Trackdown ManagementTrackdown Management’s City Manager Newsletter: Volume No. 19: Issue No. 03

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

Jennifer Campbell is the new Encinitas city manager. Jennifer has served as the acting/interim city manager since December following City Manager Pamela Antil leaving the position. Jennifer first joined the Encinitas City staff in 2016. She was appointed assistant city manager in 2021. Jennifer worked as a Parks and Recreation superintendent in Goodyear, Arizona starting in March 2008. She came to Encinitas in July 2016 as director of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts after working assignments in Maricopa and Glendale, Arizona. She earned a BA from Arizona State University and Master’s in education, with an emphasis in public administration from Northern Arizona University.

Former Brea City Manager Wayne Wedin reminded us that Lake Arrowhead resident and past president of the Mountains Community Hospital Foundation (MCHF) Board, George Medak passed away on December 4, 2024. George was 81 years old and was dealing with complications from COVID-19 and Parkinson’s Disease. George was a Long Beach icon. He worked for the city for several years and he was an assistant professor in public policy and administration at California State University, Long Beach. George was proud to have been a key player in starting the annual Grand Prix of Long Beach. Former Long Beach City Manager Jim Hankla said that George was a critical part of getting things done in Long Beach. George was a Long Beach police officer as his first city job in the early 1960s. He later left the police department to work as the city Budget Director. He eventually became a key Executive Assistant to the City Manager. Former Assistant City Manager John Shirey remembers George’s critical help to get the Grand Prix off the ground.

Kristin Griffith is the new city manager for the city of Brea. She has served as interim city manager since December, when City Manager Bill Gallardo retired. Kristin worked as the Director of Finance for the Santa Margarita Water District from March 1998 until February 2016, when she joined the city staff in Irvine as the director of financial management & strategic planning. She took the Director of administrative services and deputy city manager position for the city of Brea in June 2022. Kristin earned a BS in finance from San Diego State University.

Public Works Director and Assistant City Manager Travis Hopkins is the new Huntington Beach city manager. Travis has been serving as the acting city manager. He joined the Huntington Beach city staff in 2006. In 2019 he was appointed assistant city manager and since last November he has been the acting city manager.

San Bernardino Acting City Manager Tanya Romo will return to her deputy city manager position as William Gallardo comes aboard as the interim city manager. Bill retired in December after serving the City of Brea for 35 years. He was the Brea city manager starting in 2015 (July 2015-December 2024). Bill earned a BS from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

Desert Hot Springs City Manager Frank J. Luckino has been placed on leave and Doria Wilms is serving as the acting city manager. Frank had an unexpected family emergency and has taken time to care for his father. Frank previously served as city manager for the cities of Twentynine Palms and Blythe. He earned a BA in accounting from West Liberty University.

City of Banning City Manager Doug Schulze has been placed on administrative leave on a 3-2 city council vote. Doug became the city manager for Banning in 2018. He previously served as the city manager for Bainbridge Island, Washington. Banning Police Lieutenant Robert Fisher is serving as the Banning interim city manager.

Palm Desert City Manager L. Todd Hileman is the new South Pasadena city manager. Todd succeeds City Managers Stephanie DeWolfe (2017-2020) and Armine Chaparyan (2021-2024). Todd previously served as the city administrator for Vandalia, Missouri (1994-1997) and Delavan, Wisconsin (1997-2000). He was city manager for Avondale, Arizona (2000-2004) and village manager for Glenview, Illinois (2004-2017). Prior to taking the Palm Desert city manager position in May 2021, Todd worked as city manager for Denton, Texas (2017-2021). Todd earned a BS in communication and political science from Arizona State University and an MPA from Northern Illinois University.

ICMA and LOC Senior Advisor, Kevin C. Duggan, is a retired Mountain View city manager (July 1990-April 2011). Prior to joining the Mountain View city staff, Kevin served as the city manager for the City of Campbell (October 1984 – July 1990). He is an ICMA credentialed manager. Kevin is a past President of Cal-ICMA and the City Manager’s Department of the League of California Cities. In 2018 Kevin received a 45 Year ICMA Service Award. He earned a BA and MPA from San Jose State University. Kevin participated in an ICMA international exchange program with Limerick County, Ireland. In 2019, Kevin was presented with an ICMA Distinguished Service Award.

Municipal Management Association of Southern California (MMASC) past President (2013-2014) Peter Castro is serving as the deputy city manager and administrative services director for the City of Rancho Cucamonga. Peter worked for more than five years with The Walt Disney Company from 1999 to 2005. In 2008 Peter joined the La Cañada Flintridge and he went to work in Indian Wells in 2017. He was the assistant city manager in Indian Wells when he accepted his position in Rancho Cucamonga. Peter earned a BA in social ecology and a BA in political science from the University of California, Irvine, and an MPA from California State University, Northridge.

Rochelle Clayton is the new city manager for the City of Barstow. Rochelle is a veteran of more than 30 years of government experience. She served as the interim city manager for the City of San Bernardino starting in April 2024. Rochelle is a San Bernardino native. She served as deputy city manager for San Bernardino, and assistant city manager for Menifee. She also worked as the chief financial officer for the West Valley Water District in Rialto, the High Desert Water District in Yucca Valley, and she was the finance director for the City of La Habra Heights. Rochelle earned a BA from California State University, San Bernardino.

Shorts

  • Corona Assistant City Manager Brett Channing, who previously worked in Santa Barbara, Yorba Linda, Arcadia, Monrovia, Brea, El Cajon and Lake Forest, is a past president (2012-2013) of the Municipal Management Association of Southern California (MMASC).
  • Former Police Officer Joseph Wambaugh, turned author of “The Onion Field” and other books on law enforcement, passed away at his Rancho Mirage home at the age of 88 this past month.
  • One of 11 search warrant locations served by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office in Huntington Park misuse of public funds probe dubbed Operation Dirty Pond is the home of City Manager Ricardo Reyes.
  • Jennifer Wakeman, California Society of Municipal Finance Officers (CSMFO) president, and the City of Lafayette’s assistant administrative services director, is the first director of finance for the City of San Ramon.
  • Samantha Tewasart, who previously worked with Alhambra, Rosemead and Monterey Park, is the planning manager for the City of San Gabriel, and she earned a BA from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
  • San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, who announced the immediate cut of 31 city positions, including the City’s Chief Operating Officer Eric Dargan, and is taking over the city manager position as the city seeks budget reduction actions.
  • Jonathon Harmon, who earned a BA from Concordia University Irvine and an MPA from Arkansas State University, is the Parks and Recreation director for the City of Laguna Niguel.
  • Conal McNamara, who worked as a policy deputy (2000-2003) for former Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, is the city manager for the City of La Palma and previously worked as director of community development for the City of Whittier.
  • Former Brawley Police Commander John Tang, who previously served with the El Centro Police Department, is working with Brawley Interim City Manager Jimmy Duran and the assistant to the city manager.
  • Former Beaumont Chief of Police Sean Thuilliez is the new chief of police for the City of Tustin, according to Tustin City Manager Aldo Schindler.
  • Chris Huot, Paso Robles assistant city manager who has been serving as interim city manager since the January resignation of former City Manager Ty Lewis.
  • Following the retirement of Bellflower City Manager Jeffrey L. Stewart, former Lomita City Manager Ryan Smoot assumed the Bellflower position.
  • ICMA Credentialed Manager Ray Cruz, a retired Santa Fe Springs city manager, was a CORO Fellow in Northern California from September 1985 to June 1986.
  • Kevin O’Rourke, a La Salle University graduate, retired Fairfield city manager and owner of the KOLGS consultant team, is endorsed by both Dr. Carlos A. Urrutia and Gary Milliman, both retired city managers.