San Leandro Hires Former Hercules Interim Finance Director

Former interim finance director of Hercules, David Baum, will go to work for the city of San Leandro.

San Leandro City Manager Chris Zapata announced Friday that David Baum will begin work at City Hall later this month. He will earn $152,256 a year.

Baum worked as interim finance director for Hercules under former interim City Manager Liz Warmerdam. The Hercules City Council hired Steve Duran as a permanent city manager in September. In February, Duran hired Nickie Mastay as Hercules' permanent finance director.

Before Hercules, Baum was the chief financial officer for San Jose's Redevelopment Agency, a post he held for some 20 years.

Baum took early retirement last year as the state moved to abolish redevelopment agencies. After that he served for a time as interim finance director of the city of Hercules.

Baum has a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Stanford University. His professional accomplishments include experience with audits, bond and debt restructuring and the coordination of complex projects.

"David will be a great addition to our management team," Zapata said in a statement. "His background is stellar." 

Zapata said Baum also had a history of community involvement as a school board member and participant in various service organizations.

"San Leandro has a solid business base, strong investment grade ratings and major economic development," Baum said, adding that the future should be bright even though "San Leandro, like other California communities, is challenged by the end of redevelopment and a recessionary economy."