Trackdown ManagementTrackdown Management’s City Manager Newsletter: Volume No. 20: Issue No. 18

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

After only 8 months on the job, Hollister city manager Ana Cortez was fired on October 21, 2026. She was dismissed for convenience rather than cause. Airport Director and Acting Planning Director Jeff Crechriou in serving as the interim city manager. Facing a $7 million general fund deficit and a $9.6 million water fund deficit, Ana issued administrative leave and layoff notices to 37 city workers, including the Hollister Police Department and public works. The city has rescinded the layoffs, though the deficits remain unresolved.

Armen Avazian is the new city of San Fernando Director of Public Works. Armen previously work as the Principal Civil Engineer for the city of Glendale. He worked for Glendale more than 18 years. Armen takes the Public Works Department at a time City Manager Kanika Kith is planning to leave San Fernando to become the Rosemead city manager starting December 7.

Indio City Manager Jonathan Nicks is the new city manager for the city of Bell Gardens. He will assume the Bell Gardens city manager position on January 4, 2027. Jon was appointed Indio city manager in May, succeeding retired City Manager Bryan Montgomery. Jon had served two years as the Indio Assistant City Manager.

Former Ojai and La Cañada Flintridge Assistant City Manager Carl Alameda was hired to serve as the Town Manager for Kearny, Arizona, using the name “Alex Alameda.” Following his appointment in Kearny on October 28, 2026, it was discovered that he is facing 34 felony counts alleging he stole nearly $200,000 in insurance claim proceeds intended for the city of La Cañada Flintridge. He has been placed on paid investigative leave by the Town of Kearny. He has not been convicted of any crime and is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Calistoga hired 65-year-old Mitchell Celaya III as city manager in October 2026. Mitch served as the Calistoga Chief of Police for a dozen years (2012-2024). He was the University of California, Berkeley Police Chief from 1982 until 2012. After leaving the Calistoga police department, Mitch was Assistant City Manager in 2024-2025, and Acting/Interim City Manager from 2025-2026, following the resignation of former City Manager Laura Snideman.

Former Downey Chief Building Official (1997-2010), Linda Haines, a former President of the Downey Soroptimist International group, was the Soroptimist International of Americans, Camino Real Region, Governor from July 2012 to June 2014. Linda worked in the departments of building and safety in the cities of Fullerton (1984-1990), Cypress (1991-2010), Downey (1997-2010) and as Interim Building Official for Oceanside (2011-2012). Following her retirement she now operates her own Haines Code Consulting firm since July 2014. Linda is a Lakewood resident.

Matt West is the new city manager for the city of Garden Grove. Matt previously served as the Assistant City Manager. He formally assumed his new job on November 3, 2026, succeeding retired city manager Lisa Kim. Matt worked for the City of Tustin from 2002 to 2024, advancing through a number of administrative roles. He left Tustin as Deputy City Manager. Matt earned a BS from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

Long Beach City Manager Tom Modica introduced Tendaji K. Jamal as the city’s next Director of Technology and Innovation, replacing Director Lea Eriksen. Lea left the city in April to be the Senior Assistant City Manager for the City of Culver City. Tendaji is the Chief Information Technology Officer for Pasadena City College.

Cathedral City appointed the city’s first Poet Laureate, Clare Chu is the first Cathedral City Poet Laureate. The position is honorary and voluntary and recognizes Clare’s literary voice and decades of experience as an arts scholar. She is an accomplished art curator, dealer, lecturer and writer. Clare has curated major exhibitions, including at the Los Angeles County Museum of Arts. The city manager for the City of Cathedral City is Andrew “Andy” Firestine.

Scott Mowl is a Recreation Supervisor for the City of Bellflower. He is a Bellflower High School graduate, and he earned an AA from Cerritos Community College and a BA in Parks and Recreation Management from Northern Arizona University. Scott began working for Bellflower in 1986. The City of Bellflower recently honored Scott for his 40 years of public service. He is currently the front lines-manager at T. Mayne Thompson Park and the Bellflower Aquatic Center. Ryan Smoot has been the Bellflower city manager since January 2024 following the retirement of City Manager Jeffrey L. Stewart.

San Diego Mesa College alumnus, Scott Hammond is the Vice President for Business Development and Governmental Affairs, for Erickson-Hall Construction Co., a Southern California-based construction management and general contracting firm. Scott has served in this position since September 2022. Scott was a good friend to the late-Frank G. Tripepi, a retired city manager and Willdan executive.

Sacramento Assistant City Manager Katie Dignan resigned for personal reasons after only eight weeks on the job. She was one of four Sacramento assistant city managers reporting to City Manager Maraskeshia Smith. Katie started with the Sacramento city staff on July 13, 2026, and she resigned from the position September 2, 2026. Megan Van Voorhis is the Interim Assistant City Manager temporarily replacing Katie. Katie previously worked with the Peace Corps (2001-2005), New Orleans (2011-2018) and Oakland (2018-2020).

Shorts:

  • Assistant City Manager Matthew Hawkesworth has served as interim Pasadena city manager since former City Manager Miguel Márquez left in April 2026, and while the executive search firm, the Byers Group, works with the City Council to find a new city manager.
  • Marla Livengood, League of California Cities Regional Public Affairs Manager for the Central Valley Division, earned a BS in agricultural economics from California State University, Fresno.
  • Bonnie Paige, who returned to Stockton City Hall last month as Interim City Clerk following the resignation of City Clerk Katherin Rolands, who resigned less than six weeks after taking the position.
  • Retired Lakewood Community Relations Manager Sheryl Musicant Stewart, wife of retired Bellflower city manager Jeff Stewart, earned an MA in political science from The George Washington University.
  • Former Mammoth Lakes Town Manager (2013-2024), Daniel C. Holler currently lives in his hometown of Cody, Wyoming. Rob Patterson is currently the Town Manager.
  • Coalinga Chief of Police Jose Garza is retiring after nearly 50-years in law enforcement, and the city is conducting an open recruitment process to find his replacement.
  • Paso Robles Fire Chief Jonathan Stornetta is retiring at the end of the year, ending a 35-year career in fire and emergency services.
  • Fran Mancia, known throughout California’s local and state government officials, Is a resident of the town of Cool, California, an unincorporated rural community in El Dorado County.
  • Former Hayward Assistant City Manager, Regina Youngblood is the new City of Carson Director of Human Resources and Risk Management.
  • Long-time Norwalk City Clerk Theresa M. Devoy has worked for the city more than 35-years.
  • Sean McGlynn, who served as the city manager in Santa Rosa for nearly seven years, has been the Escondido city manager since June 29, 2021, succeeding retired city manager Jeffrey Epp.
  • Deirdre Coyne has become the new City of Sausalito City Clerk on August 2, 2026, after serving as Interim City Clerk following the departure of former City Clerk Walfred Solorzano, who left to become the Interim City Clerk for the city of Lodi.
  • Pamela Foster took the city administrator office in Bishop in September 2025, where the city council has asked the city attorney to draft an ordinance to move the local governance system to a formal Council-City Manager form of government.
  • James Connor currently serves as the Interim City Manager for the City of Willits where City Manager Brian Bender left the city with a separation agreement in 2025, and Rod Wilburn and Bob Perrault previously served as Interim City Managers.
  • Replacing City Manager Peggy Ducey in January 2024, Isaac Whippy is the city manager for the city of Fort Bragg and the Director of Finance.***