Redwood City Names New Assistant City Manager to Oversee Administrative Services Department

The following was submitted for publication by the city of Redwood City:

The City of Redwood City announced Monday the selection of ten year veteran Kimbra McCarthy as Assistant City Manager to oversee the newly-formed Administrative Services Department following a formal recruitment process. With experience serving State, City, and County agencies, McCarthy comes to the City of Redwood City from the City of Mountain View, where she served as Deputy City Manager. In that role she led sensitive policy initiatives including the development of a minimum wage ordinance and efforts designed to help displaced homeless residents, facilitated the City Council's goal setting process and led an interdepartmental review of the City's purchasing process.

McCarthy's selection as Assistant City Manager grows the leadership team within the City Manager's Office. Aaron Aknin, Redwood City's Assistant City Manager and Director of Community Development will continue in his role overseeing the Community Development Department.

"I am confident that Kimbra possesses the leadership skills, temperament and substantial administrative experience needed to collaborate effectively with our energetic and innovative department head team, and that she will foster staff leadership and growth within her department," said Melissa Stevenson Diaz, city manager of the City of Redwood City. "Additionally, she brings a strategic mindset that will help the City of Redwood City continue to partner effectively with other community stakeholders and ensure the sound use of City resources."

Prior to working for the City of Mountain View, McCarthy was the director of administration and finance for the Office of the District Attorney of Santa Barbara County where she oversaw division staff of 50 full-time employees and was responsible for finance and accounting, information technology, human resources, legal support, and victim services. Other career accomplishments include serving as fiscal and policy analyst for the County of Santa Barbara's County Executive Office; fiscal analyst for the State of Kansas Legislature's Legislative Research Department; and legal analyst for Shook, Hardy, & Bacon Law Firm.

"I am thrilled to be joining the City of Redwood City team and look forward to building lasting connections with the community, city staff, department heads and strategic partners," said Kimbra McCarthy. "I understand the unique challenge of leading a department through changes and transitions and I am ready to guide the newly-formed Administrative Services Department to success."

McCarthy has a Masters of Law from University of Limerick, Ireland; a Juris Doctor from Washburn University School of Law; and Bachelors of Arts in Political Science from Washburn University. McCarthy lives in San Jose, CA with her husband.

The new City of Redwood City Administrative Services Department oversees the functions of Finance, Information Technology and Human Resources which together provide essential support to all City operating departments. The combined department structure will enhance the integration of these key services.

McCarthy will begin her new post in the City of Redwood City on August 8, 2016.

(Image courtesy city of Redwood City)