Mayor Schaaf Hires New Interim City Administrator

Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said today that she is hiring a new interim city administrator effective next Wednesday but hopes to hire a permanent city administrator by March or April. Schaaf, who just took office last week, said she would have liked to retain Henry Gardner as interim city administrator but a new state retirement system requirement bars the city from extending his contract after it expires next Tuesday because of his status as a city retiree.

Schaaf said she is turning to John Flores, 68, who was Emeryville’s city manager for 19 years before retiring in 2006. Schaaf said Flores’ contract will run through June but she hopes to have a permanent city administrator on board well before then. She said the Oakland City Council is expected to approve the appointment of Flores at its meeting on Tuesday.

Schaaf said 58 people applied for the city administrator position by the filing deadline last Friday. The executive search firm William Avery & Associates is screening the candidates and will recommend finalists, who will be interviewed the first week of February, Schaaf said.

“I’m thrilled we had so many applicants,” Schaaf said. The city administrator’s job has been in flux since the departure last March 2 of Deanna Santana, who had held the job since August 2011. Former Mayor Jean Quan promoted assistant city administrator Fred Blackwell to the top job but he announced in April that he would become chief executive of the San Francisco Foundation, a non-profit organization, and would only stay on the job until June 15. Quan then appointed Gardner to be interim city administrator. Gardner held the position, known at that time as city manager, from 1981 through 1993.

Schaaf said, “I regret that the law prohibits us from having consistent leadership from Mr. Gardner until the new permanent city administrator is hired. But I could not be more grateful that John Flores, an esteemed and experienced administrator, is willing and able to serve the city in this capacity.”

Gardner said in a statement, “It has been an honor to serve Oakland as city administrator. But I know that my service to Oakland does not end here.” Gardner said, “I am committed to supporting my city and supporting our new interim city administrator, John Flores, because I could not think of a more qualified or capable person for the job.” Flores previously worked for the city of Oakland for 11 years and served under Gardner when Gardner held Oakland’s top job.

Flores, who has lived in Oakland for more than 40 years, said, “As a longtime Oaklander, I am proud to take on this role and energized about working with the new administration.” Flores said, “I bring a lifetime of public service, managerial experience and a deep respect for Oakland to the city administrator’s office, and am ready to hit the ground running.”

By Bay City News