The Avenal City Council is very pleased to announce the selection of Mr. Antony V. López as its next City Manager. Mr. López will be replacing Melissa G. Whitten who served in the role for 25 years after announcing her retirement in August.
Mr. López started with the City of Avenal in March of 2017 as the Associate Planner. Through his work for the City of Avenal, Mr. López has fostered relationships with several community partners across various sectors. He recently directed a collaboration between the City, Avenal Rotary, the Avenal Historical Society & Museum, and the Reef-Sunset Unified School District to plant 215 trees through a ReLeaf grant in Avenal. In cooperation with Code Enforcement, Mr. López led the city-wide mask ordinance and has guided local businesses through the challenges of COVID-19. In May of 2019, he received the prestigious Safety Award Employee of the Year for his passion and diligence while servicing the City. In 2020, Mr. López was the recipient of the Wes McClure Scholarship, presented by the California City Manager’s Foundation (CCMF), which is awarded to the individuals who best demonstrate an interest in a career in local government.
Mr. López holds a Bachelor of Arts from Georgetown University and a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Southern California with a certificate in City/County Management. He is a member of the International City Managers Association (ICMA) and Pi Alpha Alpha (PAA) national honor society. He is the Treasurer for the Avenal Historical Society & Museum, and Technical Director for the Avenal Rotary Club.
Mayor Preciado stated “The City Council is extremely impressed with Antony’s background, skillset, and high ethical standards. He is clearly a talented and respected community member and City employee who will bring a tremendous amount of value, transparency, and innovation to the City of Avenal.”
Mr. López will be paid an annual salary of $118,600 and begun his employment with the City of Avenal October 5.
For more information contact City Clerk, Maria A. Ortiz at 559-386-5782.