Trackdown ManagementTrackdown Management’s City Manager newsletter: Volume No. 15: 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.

Fort Bragg City Manager John H. Ford has asked to be released from his employment agreement due to issues with his son’s school. John previously served as the planning and building director for the County of Humboldt, and he held positions in Thousand Oaks, Roseville and the County of Monterey.

Cupertino City Manager Jim Throop submitted his resignation just six months into the position. Jim came to Cupertino in January 2022 from Lompoc, where he served as city manager for 3 years (July 2018-January 2022). Prior to Lompoc, he was the chief financial officer in Oxnard (2016-2018); director of administrative services in Paso Robles (2007-2016); and director of budget and research in Pinal County, Arizona. Jim earned a BA from the University of Southern California (USC), and an MBA from Chapman University.

Chino Community Services Director Dr. Linda Reich is the new city manager in the City of Chino, effective August 8. Linda joined the Chino city staff in 2002 and became the director of community services in February 2013. Linda earned a BS from Michigan State University, an MPA from California State University, Northridge and a DPA from the University of La Verne. She will take over from Interim City Manager Anthony Arroyo, who has been working in the position since City Manager Matt Ballantyne moved on to be the Fontana city manager.

Hemet City Manager Christopher Lopez resigned effective June 16, 2022. Hemet Chief of Police Eddie Pust is serving as acting city manager. Chris is the thirteenth person to serve as the Hemet city manager since 2000. He was appointed in November 2019 after serving as acting city manager following the placement of City Manager Allen Parker on paid leave in March 2019. Chris joined the Hemet city staff in 2018 as deputy city manager. Chris earned a BA and MPA from California State Polytechnical University, Pomona.

John P. Thompson, who earned a BA from the University of California, Santa Barbara and an MA from Occidental College, is a retired city manager turned fiction author. His book “Without Purpose of Evasion” is available through John’s web page. John served as President of the City Managers’ Department of the League of California Cities in 2000-2001. John served as the Vacaville city manager from 1984 to 2003, and he was the Vacaville Assistant City Manager from 1979 to 1984. He worked in the State Legislative Analyst Office in 1974-1976.

Foster City has recruited former Fairfield City Manager Stefan Chatwin as its new city manager. Stefan has been serving as the Interim City Manager in the City of Plymouth in Amador County. Stefan served in the United State Air Force as an officer from December 1993 to November 1999. After a quick stint in the private sector (1999-2001), Stefan went to work for Ogden, Utah as the Director of Community Services (2001- 2003). He was hired as the Santaquin, Utah city manager. In 2009 he took the Hayden, Idaho city administrator position, and he moved to California in 2016 to be the city manager in Imperial (2016-2019). Stefan was appointed city manager in Fairfield in 2019 and served there until 2022. Stefan earned a BA in international relations from Brigham Young University.

SHORTS:

Los Angeles Dodger officials unveiled a special statue of all-time pitching great Sandy Koufax at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, June 18, 2022, and, among others, retired City Manager Gregory Korduner was there.

Maywood City Manager Jennifer Vasquez, who previously served as the South El Monte and Bradbury City Manager, worked with Kosmont Transactions Services (KTS) to reduce the cost of oustanding borrowings, including Pension Obligation Bonds.

In 2014 Tony Olivito, former Communications and Technolgy Manager for the California Contract Cities Association received the El Gran Matador Award from the CCCA group.

Word is that retired Vallejo City Manager Joe Tanner is temporarily laid up with a foot injury.

Ray Remy, former top aide to Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, and who previously worked with the League of California Cities, passed away at 82 in December 2019.

Former Taft City Manager (1975-1977) Michael Duncan Goyer, who had previously served as an assistant in the City of Cerritos, became City Manager in Sierra Vista, Arizona in January 1980.

Fresno State graduate Vincent G. Peterson served as the City Manager for the City of Hanford from March 1965 to June 1983, after he worked as the Hanford Planning Director starting in October 1956.

George E. Morgan was the Palo Alto City Manager (1966-1971) before serving as the Beverly Hill City Manager from November 1971 to June 1978.