Trackdown ManagementTrackdown Management’s City Manager Newsletter: Volume No. 20: Issue No. 7

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

Many “Thanks” to Industry City Manager Joshua Nelson for pointing out our error with regards to the city manager position start date of the Glendora city manager.

Former Riverside Chief Financial Officer Adam Raymond began his Glendora city manager tenure on September 4, 2018. Prior to his Riverside experience, Adam worked in Rancho Palos Verdes, San Bernardino, and for a private firm in Rancho Cucamonga. Adam earned a BS in accounting from the University of La Verne, and an MPA from California Baptist University.

San Dimas City Manager Brad McKinney, appointed in October 2024, played college baseball at Azusa Pacific University. Brad’s wife, Janay McKinney, is a well-known professional soccer player and coach. Brad previously held positions in Alhambra, Rosemead, Claremont and Anaheim. He earned a BA and MBA from Azusa Pacific University. Brad is not related to the legendary California city manager and longtime CCMF past President Wade McKinney.

Starting May 4, 2026, Sean Charpentier will be the city of Pacifica city manager. Sean succeeds City Manager Kevin Woodhouse, who has retired. Sean has been serving as the Executive Director of the City and County Association of Governments of San Mateo County. He worked as the Assistant City Manager for the City of East Palo Alto from April 2015 to February 2018. Sean earned a BA from Clark University and a Masters from the University of California, Berkeley.

Michael Hodson is the new City Administrator for the City of Angels Camp effective March 30 succeeding Steve Williams. He served as the Commanding Officer for the United States Marine Corp at MCRD San Diego (2012-2014). He served as Assistant Superintendent in Business Services for the Walnut Valley Unified School District (2015-2017) and a similar position with the Marysville Joint Unified School District (2017-2019). He spent six and a half years as a Rancher/Business Owner, and in 2021-2022 he worked for the Solana Beach School District. In December 2022 he took the Director of General Services post for Butte County. Mike earned a BS from California State University, Chico, and an MBA from Webster University, and an MA from U.S. Naval War College.

Yvonne Kimball, who moved to the United States from China at age 26, is the new city manager for the City of Williams succeeding longtime City Administrator Frank Kennedy. Yvonne previously served as the city manager for the cities of Morro Bay (2023-2025) and Jackson (2017-2023). Prior to coming to California, Yvonne served as the Town Manager for Dewey-Humboldt, Arizona and city manager for the city of Bowling Green, Florida. She was an Intern in Palm Bay, Titusville, and Satellite Beach, Florida (2006-2008). Yvonne earned an MPA from the University of Central Florida.

Former Rosemead City Manager William A. Crowe retired in December 2010 as the El Segundo Assistant City Manager. Bill began his local government career in 1975 as an Administrative Assistant in the City of Paramount with then-City Manager Harry Bond. Bill was promoted Administrative Services in 1978 and then Assistant City Manager in 1979. He served as Acting City Manager in Paramount for a time in 1980 before he joined the staff of then-Los Angeles County Supervisor Peter Schabarum as a Deputy Supervisor. Bill worked with the county for 10- years. In 1995 he served Unisys as a Business Development Manager in the private sector. In October 1999 Bill joined the Rosemead city staff as the Director of Administrative Services and he was appointed City Manager in May 2002. Bill left Rosemead in 2006 to join the El Segundo staff as the Assistant City Manager. Bill earned a BS and an MPA from the University of Southern California (USC). In 2005 he was the recipient of a 20-year ICMA Service Award. Bill is a regular participant of the “Proof of Life” lunch program.

Hemet City Manager Mark Prestwich is retiring effective May 4, 2026. Mark started his Hemet city manager tenure in February 2023. After serving in assistant positions in Napa and Sacramento, Mark served as city manager in Nevada City, St. Helena, and Palos Verdes Estates, before returning to his home city of Hemet. Mark is a graduate of Hemet High School. Mark is a past President of the Municipal Management Association of Northern California (MMANC); 2007. He earned a BA from California State University, Fullerton and an MPA from California State University, Long Beach.

Alameda Interim City Adam Politzer was appointed to his current position in December 2025 following the departure of City Manager Jennifer Ott. Adam, among other local government positions, served more than 13 years as the city manager for the city of Sausalito. Since, he has worked as Interim City Manager in several cities, including Emeryville, Fairfax and Clayton.

There are now three “Jack’s” serving as city managers in cities in California since Jackie Rocco was appointed West Hollywood city manager in January 2026. The other two are Jack Griffin, who worked for San Marcos, and Jack Castro, who served as city manager and city treasurer for the city of Huron. Historical there was Jack McGrory, who was the San Diego city manager from 1991 to 1997, and the legendary LeRoy “Jack” Jackson, who was a longtime legendary city manager for the city of Torrance. He retired in 2020 after a 54-year career with the city. Also, there was Jack A. Simpson who was city manager for Hawaiian Gardens, Paramount and Bellflower between 1969 and 1993.

Monrovia City Manager Dylan Feik confirmed that a mother black bear nicknamed “Blondie” is dead. The State wildlife officials killed the bear making her two cubs orphaned. The mother bear reportedly injured two people in separate incidents in less than a year. The wildlife officials opted to euthanize the black bear rather than relocate it.

California Park & Recreation Society (CPRS) awarded the 2025 Award of Excellence in Park Planning to the City of Tulare’s efforts developing Zumwalt Park and the Adventist Health Amphitheater. The award recognition was presented at the CPRS Conference Mary 12 in Long Beach. The Tulare city manager is Marc Mondell. Marc worked in Florida before coming to California to serve as Assistant City Manager and Director of Economic and Community Development for the city of Rocklin in January 2015. Marc was appointed Tulare city manager starting in September 2021.

Former San Pablo City Manager Rory C. Robinson (December 1942-September 2000). He served as the San Pablo city manager from October 1988 until his death in 2000. Rory previously worked as the city manager of the cities of Cotati (1979- 1981) and Arcata (1981-1988). He began his public service career in Pasadena, Carpinteria and Santa Barbara. He was a recipient of a 1987 ICMA Innovation Award. Rory earned a BA from California State University, Northridge and an MA from Occidental College. Rory passed away at home at the age of 57 following a battle with cancer. Rory was known as a very positive person.

A national list of LocalGov250 was issued by the National Academy of Public Administration honoring the best of the best. California officials listed include Alexander Fung, Economic Development Manager, Eastvale; Moreno Valley City Manager Brian Mohan; Dennis Kauffman, Assistant City Manager and Chief Financial Officer, Roseville; Jennifer Contini, Chief Assistant City Attorney, Anaheim; Jon Givner, Chief Assistant City Attorney, San Francisco; Juliana Lucchesi, Assistant City Manager, City of Yreka; Magda Gonzalez, Retired, City of Half Moon Bay; Patricia Martel, West Coast Regional Director, ICMA; and Rivkah Sass, CEO Sacramento Public Library.

Shorts:

  • Indio city manager Bryan Montgomery will retire this summer after working in Indio for about five years and accompany his wife as a missionary to Latin America for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
  • Former Huntington Beach city manager Ray Silver served as President of the City Managers’ Department of the League of California Cities in 2002- 2003.
  • Hawthorne, where Vontray “Von” Norris is the city manager, is the 84th member city of the California Contract Cities Association (CCCA), where Marcel Rodarte is the Executive Director.
  • Brett Channing, Corona Assistant City Manager, is the President-elect for Cal-ICMA.
  • Temecula Assistant City Manager Kevin Hawkins has retired after 35-years of public service in the cities of Inglewood, San Bernardino and Temecula, and Deputy City Manager Luke Watson succeeded him effective March 7.
  • Retired Yorba Linda City Manager Arthur Simonian served in the Yorba Linda city manager position for 27 years until September 1999.
  • Retired Pacifica city manager Kevin Woodhouse, who served as city manager from October 2017 until his retirement in March 2026, has been a supporter and coach for the Local Governance Summer Institute (LGSI) Program at Stanford University.
  • The late William “Bill” Holt held various position in Garden Grove, La Habra, La Mirada, Colton, and Santa Fe Springs prior to serving as Paramount city manager for 14-years starting in 1980 and retiring as the Executive Director of the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority (CJPIA) in 2002.
  • Bill Garrett, a retired city manager who served the cities of El Cajon and Corona, was a longtime Executive Director for the California City Management Foundation (CCMF).
  • Los Angeles County Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Fesia Davenport resigned effective April 16, stepping down following months on medical leave, and the County continues to face questions on the $2 million payout approved to her.
  • Long Beach Millikan High School alumnus Marlene (Tomlin) Towns, who previously worked for the city of Bellflower and with Willdan, currently lives in the City of Carlsbad.
  • Former Stockton Interim City Manager Steve Colangelo is a two-time former President of the major regional cultural event, the Stockton Asparagus Festival.
  • Foster City Assistant City Manager Marlene Subhashini is a recognized professional artist with her work, including exquisite paintings of owls, displayed in the Foster City Art Gallery.
  • Mary Gourley, longtime Sebastopol City Clerk, who serves as the Interim City Manager, spent more than a decade with the Department of the United States Army before joining the ranks of city management.
  • Long Beach City Manager Tom Modica enjoys cooking, traveling and managing a household with large mastiff dogs.
  • Long-time Claremont city employee, Adam Pirrie became Acting City Manager in October 2020 following the resignation of City Manager Tara Schultz, and he was appointed city manager in February 2021.
  • Laura Snideman began her tenure as the South San Francisco city manager in January 2026.
  • Stephen Agostini, a former UCLA CFO, has been named to be the new Culver City CFO.