(San Diego) City manager calls it quits

San Diego Union Tribune ^ | 11/12/2004 | macbee

[macbee]

Lamont Ewell cites voter passage of strong-mayor government

6:04 p.m. November 12, 2004

NELVIN CEPEDA / Union-Tribune

SAN DIEGO – City Manager Lamont Ewell Friday announced that he will resign effective July 1 due to a voter-approved measure that calls for a strong mayor form of government in San Diego.

"The recent passage of the strong mayor form of governance will significantly alter the role of the city manager in this organization," Ewell stated in a letter to Mayor Dick Murphy and the City Council.

"I am desirous of pursuing future opportunities in a council-manager form of government consistent with my chosen profession."

Ewell was sworn in as city manager in April. He replaced Michael Uberuaga, who retired after more than six years managing the city's daily affairs...

[macbee]

I had the pleasure of meeting Lamont a few months ago. He's a class act and had make a lot of tough decisions almost from the get-go. He'll be missed.

[Viet-Boat-Rider]

The strong Mayor form of government is the dumbest thing San Diego could do. The staff of the Mayor and Council turn the whole City into a political quagmire. City employees hunker down and don't do anything out of fear of pissing someone off, and the cost of government skyrockets.

Dumb move San Diego.

[q_an_a]

Dallas has an opening for a city manager - hope he throws hsi hat this wy - the present list of candidates is poor.

[macbee]

City employees do that now and frankly the current mayor/council arrangement is not working at all, hence the vote for the change.

What's ironic is that "Surfer Girl" Donna Frye's election (if upheld) is likely to make matters worse under a "strong mayor" scenario. She has almost no background as an executive and will probably struggle just to put a decent staff together, let alone set a coherent direction. Putting a political novice into a brand new form of government seems likely to create in an even more chaotic situation in City Hall. That's democracy for ya.