to Jenny and Tina.
Toni Lundgren is the new Deputy City Manager in the City of Manteca effective July 1. She previously served as the Deputy Director of the Parks and Recreation Department. She joined the Manteca city staff in 2007 as a Recreation Supervisor. Toni earned a BA in recreation administration from California State University, Sacramento, and will graduate in 2021 with an MPA from California State University, Long Beach. She joins the Manteca executive team of City Manager Miranda Lutzow and Assistant City Manager Lisa Blackmon.
Monterey Park Director of Management Services Chu Thai is the new City Manager in the City of Westminster. Chu began his public services career in 1995 as a Management Analyst in Claremont during Glenn Southard’s tenure as Claremont City Manager. In 1999 Chu went to Tustin as a Senior Management Analyst, and in 2001 he was hired as the Budget Manager in Morgan Hill. Chu joined the Beverly Hills city staff in 2006 as Budget & Management Officer, and in 2009 he was appointed Finance Director in South Pasadena. In 2012 Chu was appointed Administrative Services Director in the City of Stanton, and in 2016 he left that post for Monterey Park.
Rob Dumouchel of Eureka is the final candidate for the City Manager position of Homer, Alaska. Rob joined the Eureka city staff in 2016 when he went to work for the Parks and Recreation Department. He served in the U.S. Army from 2001 to 2004 as a Korean Language Trained Signals Intelligence Analyst. He earned an AA from Allan Hancock College in Santa Monica, and a BS in environmental management, and an MS from Humboldt State University in Arcata.
Norco City Manager Andy Okoro is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Andy was appointed City Manager in June 2013. He served as the Controller for the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority from December 1999 until March 2003, when he joined the Norco city staff as Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer. Andy earned a BBA from Wichita State University and an MS in accounting and finance from the University of Houston.
Former Montebello City Manager Francesca TuckerSchuyler filed a whistleblower action alleging retaliation and discrimination. She worked for the city from 2010 until she was dismissed in 2019. She served on administrative leave for the last two years. The lawsuit indicates that the City gave no explanation or reason for her termination.
Carlo Tomaino is the new Assistant City Manager in the City of La Mesa. Carlo has worked the past 13-years for the City of Lake Forest, where he served as Economic Development Manager. He joined the Lake Forest city staff in November 2007 in the Public Works Department. Carlo earned a BA in political science, and an MPA from California State University, Fullerton.
San Luis Obispo declared “racism” a public health emergency. This allows the city to direct funding to address public health problems experienced by marginalized communities, according to Assistant to the City Manager Ryan Betz. The City may use the funds to provide mental and physical health services, public safety programs and more, according to Ryan. Kenneth S. Whorton was born in August 1938. Ken began his public service career in 1965 as an Administrative Intern in the City of Fresno, and in 1966 he took an internship in the City of Ontario. After being hired in Ontario as an in Administrative Assistant in 1966, and being promoted in 1969 to Senior Administrative Assistant, Ken took a City Supervisor position in Selah, Washington in 1972. In 1975 Ken was appointed City Manager in Port Angeles, Washington, and in 1979 he became the City Manager in Milwaukie, Oregon. In 1981 he became the Vice President for Administrative Serves for the Columbia Christian College in Oregon (1981- 1984). After working in Personnel and Employment Relations for Clark County, Washington, Ken was appointed City Manager in La Grande, Oregon (1986-1990). In 1990 he returned to California to serve as the Town Manager in Paradise (1990-1996), and then Farmersville (1998-2000). Kenneth earned a BA from Fresno State University and an MGA from the University of Pennsylvania. In 1998 he received a 30- year ICMA Service Award.
California State Controller Betty T. Yee’s Government Compensation in California for 2019 reports: 469 cities reporting a total of 329,626 city employees paid Total Wages of $23,205,623,593. The Top Ten City Managers Wages paid showed in the cities of: Montebello, Santa Clara, Gardena, Richmond, Santa Ana, Palo Alto, Inglewood, Alameda, Whittier, and Fairfield.
John Tresidder was appointed last month to serve as the Director of Legislative Services/City Clerk in the City of Manteca.
Megan Shimada is a Recreation Supervisor for the City of Los Alamitos, who studied at Loyola Marymount University after graduating from Newport Harbor High School.
Prince E. Pierson served as the Calexico City Manager in 1969-1973, before he started working as the Indian Wells City Manager in May, 1975.
Michael Tollefson, former Superintendent of Yosemite National Park and President & CEO of the Yosemite Conservancy, is currently a consultant who lives in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Calexico City Manager David B. Dale resigned effective August 1, 2020 after three years on the job.
Gary Nordquist, Wildomar City Manager, earned a BA and MPA from California State University, Long Beach, after earning an AA from El Camino College.
Lou Shepard tells us that retired City Manager Keith Till worked as a reporter for THE RICHMOND INDEPENDENT during the time that Lou was the San Pablo City Manager more than 43- years ago, and he contends that Keith “…did good work.”
Steven J. Gomez is the Director of Recreation and Community Services in the City of Hawaiian Gardens.
Retired Vista City Manager Rita Geldert, a former President of the California City Management Foundation (CCMF), earned a BA from California State University, Chico, and an MBA from the University of California, Davis.
University of Southern California (USC) public administration Professor Mark Pisano served as the Executive Director of the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) from September 1976 until December 2008; a period of 32 years and 4 months.