Round one of Lodi deputy city manager interviews completed

Three candidates were chosen to move on to the second round of interviews for Lodi’s vacant deputy city manger position after interviewing with two panels last Thursday. Initially, 20 people applied for the position left vacant after the retirement of former Deputy City Manager Jordan Ayers on Dec. 1, 2016.

Schwabauer will conduct another round of interviews and then a candidate will be chosen for the position. The city will then make an offer and negotiations will begin. Interviews are expected to occur within the next two weeks.

“The position has a significant amount of responsibilities. It governs HR and information systems and finance,” Schwabauer said.

“Obviously, the key for the position, given where the city is, is the financial side. We need somebody who has significant experience with the budget, who has significant experience with financial reporting and somebody who has strong department management skills. It’s no secret that we have some fiscal challenges coming up, and they’re really not associated with our economy so much as they are with the PERS (pension) funding shortfall. So it will be very important that this person can manage our operations in a fashion to help us steer through that course.”

According to Lodi Human Resources Manager Adele Post, the deputy city manager is responsible for planing, coordinating and organizing the overall administrative functions of the city under the direction of the city manager.

The deputy is also responsible for providing direction, management and coordination of activities for the human resources, budget/revenue/treasury, financial services, and information systems divisions. The deputy city manager also represents the city in employee relations, fosters cooperative working relationships with community groups, inter-governmental agencies and staff, and provides staff assistance to the city manager and city council.