Trackdown ManagementTrackdown Management’s City Manager Newsletter: Volume No. 20: Issue No. 10

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

Christopher Boatman is the new city manager for the city of Beaumont. Chris is a former Assistant City Manager for the city of Redlands. He was sworn-in as the new Beaumont city manager during the June 2, 2026, city council meeting. Chris joined the Redlands city staff in March 2007 as an Associate Planner. He worked for the city of Redlands for more than 19 years before being hired as the Beaumont city manager. Chris earned a BA from the University of California, Riverside and an MPA from California State University, San Bernardino.

Milpitas has appointed the city’s sixth city manager in the past seven years. Former Compton city manager Willie Hopkins Jr. is the new Milpitas city manager. Willie is a U. S. Army veteran, who has served as the Compton city manager since late 2023. Prior to that he was the city manager for the City of Barstow. Milpitas Chief of Police Jared Hernandez served as Acting City Manager following the exit of Interim City Manager Deanna Santana.

Folsom city manager Bryan Whitemyer assumed his current position with the city on March 10, 2025. He succeeded Interim City Manager Dan Haverty and long-time city manager Elaine Andersen. Bryan previously worked for the cities of Patterson, Hughson and Oakdale. He was the Oakdale city manager for 12-years (2013-2025). He earned a BA from Brigham Young University and an MPA from California State University, Stanislaus.

Coachella city manager is Gustavo J. Romo was began his tenure on June 15, 2026. The city had been without a permanent city manager since the dismissal of Dr. Gabriel Martin in January 2025. They have been operation with several interim city managers in the meantime. Bill Patterson served as an interim city manager. Gustavo has been working as Deputy City Manager for the city of Beaumont since March 2025. Previously Gus was the Deputy City Manager for the city of Bell Gardens.

John Nachbar, former City Manager for the city of Culver City, retired at the end of last year. John says that he is coming up on 70-years old and ”…that’s pretty old in City Manager years.” He is the longest serving city manager in Culver City history. John served as the city manager for Culver City for 15 years from August 2010 until January 2026. He currently works as a consultant principal for Nachbar Urban Strategies.

Elisa C. Cox, City Manager of Rancho Cucamonga, started her public service as a local city pool employee teaching children swim lesson. She worked for the city of Sierra Madre for more than a decade before joining the management staff in Rancho Cucamonga. She became Deputy City Manager in 2016, and she was appointed Assistant City Manager in 2022. Elisa was appointed City Manager starting in December 2025, replacing longtime and highly touted City Manager John Gillison upon his retirement. She earned a BS in recreation, parks and tourism administration from California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo and an MBA from California Polytechnic University, Pomona. Elisa is a member of the ICMA National Board of Director as a West Coast Regional Vice President. She is a past President of CalICMA.

Eugene, Oregon city manager Jenny Haruyama has a passion for lifelong learning. She supports continued education, and she has a strong appreciation for libraries. Jenny started her current city manager assignment in Eugene in April 2026. She was the Beaverton, Oregon city manager from August 2021 to April 2026. Jenney was the Scotts Valley city manager from May 2016 until May 2019, when she became the Tracy city manager until August 2021. Jenny began her public service career in 1991 as a Public Services Assistant in Milpitas. She worked for Mountain View, San Leandro, Rancho Cucamonga, Town of Los Gatos, Tracy and Livermore before becoming the Scotts Valley city manager. Jenny earned a BS from San Jose State University and an MPA from California State University, Hayward (East Bay). In addition, she completed professional executive education programs at Harvard University and Stanford University.

Private sector supporters of the council-manager form of local government who serve on the 15-member California City Management Foundation (CCMF) Board of Trustees include Jason Gonsalves of the Joe A. Gonsalves Professional Legislative Representation firm; Ashley Lough, Climatec LLC; Reva Feldman, Strategic Advisor; Mark Risco, CEO of Willdan Financial Services; HongDao Nguyen, Partner with Best Best & Krieger LLP; and Jose Vera, Managing Director of Public Finance for Raymond James.

West Covina has officially hired Milan Mrakich as the West Covina city manager. He has served as Acting City Manager since May. Milan worked as a Code Enforcement Supervisor in Rosemead with former late-city manager Frank Tripepi starting in 1986. He worked for La Habra from 2007 to 2014, and La Puente from 2014 to 2019. Milan joined the West Covina city staff in October 2019.

After working in the cities of Montebello, Pico Rivera and Azusa, retired city manager Fred Diaz was appointed city manager for the City of Indio and served there from 1990 to 1994. He served as the Tracy city manager from 1994 until 2004. Fred finished his last 14- years as city manager serving as the Fremont city manager from 2004 until his retirement in 2018. Fred earned a BA and MPA from California State University, Fullerton. Fred is the 1987 recipient of the John H. Nail Memorial Award, presented annually by the City Managers’ Department of the League of California Cities, honoring the outstanding assistant of the year for their service.

Jessica Binnquist has worked for the City of Alhambra since July 2009. She was appointed city manager in December 2017, and officially assumed the position in January 2018. Before coming to Alambra, Jessica worked for 13 years for the city of San Marino starting in March 1996. Jessica turned down the city manager position in the City of Villa Park in December 2016 when a potential contract modification was unacceptable. She earned a BA in organizational leadership with honors from Azusa Pacific University, and an MPA from California State University, Long Beach. Jessica is a past Chair of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) City Managers’ Steering Committee.

San Jacinto city manager Rob Johnson is the new Executive Director of San Jacinto Power. Rob will focus on expanding the utility’s mission in the best interest of San Jacinto residents and businesses. Rob has been the San Jacinto city manager since February 2017. Travis Randel has been appointed Interim City Manager to step in behind Rob’s exit. Travis has been serving as Deputy City Manager of Development Services. Jerome “Jay” Wilverding is the new city manager for the city of Concord, replacing longtime city manager Valerie Barone. Valerie is scheduled to retire in June.

Shorts

  • Jennifer Yamaguma is the new Assistant City Manager for the city of San Mateo according to City Manager Alex Khojikian.
  • Thomas A. Peterson served as the Lodi city manager starting in April 1985, after working as the as the Woodland city manager from February 1973 to April 1985.
  • The California High-Speed Rail Authority Board of Directors, established in 1996, includes: Chair Steve Kawa, Vice Chair Anthony C. Williams, Ernest Camacho, Emily Cohen, Jason Elliott, Martha M. Escutia, Henry Perea, Lynn Schenk, and Jeffrey Worthe.
  • Joe Calabrigo, retired Town of Danville town manager, approved a management services contract with the city of Pleasanton to serve as Interim City Manager, as City Manager Gerry Beaudin transitions to the Alameda city manager position.
  • Former Arcadia Mayor Eileen Wang faces up to 10-years in federal prison after she pleaded guilty to acting as an illegal agent of the foreign government of China.
  • Al Boling, former Ontario city manager, an AS graduate from Chaffey College and BS graduate from California State University, San Bernardino, is currently a member of the city of Rancho Cucamonga Planning Commission.
  • Former Costa Mesa City Manager Lori Ann Farrell, who also previously worked for Huntington Beach and Long Beach, is the new chief executive of the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency (LACAHSA), expected to start her new position on July 6.
  • Former Pasadena city manager Cynthia Kurtz, who has represented the city on the Board of the Metropolitan Water District of South California (MWD) for more than a dozen years, submitted a memorandum to the city informing officials of the new adopted 6.2% increased water rates and charges for fiscal years 2026-27 and 2027-28 , lower than the 8.5% annual increases for the MWD’s prior two-year budget cycle.
  • Wes Metroka is the new Fire Chief for the city of Chico replacing former Chief Steve Standridge.
  • Adam Politzer, former Sausalito city manager, was appointed Interim City Manager for the city of Alameda in December 2025.