Trackdown Management’s City Manager Newsletter: Volume No. 20: Issue No. 3
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
Christine Tien is the new deputy city manager in the city of Stockton working with City Manager Johnny Ford. Christine has been working as a Senior Program Manager for The California Endowment. She previously worked for Stockton in various positions, including Recreation Director. Christine earned a law degree from the University of Arizona, a MPP from Harvard University, Kennedy School, and a BS in engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.
It has been alleged by whistleblower Ed Rardin that El Monte city manager Alma Karin Martinez secured herself a substantial unbudgeted compensation increase. Ed is a local code enforcement officer. It has been reported that he sent complaints to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, the FBI and the FPPC. Alma has served as El Monte city manager since August 2019. She was Assistant City Manager in El Monte from 2018 to 2019. Prior to coming to El Monte, Alma served as Lynwood City Manager, and as the Assistant City Manager in Compton. She earned a BA and MA from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She is enrolled in a Doctoral Program at the University of Southern California (USC).
Hollister City Manager Ana Cortez was appointed in January 2026, following a three-month search to replace former city manager David Mirrione. Ana is a former city manager in Carnation (2021-2014), and Leavenworth (2020-2021), Washington, and Helena, Montana (2019-2020). She also served as the Community Development Director in Richmond, California from 2006 until 2014. Ana earned a BA from the University of California, Berkeley and an MPA from the University of Washington.
Jim Pia served as Interim City Manager following David’s departure and Ana’s arrival. Lodi has begun their official executive recruitment for its next city manager. Former Saratoga city manager James Lindsay served as Interim City Manager until his retirement rules kicked in requiring him to resign. Former City Manager Scott Carney was placed on administrative leave prior to his resignation. Scott had reported credit card abuse by city hall staff. Audits have been performed by independent auditors.
Beaverton, Oregon City Manager Jenny Haruyama was selected in January 3036 to be the next city manager for the City of Eugene, Oregon. She was picked from a group of more than 50 applicants as a result of a national recruitment. Jenny previously served as the city manager in Tracy and Scotts Valley, California. Jenny also worked for the cities of Livermore, Milpitas, Rancho Cucamonga and Los Gatos. She earned a BS from San Jose State University and an MPA from the California State University, East Bay. Fort Bragg City Manager Isaac Whippey and staff have published a 42- page “Year in Review” document. The document reports the city’s future project priorities and gives outlines and updates on existing city efforts. Programs, like “Every Child is a Swimmer” are reported in the document.
Shaun Stephens is the new Chief of Police for the City of Kingsburg, succeeding the retired Chief Neil Dadian. Shaun has worked his entire law enforcement career with the Kingsburg Police Department starting in January 2026. He started his law enforcement career in 2000 as a Reserve Officer. Prior to becoming Chief, he served as a Lieutenant (starting May 2022) and spent 18 years as a Sergeant (2005–2023) within the Kingsburg police department.
Adam Pirrie is the city manager for the City of Claremont. Adam was hired as city manager on February 23, 2021. He has served with Claremont for more than 22 years in various capacities. He joined the city staff in September 2003 in an accountant position. He worked as an accounting supervisor and finance manager before being appointed finance director in January 2011. Adam is an alumnus of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
Based on data from the California State Controller’s office for 2023 total wages (including lumpsum payouts), for the following cities were among the highest-paying city managers’ compensation: Commerce: $639,326; Sacramento: $593,240; Pomona: $584,525; Rialto: $555,106; Suisun City: $523,926; Laguna Beach: $514,080; Huntington Beach: $506,983; Inglewood: $503,737; Salinas: $498,594; and Beverly Hills: $477,790. Please note that these high figures can sometimes be inflated by one-time payments for unused leave or severance packages, which can cause a city’s ranking to fluctuate year to year. For example, the former Sacramento City Manager’s total wages reached nearly $800,000 in 2024 due to cashing out accrued leave hours.
Last February (2025), Rancho Cucamonga City Manager John Gillison and Lakewood Deputy City Manager Paolo Beltran were the major award recipients at the annual City Managers’ meeting. John was awarded the West McClure Award of Distinction, and Paolo was awarded the Annual John H. Nail Award. Continued congratulations to both of these gentlemen.
Shorts
- Lew Bauman served as the interim city manager following Monterey City Manager Hans Uslar’s retirement at the end of December 2025.
- Congratulations to Napa City Manager Steve Potter, who recently received a positive review.
- Anaheim City Manager James Vanderpool, appointed in September 2020 after serving as the Buena Park city manager (2012-2020), was not disciplined for attending a 2020 Lake Havasu retreat paid by the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce.
- Retired Vista City Manager Rita Geldert (1997-2011), who is a longtime former president of the California City Management Foundation Board of Trustees (CCMF), serves as a member of the Tri-City Medical Center and she is a past president of the Tri-City Hospital Foundation in Oceanside.
- Dena Heald is the new director of finance for the City of Big Bear Lake as the culmination of a recruitment conducted by TS Talent Solutions (TSTS) of the Tripepi Smith team.
- Retired Chino Hills city manager Doug Labelle was the very first Marysville City Administrator in 1972.
- Lemon Grove hired former Rancho Cucamonga Interim Deputy City Manager and former Coronado and National City Assistant City Manager Tony Winney as the City’s interim city manager.
- After serving 11 years with Cathedral City, former city manager Charles McClendon retired in September 2025 and Anne Ambrose was appointed interim city manager.