On February 13, 2023, Benicia City Council voted to appoint Mario Giuliani as interim city manager, effective March 1, 2023. City Council made the decision after the announcement in January of current City Manager Erik Upson’s retirement, effective February 28, 2023.
“Council was pleased to unanimously appoint Mario Giuliani as interim city manager,” said Mayor Steve Young. “His experience, knowledge and dedication to the City and the community will serve us well in a City that has high expectations and high levels of community involvement. Council is confident that Mario will carry on with the excellent leadership provided by Erik Upson, our departing city manager.”
Giuliani’s interim role is to continue the operation of the City to provide exceptional service to the community and focus on near term goals including City Council goal setting, budget development and adoption and a new Strategic Plan.
“City Council took time to make a thoughtful decision on who would fill this position in the interim. Mario has been a strong leader in the City for over a decade, dedicating his life’s work to serving the residents of Benicia. He, along with a strong leadership team and dedicated staff, will do an excellent job of serving the community and carrying out Council’s direction for the City,” said Erik Upson.
Giuliani is a 30-year resident of Benicia and graduate of Benicia High School. He has served as the City’s deputy city manager for nearly three and a half years and has led the City’s Economic Development Division for the last 13 years. Giuliani began working for the City in 1994 in the Parks and Community Services Department and City Attorney’s Office.
“I am deeply honored to have been appointed to serve as the interim city manager. It is not lost on me how rare it is for a person to have the opportunity to help lead a city in which one was raised and spent so much of one’s life,” said Giuliani.
In addition to working for the City of Benicia, Giuliani worked in the Recreation Department of the City of Walnut Creek and the Greater Vallejo Recreation District. Giuliani holds degrees in Political Science and Law from UC Davis and has a Professional Certificate in Labor Management Relations. Community involvement has been a lifelong activity for Giuliani. In 2001, he was elected to the Benicia Unified School District Governing Board of Trustees, is current member and past president of the Benicia Rotary Club and member and coach of Benicia Little League.
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