Trackdown ManagementTrackdown Management’s City Manager Newsletter: Volume No. 19: Issue No. 02

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

Maryville, Missouri City Manager Greg McDanel, an ICMA Credentialed Manager, is the next city manager for the City of Seaside, California starting in March 2025. Greg has served as Maryville city manager since 2012. He previously worked as the City Administrator for Cherryvale, Kansas. He is the successor to former Seaside city manager Jaime Fontes. Greg earned a BA in geography from Northwest Missouri State University and an MPA from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. In 2014 he received a 20 Year ICMA Service Award.

Angels Camp announced that Pamela Caronongan is the new Angels Camp City Administrator effective March 3, 2025. Pamela will be succeeding retired City Administrator Steve Williams. She previously served in Long Beach, San Jose and Milpitas. Pam is currently the City Clerk for the City of Rio Vista. She earned a BS in accounting from California State University, Dominquez Hills and an MBA from Pepperdine University.

Manhattan Beach Assistant to the City Manager, George Gabriel is the new Deputy City Manager for the City of Palos Verdes Estates. George joined the Manhattan Beach city staff in November 2016 as a Management Analyst. Prior to that he worked for the City of Malibu. George earned a BA from the University of California, San Diego and an MPP from Pepperdine University School of Public Policy.

Retired City Manager Sean Joyce is taking the helm in South Pasadena as Don Penman’s tenure as Interim City Manager comes to a close. Don took the interim post after the departure of City Manager Arminé Chaparyan. This will be Sean’s second time as interim in South Pasadena. He served as the city manager from 1996 to 2004 and as Interim City Manager following the close of City Manager Stephanie De Wolfe’s tenure. Sean also previously served as the City Manager for Sierra Madre and the City of Irvine.

Following last month’s resignation by Stockton city manager Harry Black, former San Joaquin County Fairgrounds CEO Steve Colangelo has been selected to serve as Interim City Manager. Steve worked nearly 40 years in event producing and event rental management. He has several failed bids for elected office in his background.

Deputy City Manager Will Crew served as Acting City Manager following Harry’s departure. Longtime California city manager Mark Scott is the next city manager for the city of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Mark began his city managing career 35 years ago in Beverly Hills, and would move on to managing Culver City, Fresno, Burbank, San Bernardino, Indio, Lincoln, Downey, Ojai and Live Oak. Mark’s first city position was in Fresno as an Intern in October 1971. Mark earned a BA from California State University, Fresno and an MBA from Stanford University. He received a 40-Year ICMA Service Award in 2019.

Winters City Manager Jeremy Craig is on medical leave due to medical issues that arose suddenly, and Joe Gorton is the Acting City Manager. Jeremy previously worked as the Finance Manager in Napa (2007-2009), and Director of Finance and Technology for the city of Dixon (2009-2013), and the city of Vacaville (2011-2013). Jeremy was the Vacaville city manager for nearly three years (2017-2020). He earned a BS in accounting from Southeast Missouri State University and an MBA from Webster University. Jeremy is a Certified Public Accountant.

Justin Wilkins has been introduced as the City of Goleta’s new Parks and Recreation Manager. He previously worked as the Executive Director of the Santa Barbara Soccer Club. Justin earned a BA in sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara and an MA in psychology from Antioch University, Santa Barbara. Biggs City Administrator Josh Cook has been relieved of duty as the city administrator. Josh served as the Biggs City Administrator starting in March 2023. He has been on administrative leave since October 2023.

Former Gridley City Administrator Cliff Wagner is serving as the Biggs Interim City Administrator. Cliff is a former Chief of Staff with the California State Assembly. He earned a BA and MA in political science from California State University, Chico. Former Long Beach Community Relations Officer (2016-2021) Jennifer Carey, who has worked for Huntington Beach since December 2021, is the new Deputy City Manager for Huntington Beach. Jennifer originally joined the city as the Public Affairs Manager. She has been the Acting Deputy City Manager for the past six months. Jennifer earned a BA and an MBA from Arizona State University. Jennifer is the recipient of the 2022 Crisis Communications Leader of the Year issued by the California Association of Public Information Officials (CAPIO).

Torrance Deputy City Manager Ian Dailey is the new Torrance city Finance Director effective February 9, 2025. Torrance city manager Aram Chaparyan announced the executive team change. Ian worked as the Torrance Deputy City Manager starting in December 2023. He served as Assistant Finance Director in 2021. Ian earned a BS from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and an MPA from California State University, Long Beach.

A settlement agreement has been reached in the matter of Paso Robles city manager Ty Lewis leaving the city manager’s position. Ty’s last day on the job was January 26. Assistant City Manager Chris Huot is the Acting City Manager until further notice. Ty served the city as a police officer, Chief of Police and city manager. He worked for the city for 23 years. Prior to joining the Paso Robles police department, he served as a police office in Bakersfield and Porterville. He earned a BS from the University of Phoenix and an MS from California State University, Bakersfield, in addition to P.O.S.T. command training.

Oakdale City Manager Bryan M. Whitemyer, who has worked in that position since 2013, is the new city manager for the City of Folsom. Bryan worked as the Hughson city manager from 2010 to 2013, and he was the Assistant City Manager in Patterson from 2007 to 2010. Bryan was a Management Analyst in Modesto from 2002 to 2007, and he worked as a Code Enforcement and Assistant Planner in Ceres from 2001 to 2003. He earned a BA from Brigham Young University and an MPA from California State University, Stanislaus. Bryan received a 20 Year ICMA Service Award in 2021.

Palmdale Assistant City Manager Salvador Mendez is named the 2024 Top Leader of the Year in the Public Sector by the Southern California Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA). Sal joined the Palmdale city staff in January 2024. He previously worked nearly 5 years with the City of El Monte and a little more than 4 years with the City of Lynwood. Sal earned a BA in sociology from the University of California, Berkeley, and an MPA from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

There is an ongoing FBI investigation involving City of Fortuna City Council Member Kris Mobley regarding charges of theft and embezzlement that does not involve city business. Fortuna City Manager Amy Nilsen and Chief of Police Chris Day issued a press release regarding the FBI investigation. As the new Federal Administration seeks to enforce the law with regards to illegal immigration, the City of Santa Ana is the only “sanctuary city” in Orange County. According to the U.S. Census, 41% of Santa Ana residents are foreign born. Alvaro Nuñez is the Santa Ana city manager. He was appointed city manager in August 2024. He has worked for the city since 1993. Alvaro earned a BA in political science from the University of California, Irvine. He is a past President of the Santa Ana Management Association (SAMA).

Shorts

  • Diana Langley, former city manager for Yuba City, is the new city manager for Louisville, Kentucky and expected to start her new position in March.
  • According to Sanger city manager Nathan Olson, Greg Garner is no longer the Sanger Chief of Police after 4 and a half years of service.
  • JoAnne Speers worked with the League of California Cities for nearly 18 years starting in 1994 and as the Chief Executive for the Institute for Local Government from January 1998 until May 2014.
  • Scott Mitnick, Town Manager for the Town of Moraga, has received the ICMA Credentialed Manager designation.
  • Dave Miner, a 22-year veteran of the Newport Beach Police Department (NBPD), is the new Chief of Police, according to Newport Beach city manager Grace Leung.
  • San Clemente City Manager Andy Hall is charged with the responsibility to have surveillance cameras installed and monitored 24/7 along the city beach.
  • San Marino Management Analyst Robert Bauman previously served as a Management Intern for the City of La Cañada Flintridge.
  • Manhattan Beach Assistant City Manager George Gabriel is the new Palos Verdes Estates Deputy City Manager.
  • Indio Assistant City Manager Jonathan Nicks previously worked for Menifee, the County of Orange, Placentia, and Norwalk, and earned a BA from California State University, Fullerton and an MPA from California State University, Long Beach.
  • Ceres Chief of Police Chris Perry, sworn in as Chief in February 2024, has been placed on administrative leave, it has been confirmed by city manager Doug Dunford.
  • Judy Lyn Kelsey (1944-2015) became the Eureka city manager in 1978 and later served as city manager for Atherton and Fountain Valley.
  • Matthew Bronson, city manager for the City of Grover Beach, earned a BS in environmental policy analysis and planning from the University of California, Davis and an MPA from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
  • Melissa Stevenson Diaz is the city manager in the city that was historical the first city in San Mateo County to incorporated; Redwood City in 1867.
  • John Pinkney is the interim City Attorney for the City of Banning.
  • Huntington Beach Chief Information Officer John Dankha is a soccer coach and Executive Board Member of AYSO Region 143.
  • Jason Levy, who previously worked for the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department, is the new city of Goleta Emergency Services Coordinator.
  • Jennifer Ott, Alameda city manager, is a former Assistant City Manager and Development Services Director for the city of Hayward.
  • Covina Deputy City Manager Angel Carrillo served as a member of the Azusa City Council for more than 16 years (March 2005- September 2021).
  • Former city manager Anton “Tony” Dahlerbruch (Palos Verdes Estates and Rolling Hills) has worked as an executive recruiter the past nearly 6 years.
  • Clovis city manager Justin Howalt announced that Trevor Thron is the new Chief of Police following the retirement of Chief Roy Rice in the City of Clovis.
  • Fernando Santillan continues to serve as the City Manager for the city of Selma. Arminé Chaparyan is the new Director of Community Development for the City of Santa Monica working with City Manager David White.
  • Former City Attorney Michael Schulte is the new Farmersville city manager.
  • Kwame Reed, who previously served as the Acting City Manager and Economic Development Director, is the new Assistant City Manager for the City of Antioch working with City Manager Bessie Marie Scott.
  • Wesley Wolf, the founder of Wolf & Company Inc., the first official sponsor of the City Manager Newsletter by Trackdown, previously served as the City Administrator for Hawaiian Gardens.
  • A special Trackdown HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Evelyn Gonsalves!