During its regular meeting on November 21, the La Verne City Council will review and vote on a contract for Ken Domer to serve as La Verne’s City Manager. His proposed contract will be effective beginning December 19, 2022.
“After completing an extensive recruitment process the past few months, we are excited to appoint a permanent City Manager to serve our great City,” said Mayor Tim Hepburn. “La Verne would like to thank Jesse Duff for serving as Interim City Manager during this time of transition. I would also like to share my appreciation for my fellow Council Members and City staff for making this a seamless process.”
Following former City Manager Bob Russi’s retirement, Jesse Duff began serving as La Verne’s Interim City Manager in August and the City launched its formal recruitment for a City Manager. After the application period closed in September, Council immediately began the interview process with several qualified applicants, aiming to appoint a permanent City Manager before the end of December. Based on Domer’s extensive local government and management experience, he was deemed the most capable candidate to fulfill the role.
Domer currently serves as Assistant City Manager for the City of Laguna Beach and previously served as City Manager for the City of Fullerton for almost four years. He also served as Assistant City Manager for the City of Huntington Beach from October 2013 to July 2017, as well as Assistant City Administrator for the City of Placentia from December 2008 to October 2013. In 2005, he was appointed as City Manager/City Clerk for the City of Villa Park.
Prior to his City Manager experience, Domer worked for the County of Orange for ten years and held various management roles in the Housing & Community Development Department and Social Services Agency. He also served as the ExecutiveAssistant for the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Domer began his professional career in 1991 working for Governor Pete Wilson in several roles in the administration, including Deputy Director of the Los Angeles Governor’s Office and Special Assistant to the Secretary for Cal/EPA.
“It’s an honor to be considered for the City Manager position, and I am excited for the chance to serve the La Verne community,” said Domer. “I thank the City Council for the opportunity to use my prior City Manager experience to ensure the City continues to thrive while upholding its values as a tight-knit, family-oriented community.”
To ensure a smooth transition, Jesse Duff is anticipated to continue serving as Interim City Manager through December 22.