Trackdown Management’s City Manager newsletter: Volume No. 15: Issue No. 9
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.
Heidi Leatherwood is the new City Clerk in the City of Greeley, California. Heidi comes to Greeley from Erie, Colorado where she served as Town Clerk. She previously worked as a Deputy City Clerk in Boulder, Colorado and as an administrator in the Loveland City Clerk’s Office. Heidi earned a BA and a Master’s degree in curriculum and instructional design from Colorado Christian University. She is a Certified Municipal Clerk.
Tom Westbrook has served as the Interim City Manager in the City of Red Bluff since February 1, 2022. He is the next Red Bluff City Manager. He was the Community Development Director starting in September 2021. Tom previously served as the City Manager in the City of Ceres. Tom worked in Ceres for more than 20-years, starting in January 2001 as an Associate Planner. Tom earned a BA from California State University, Chico.
Veteran City Manager and public management executive Allen Parker has hung out a shingle to help would-be city management recruits and applicants. Allen last served as City Manager in the City of Hemet (2017-2019). Prior to that, he was the San Bernardino City Manager (2013-2015). Allen was the Chief Administrative Officer for the Morongo Band of Mission Indians (2001-2006). Allen received a 40-year ICMA Service Award in 2021. He has been City Administrator in South El Monte (1971-1975); City Manager in Compton (1975-1980); Seal Beach (1981-1985); Half Moon Bay (1985-1989); East Palo Alto (1992-); Village Manager in Oak Park, Illinois (1992-1996); and Maywood, Illinois (1996-2000).
Ventura City Manager Alex McIntyre takes responsibility for a Brown Act violation committed the City Council members during a conference in Washington, D.C. Alex said that he was unaware that the Council members are not allowed to have social meetings. The incident happened when the five Council Members, City Manager Alex McIntyre and Deputy City Manager Barry Fisher traveled to the Nation’s Capital to attend the National League of Cities Conference in March.
Claire Torza is a Junior Business Analyst for Tripepi Smith. Claire earned a BA in philosophy, politics and economics from Claremont McKenna College. She also spent a semester abroad studying at the University of Melbourne in Australia. Claire worked as a Girls on the Run International Facilitator in Alexandra, Virginia in 2014. Claire worked as a summer law clerk and a Legal Assistant for the Public Counsel’s Center for the Veteran’s Advancement project in the Greater Los Angeles area (2019-2021). She joined Tripepi Smith in June 2021.
San Francisco Foundation Senior Director Daryel R. Dunston is a past Homelessness Administrator for the City of Oakland (2020-2021). Prior to relocating to the Bay Area from Washington D.C., Daryel served as a Sworn Fire Official, Community Organizer, Labor Negotiator and Nonprofit Administrator. He earned a BA from the University of Virginia and an MPA from the University of California, Berkeley.
Christopher R. Lopez is the City Manager for the City of Hemet. When Chris was appointed City Manager in November 2019 he became the City of Hemet’s 13th city manager since 2000. He served as Interim City Manager after City Manager Allen Parker was placed on paid administrative leave. Chris was Deputy City Manager at the time.
Steve Carmona was appointed City Manager in Pico Rivera in May 2019. He earned a $20,000 compensation increase presented to him this month by the City Council. He joined the city staff in June 2016 as the Director of Community & Economic Development.
New Livermore City Manager Marianne Marysheva was born in Kazakhstan and immigrated to the United States when she was 19-years old.
Trackdown CONGRATULATIONS to Taylor Gonsalves, and her parents Jason and Tracy Gonsalves, on Taylor’s acceptance for enrollment into McGeorge Law School.
Jay Kapoor has been the Stockton Chief Financial Officer since December 2020.
Modesto Director of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhoods Laurie A. Smith (2018-present) who has worked for Modesto for nearly 27 years, earned a BA from California State University, Long Beach.
Paul V. Berlant served as City Manager in Sebastopol (1993- 1998) and Town Manager in Windsor (1998- 2005).
Former City of Ceres Redevelopment & Economic Development Manager Steven Hallam, who served as the City Manager of Oakdale (2006- 2011), currently operates his own consultant firm from Auburn. *Jennifer Quan is the Executive Director, Regional Public Affairs Manager for the Los Angeles County Division of the League of California Cities, Kristine Guerrero is the Division Legislative Director and Jeff Kiernan is a Regional Public Affairs Manager.
Former Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim reporter Alex Curry earned a BA from San Diego State University.
Daniel Buffalo, the Finance Director in the City of Ukiah (July 24, 2019-present) who previously served as the Lakeport Finance Director, earned a BA from the University of California, Davis and a Master’s degree from the University of Southern California (USC).
Former City Manager in Half Moon Bay (2010-2015) and Richmond (2020- 2021), Laura Snideman, the City Manager in Calistoga (February 1, 2022-present), earned an MPA from Notre Dame De Namur. *Annie Bailey, the Youth and Family Services Division Administrator in the City of Fremont, earned a BA in English from the University of California, Berkeley; an MS in mental health counseling from San Francisco State University; and an MPA from the University of Southern California (USC).
Retired City Manager Ramon “Ray” Silver, former City Manager in Huntington Beach, Coronado, Westminster and Upland, a past President of the City Managers’ Department of the League of California Cities (2002-2003), who has moved out of state, says that he has become a “Gunsmoke” aficionado where Kitty Russell runs the local bar and Matt Dillon keeps the peace.
Ashlee Sims claims that Portola Interim City Manager Jon Kennedy has conducted himself inappropriately and unprofessionally.*Former Bell Gardens and Montebello City Manager Larry J. Kosmont, Founder of the Kosmont Companies, is a veteran attendee of the “Proof of Life” program.