Trackdown Management’s City Manager Newsletter: Volume No. 19: Issue No. 16
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
Loomis Town Manager Wes Heathcock tendered his resignation without divulging the reason. Loomis Mayor David Ring says that the resignation was a surprise to him. Wes was appointed town manager in 2023 after he served as city manager for Colfax starting in 2017. Former Davis City Manager (2014- 2017), Dirk Brazil will serve as interim town manager. He served as interim city manager for South Lake Tahoe and Alameda, and executive director of the Downtown Davis Business Association.
Millbrae Chief of Police Eamonn Allen is the subject of a formal complaint by Millbrae City Manager Randy V. Lum. The complaint originates from a report by KGO-TV that alleged that the chief commutes from his Idaho home and sleeps in the police station during the week. The chief purchased a home approximately 600 miles away near Boise, Idaho in June 2024. The city manager’s complaint has led to calls for the chief’s dismissal from office.
Brentwood’s new city manager is G. Harold Duffey. He is succeeding Tim Ogden, who resigned in April 2025 to accept the general manager position for the Cosumnes Community Services District. Darin Gale has been serving as interim city manager following Tim’s departure. Harold served as assistant city administrator for the City of Oakland from July 2024 to September 2025. He was the Grand Terrace city manager (2015-2021), and previously worked as Compton city manager and Oroville city administrator.
California High Speed Authority CEO Ian Choudri contends that the State can still deliver on the project. He says that a combination of private sector investment and public funds will allow the Authority to finish the job. He says that the Authority plans to lay track next year.
Freelance writer Jude Strzemp of the Embarcadero Media Foundation reports that Livermore City Manager Marianna Burch’s employment agreement provides for a mid-November compensation adjustment of about $30,000 annually. Pursuant to the agreement amendment approved October 27, the city manager’s annual base salary will go to $392,895, a 6% increase. In addition, Marianna will receive deferred compensation of $903.85 per pay period. The employment agreement requires annual performance reviews.
Malibu announced the appointment of Frances Arricale as deputy city manager. Frances is a career government relations professional and attorney. Most recently, Frances worked as a senior counsel in California state government. Her prior local government experience includes public service with the City of New York. Frances has also worked in the Los Angeles entertainment industry and she held executive roles in financial services and led non-profit startups. She earned a BA from Fordham University, an MPP from Johns Hopkins University and a Juris Doctor from the Brooklyn Law School. Frances is licensed to practice law in California, New York and Washington, D.C.
Former El Centro Chief of Police Robert Sawyer is the new city manager for the city of El Centro. He joined the El Centro police department in 1998, and after working at all levels, he was appointed chief of police in 2022. Robert also served as chief of police in Brawley from 2018 until 2020. He has been serving as acting city manager since May of this year. Robert earned a BS in criminal justice from California Coast University.
Former Commerce City Clerk and Director of Administrative Services Lena Shumway is the new city clerk for the City of Newport Beach. She succeeds the highly thought of and longtime City Clerk Leilani Brown, who has retired. Prior to Lena’s Commerce work assignment, she was the assistant city clerk for the City of Lomita and, before that, the city clerk and Municipal court administrator for the City of Fernley, Nevada. Leilani previously worked for the City of Bellflower prior to being named city clerk in 2008.
ICMA’s October issue of PM magazine has a piece written by Long Beach Deputy City Manager Meredith Reynolds regarding the state of local government leadership. Meredith is the board chair of Engaging Local Government Leaders. She urges leadership to embrace the full spectrum of leading with authenticity, empathy and purpose. Meredith has been in her currently position since May 2021. She earned a BA from California State University, Chico and an MS from Carnegie Mellon University.
Rob Paterson was appointed town manager for the Town of Mammoth Lakes on February 7, 2024. Rob served as administrative services and finance director of Mammoth Lakes starting in 2016. Rob succeeded City Manager Daniel C. Holler, who retired after a month and 10 years of service. He worked in the private sector as a Controller, a computer coordinator and in accounting. Rob earned an AA degree from Merced Junior College and a BS from California State University, Sacramento.
Anne V. Ambrose is the interim city manager for the City of Cathedral City. She was appointed on September 20, 2025, following the retirement of City Manager Charlie McClendon. Anne worked in Palmdale as director of public safety and community relations starting in June 1999. She was promoted to director of administrative services in August 2013. Anne was selected to serve California City interim city manager from June 2021 until March 2022. She joined the Cathedral City staff as assistant city manager in January 2023. Anne earned a BA from Kent State University and an MPA from California State University, Northridge. In 2024, she received a 10 Year ICMA Service Award.
Kevin Troller, who is retiring from city government in Texas, graduated from Texas A&M and was commissioned into the Regular Army as a finance officer in 1979. Throughout a 26-year military career, his assignments took him throughout the United States, and to many overseas locations including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Germany, Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo. Airborne qualified, Kevin commanded organizations at every level from Company through Battalion and Brigade Commands; eventually completing his military career as the strategic U.S. Army finance commander at the Pentagon. Kevin retired from the military with the rank of Colonel in 2005.
Dan Koops of the Bellflower City Council inform us of the recent passing of former Bellflower staff member Steve DeGraff. Steve went into real estate after leaving city government. He worked for the city of Bellflower in the 1970s and was highly praised for his service.
Shorts:
- Elk Grove declared November 22, 2025 as “Kyle Larson Day” in recognition of Kyle Larson’s 2025 NASCAR Championship.
- Monterey Fire Chief Andrew Miller is retiring at the end of the year after 35 years with the Monterey Fire Department.
- Arcata retained the polling services of FlashVote and found that more than 80% of respondents to their survey found that access to parks and recreation activities and community events, arts and culture are Arcata’s strong points.
- Elk Gove resident Jane Chambers is an ICMA Credentialed Manager, and retired Ukiah city manager (May 2008-June 2015) and Sunnyvale interim assistant city manager in 2015.
- Covina Deputy City Manager Angel Carrillo served as a member of the Azusa City Council for nearly 17 years (March 2005-September 2021).
- Palm Spring city manager Scott Stiles declared Friday, October 24, “Dodgers Day at City Hall,” which was the first day of the 2025 MLB World Series.
- Lakewood resident Linda Haines, is a former building and safety director for the City of Downey, and she also worked for the cities of Cypress and Fullerton, her hometown.
- Calistoga is addressing old, cramped and inefficient office space, according to Deputy City Manager Rachel Stepp.
- University professor Steve Harding, a former city manager, remembers meeting and dealing with three special exceptional individuals: Phil Hawkey, Pasadena, John Dunn, San Luis Obispo and Homer Bludau, Coronado.
- Kristine Lawler is the city clerk for the City of Ukiah.
- Todd Juhasz was appointed city manager in November 2021 for the City of Mount Shasta, and prior to that he served as the Dunsmuir city manager (August 2019-November 2021).