Trackdown ManagementTrackdown Management’s City Manager Newsletter: Volume No. 20: Issue No. 2

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 Hermosa Beach city manager Dr. Suja Lowenthal is the new Lynwood city manager effective January 12. Suja served Hermosa Beach with distinction from August 2018 until June 2025. She began her public service career as a Management Assistant for the Los Angeles Department of Aging. After three years, Suja was hired as a staff member with Los Angeles City Attorney. After she worked in municipal water for about 10 years, Suja went to work for the City of Santa Monica in 2012. She was selected for the Hermosa Beach city manager position in 2018. Overlapping her staff experience, Suja served 10 years on the Long Beach City Council and five years as a Long Beach Unified School District Board of Education member. She also served as a Board Member for the Metropolitan Water District for 8 years. Suja’s former father-in-law is retired Congressman Alan Lowenthal. She earned a BA in economics from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), an MBA from California State University, Los Angeles and a Ph.D. in policy, planning and development from the University of Southern California (USC).

Chino Hills City Manager Benjamin Montgomery will retire at the age of 55 effective March 31, 2026. Ben has worked for the city of Chino Hills for more than 20 years, starting in 2006 as a Neighborhood Services Manager. He became Assistant to the City Manager in 2014, Deputy City Manager in 2015 and Assistant City Manager in 2017. Following the retirement of City Manager Rad Bartlam, Ben was appointed city manager in 2019. Ben worked in Whittier, Torrance and Brea before joining the Chino Hills city staff. He earned a BA in economics and another one in psychology from California State University, Dominguez Hills, an MPA from California State University, Long Beach and an MBA from the University of La Verne.

José Arreola has been selected to replace retiring city manager Steve Adams of King City. Steve has served as city manager in King City for the past 10 years. José has been working as the Assistant to the City Manager in the City of Salinas since July 2024. Prior to that he was the Community Safety Manager starting in February 2013 and as the Administrator and Director of the Community Alliance for Safety & Peace (CASP). José earned a BS from San Jose State University.

Jesse Cain is the City Manager for the City of Colusa, the county seat of Colusa County. Jesse also works as the Public Works Director and manages the Streets Department and serves as the Plant Manager for the Colusa Wastewater Treatment Plant. Jesse began serving as city manager in April 2017. In November 2025, his Employment Servies Agreement was extended to December 30, 2028. He previously worked for the City of Wheatland, including as Interim City Manager. Joanne Moore was hired as the city of Colusa’s first Assistant City Manager in late 2025.

U.S. Army veteran (1952-1954) and Coro Foundation Fellow, Roy Pederson is a highly distinguished retired city and county manager. His public service spans 35 years in jurisdictions in California, Arizona and Colorado. He is recognized as an important leader as a past President of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) from 1992-1993. Roy earned a BA from the University of California, Los Angeles and an MA from California State University, Los Angeles. Roy served in the Cities of Scottsdale, Arizona; Montebello (1969-1980), Porterville (1964-1969) and Colorado Spring, Colorado. He also worked for Maricopa County, Arizona and Yolo County, California. Roy began his public service career on the city staffs of Rosemead and La Mirada.

Jackie Rocco, the new West Hollywood city manager. Jackie succeeded city manager David Wilson who retired this month (January 2026). Jackie had been serving as Assistant City Manager for West Hollywood. She worked as a Research Assistant in 1997-1998 at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and in October 1998 she was hired by the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles as Acting Assistant Director and Job Development Supervisor. After working on the private side for a time, Jackie was hired to serve as the Parking Operations Manager for the city of West Hollywood in March 2008. In December 2016, she became the city’s Business Development Manager, and in June 2019 Jackie became the Director of Public Works. She was appointed Deputy City Manager starting in January 2022 and she became Assistant City Manager in 2025. Jackie earned a BA and MA in urban planning from UCLA.

California city manager with the first name of “Adam” include Adam Pirrie of Claremont, and Adam Politzer of Alameda where he serves as Interim City Manager after working 13 years as the City Manager of Sausalito. Adam Raymond is the Glendora city manager and Adam McGill is the city manager of the City of Novato, where he is a former Chief of Police. Adam Ennis retired in early 2025 after seven years as the city manager of the city of Exeter.

Blue Lake city manager Jennie Short was appointed in December and assumed the position in January 2026. Jennie is a licensed civil engineer. Her career includes work with the State of Oregon’s Department of Transportation, the US Forest Service, the City of Roseburg, and Del Norte County. She was serving as a Project Manager for the Garberville Sanitary District prior to her Blue Lake appointment. Jennie is a former Blue Lake Parks and Recreation Commission member.

Former city manager, Dr. Peter Pirnejad has been appointed the Executive Director of the Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership at the University of Pepperdine School of Public Policy. Peter served as city manager for the cities of Los Altos Hills and Foster City. He also was Assistant City Manager for Napa and Development Services Director for Palo Alto. He served as President of Cal-ICMA in 2025-2026.

Desert Hot Springs City Manager Doria Wilms joined the city staff in 2016 as a Deputy City Clerk. She was named Assistant City Manager in 2019, Deputy City Manager in 2021 and she served as Interim City Manager twice following the resignations of Luke Rainey and Frank Luckino. Doria was appointed City Manager in June 2025.

John Craig began his tenure as the Morro Bay city manager on January 13, 2026. John most recently worked as Deputy County Manager for Los Alamos County, New Mexico. He previously served as City Manager for Barre, Vermont, County Manager of Talbot County, Maryland, Deputy City Manager of Rico Rancho, New Mexico, Assistant County Administrator for Mono County, California and Director of General Services for Albuquerque, New Mexico. John earned a BS in psychology from Belmont University and an MPA from Columbia University, School of International and Public Affairs.

Shorts

  • Maywood City Manager Jennifer Vasquez previously served as city manager for the cities of South El Monte and Bradbury.
  • Though he has relocated to be near family in Missouri, past CCMF President and former city manager in Shafter, Atascadero and Indian Well, Wade McKinney continues to check in with his California friends from time-to-time.
  • Retired Economic Development Director and City Planner Lee Whittenberg of Seal Beach and Bellflower is living in Summerville, South Carolina close to family there. *
  • Retired Moorpark city manager Troy Brown was named 2025 City Manager of the Year by the California City Management Foundation (CCMF).
  • Retired Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff, Bellflower Public Safety Director, and a City Council Member in Artesia, Glenn “Hutch” Hutchinson will turn 96 in May.
  • Former city council member now the La Palma city manager, Peter Kim, applied for ICMA membership in December 2025.
  • In August 2025, Calistoga city manager Laura Snideman resigned, and former Chief of Police, Assistant City Manager Mitch Celaya was named Interim City Manager.
  • ICMA Ethics Director Jessica Cowles, who earned a BA from Michigan State University and an MPA from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, worked on the staff of Annapolis, Maryland and as Town Manager in Berwyn Heights, Maryland for about four years (October 2014 – May 2018) before joining the ICMA staff in May 2018.
  • Dana Point City Manager Kelly Reenders previously worked for Santa Ana, the County of San Bernardino and the city of Ontario, and she earned a BS in business from the University of Southern California (USC).
  • Watsonville Fire Chief Rudy López retired effective December 31, 2025, following a 35-year career in the fire service starting in January 1990.
  • San Luis Obispo Fire Chief Todd Tuggle resigned after three years of service and Paso Robles Deputy Fire Chief Randall Harris was appointed to be the Interim Fire Chief.
  • On November 6, 2025, the Colorado River Board of California, whose Chair is John B. “JB” Hamby of the Imperial Irrigation District, announced that California’s 2025 water use is projected to reach its lowest level in 75 years.
  • Steve Bade, Interim City Manager for the city of Redding, retired in December and Personnel Director Kari Kibler is the new Interim City Manager.
  • Deputy City Manager Gustavo Romo is the Interim City Manager for the city of Beaumont following the retirement of City Manager Elizabeth Gibbs.
  • Former South Lake Tahoe city manager Joe Irvin is the new city manager for the city of Malibu.
  • Los Angeles Dodger utility star Mookie Betts will not play for Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic as the birth of his third child is expected around the same time as tournament play.
  • Starting in early December 2025, Jennifer Ott is the new Hayward city manager in the city she previously served as Deputy and Assistant City Manager.
  • Marisha Smith is the new Sacramento city manager starting in January 2026, transitioning from her position as City Manager for the city of Santa Rosa.
  • Former Chief of Police, El Centro City Manager Robert Sawyer was officially appointed in October 2025 following his service as Acting City Manager.
  • Kevin Ingram was appointed Lakeport city manager in July 2020 following the retirement of City Manager Margaret Silveira.
  • After serving as the city manager for the City of Temple City for 25 years, Karl L. Koski retired in 1990.
  • Dr. Dwane Milnes, DPA, served as a City Manager or Assistant City Manager for 24 years before he retired as the City Manager for the City of Stockton in 2001.
  • Sarah Medary, the Eugene, Oregon city manager, who has served in that position since her permanent appointment in June 2020, following an Interim period that began in November 2019, will retire in December 2025.