Trackdown ManagementTrackdown Management’s City Manager Newsletter: Volume No. 17: Issue No. 11

For over 15 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.

Picking Up the Pieces

Former San Bernardino City Manager Robert Field has been hired as the new city manager for the City of Medford, Oregon. Bob served as the San Bernardino city manager from September 2020 until January 2023. Prior to that, he worked as the assistant county executive officer in economic development for the County of Riverside (January 1999 to February 2020). Bob earned a BA in history from the University of California, Riverside and an MA in leadership and organizational studies from California Baptist University.

Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Brian Schirn is speaking out about District Attorney George Gascón’s alleged bias against the Jewish community. Despite numerous antisemitic incidents in Los Angeles since October 7, 2023, Brian and many others in the District Attorney’s Office are concerned about the lack of charges being filed when the victim is Jewish. The District Attorney’s Office says that they condemn all forms of hatred, including antisemitism.

Former Central Contra Costa Sanitary District Director of Engineering and Technical Services, Jean-Marc Petit is the new general manager for the Ironhouse Sanitary District. He has been working on the private side since leaving the Contra Costa district. Jean-Marc earned a BS and MS in civil engineering from Colorado State University.

Former Fountain Valley City Manager Robert Hall, 64, passed away this month following a battle with cancer. He served as the Fountain Valley city manager from August 2013 to March 2017. After leaving Fountain Valley, Bob served as interim city manager for the cities of Stanton (2018-2019) and Laguna Niguel (2019). Prior to joining Fountain Valley, he was the director of General Services for the City of Riverside (2000-2005) and assistant city manager for Huntington Beach (2005-2013). Bob earned a BA and an MPA from California State University, San Bernardino.

Former Fremont city manager Mark Danaj, 55, has been expelled from membership in the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). Mark is facing criminal embezzlement charges. He was ordered to repay a six-figure severance payment. The city claims that Mark used a city credit card to pay thousands of dollars in personal expenses. The judge who sentenced Mark has ruled that he is never allowed to again hold public office in California.

Whitney McDonald, former Arroyo Grande city manager, is the new city manager for the City of San Luis Obispo. Whitney replaces City Manager Derek Johnson, who left the city in April. Whitney has served as the San Luis Obispo Assistant City Manager sine August 2023. She was the Arroyo Grande city manager for nearly 3 years starting in September 2020. She has previous experience as a Senior Attorney with Richards Watson & Gershon (RWG). Whitney earned a BA from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Charles R. Ching, the City of San Pablo Director of Economic Development, Housing and Sustainability, has been selected for the position of assistant city manager for the City of Walnut Creek. City Manager Dan Buckshi announced that Charles was chosen from more than 200 applicants. Charles worked for US Bank from 2006 to 2007 and joined the Fairfield city staff in May 2007 as a senior economic development project manager. He was hired by the City of San Pablo in June 2014 to be the assistant to the city manager, and he worked his way up to an appointment to the assistant city manager position in March 2021. He worked for San Pablo for a little more than 10 years. Charles earned a BAs in management of financial institutions and economics from De La Salle University, and an MBA from Saint Mary’s College of California.

Linda Smith is the new City of Orinda City Manager. Linda is currently the city manager for the City of Dublin. She is expected to begin her Orinda responsibilities in October 2024. Dublin City Manager Linda Smith D’Ambrosio will retire in October. Linda joined the Dublin city staff in 2009 as the assistant to the city manager, and she was appointed assistant city manager in 2013. She became the Dublin city manager in 2019. Linda is a past chair of the Alameda County City Manager Association. She is the president-elect of the Dublin Rotary Club. Linda earned a BA in public relations from San Jose State University. Prior to Dublin she held positions in the cities of Tracy and Brentwood.

Orange County’s Chief Financial Officer Michelle Aguirre is the new interim chief executive officer (CEO) replacing CEO Frank Kim, who is retiring. Michelle has worked as the county’s CFO for nearly a decade. She appears to have the support of the Orange County Employees Association.

John B. Wentz passed away on Wednesday, July 2, 2003, at the age of 83. John served as city manager for the cities of Beverly Hills (1952-1963); Riverside (1963-1970); Phoenix Arizona; and Stockton (1979-1980). He also worked as the General Manager for San Francisco Public Utilities (1977-1979). He began his public service John is a past national president of ICMA, serving in 1968, while he worked for Riverside. John earned a BCE from Iowa State University and an MPA from the University of Southern California (USC).

Marissa Trejo is the new city manager for the City of Lemoore. Marissa has served as the Coalinga city manager since 2015. She began her public service career in 2004 when she went to work for Kings County as an employment & training worker. She became a human resources analyst for the City of Coalinga in 2006. Marissa earned a BA in organizational leadership and an MS in human resources from Chapman University. She also earned an AA from Lemoore College.

South Pasadena City Manager Arminé Chaparyan has resigned effective July 2. South Pasadena Chief of Police Brian Solinsky and Community Services Director Sheila Pautsch are serving as “co-acting city managers.” Kristine Guerrero is promoted to the position of public affairs director for the League of California Cities. Kris has worked for the League going on 20 years, joining the League staff in May 2005. She has worked in the Los Angeles office as the public affairs manager and legislative director. Kris earned a BA in political science and government from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and an MPA from the University of Southern California (USC).

Shorts:

  • In April 1985, Paul D. Brotzman became the first city manager for the City of West Hollywood and took over from the interim city manager Fred Bien.
  • Chris Freeland, Indian Wells city manager, has earned the Credentialed Manager designation by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) to become one of 104 ICMA credentialed managers in California.
  • Manhattan Beach Community Development Director Talyn Mirzakhanian is the new acting city manager for Manhattan Beach.
  • San Jose City Manager Jennifer Maguire has promoted, 20 year city veteran who joined the city staff in 2004, Jennifer Schembri to deputy city manager after a nationwide recruitment.
  • Lifelong San Diegan and Deputy Fire Chief Robert Logan is the new San Diego FireRescue Department Chief taking over for the retired Chief Colin Stowell.
  • Tina Gallegos, the Fremont Human Resources Director, began her public service career in August 2003 as an assistant planner for the City of Union City.
  • Anaheim agreed to pay $2.75 million settlement to Major League Baseball owner of the Angels, Arte Moreno and the team following the cancelling by the city of a sale of Angel Stadium.
  • Jimmy Forbis, former finance director, has been the city administrator for the City of Gilroy since March 2020, serving as interim city administrator until October 2020.
  • Former San José Recreation Supervisor (2007-2011), Kiersten McCormick is the general manager at the Happy Hollow Park & Zoo in the City of San José.
  • Lori Ann Farrell Harrison, Costa Mesa city manager since July 2019, previously served as President of the Port of Long Beach (2013-2019), while she was the Huntington Beach Assistant City Manager (2017- 2019).
  • Former Tripepi Smith Business Analyst Shannon O’Hare is the assistant to the city manager in the City of Larkspur working with City Manager Dan Schwarz.
  • Former Ventura City Manager Ed McCombs passed away on June 28 at the age of 90.
  • Former Tripepi Smith Business Analyst and Public CEO Managing Editor, Jacob Lyle served two years (2019-2021) as a police cadet for the ventura police department.
  • Murrieta Assistant City Manager Kristen Mignone Crane worked for the cities of Glendale, Claremont, Citrus Heights, Poway and Del Mar before joining the Murrieta city staff.
  • Thomas Leung is the new finance director for the Town of Los Altos Hills.
  • Former Nuclear Biochemist, Paolo Beltran is the deputy city manager for the City of Lakewood, working with City Manager Thaddeus McCormack.