A county manager dies just days before his retirement date. A city manager is accused of secretly boosting his pay by 85%. And be careful what you say during election season - as you are bound to piss somebody off.
All that and more news after the job postings.
Job Board Postings
It is free to post all of your senior and executive level recruitments over at the AAME job board. If you would like to include them in this newsletter, select the $199 option.
City/County Manager Recruitments
CO: Craig - City Manager (Until Filled) | in-house
IA: Cedar Falls - City Administrator (1/30/2026) | CB-Assoc
SC: Blythewood - Town Manager (Until Filled) | Parker Poe Consulting
TX: Lamesa - City Manager (1/16/2025) | Clear Career
TX: Nederland - City Manager (1/23/2026) | Clear Career
TX: Surfside Beach - City Administrator (1/30/2025) Clear Career
VA: Hopewell - City Manager (First Review 1/16/2026) CB & Assoc.
Other
IL: Village of St. Joseph - Public Works Director (2/23/2026) | in-house
PA: Cranberry Township - Director of Utilities (2/9/2026) | in-house
TX: Dumas - Finance Director (1/30/2025) | Clear Career
TX: Liberty - Assistant Police Chief (1/19/2025) | Clear Career
TX: Marble Falls - Finance Director (2/7/2026) | Clear Career
TX: Wichita Falls - Chief Building Official (1/27/2026) | Clear Career
FL: Washington County Administrator Dies Days Before Official Retirement
Washington County Administrator Jeff Massey was slated to retire on January 30, 2026. He didn’t make it to the finish line. Instead, he passed away on January 27 after battling cancer.
I have broached the topic of retirement and death, especially for men, numerous times on my podcast and LinkedIn content. You may recall Episode 124 of the City Manager Unfiltered podcast: Lessons From the Death of My Father with Joe Dessenberger.
Do some soul-searching, friends, and think long and hard about how you want to spend the last years of your life. Many of us — including myself — have fewer good years in front of me than in the rearview mirror.
Who says you can’t go home again?
Alliance announced four finalists for their city manager search — and one is a familiar face. JD Cox previously served as the city manager for Alliance from 2011-2016 and he looking for another bite at the apple. He is up against one challenger with city manager experience in Nebraska. And one of the other two challengers has no city management experience, but comes from a federal/military background.
In California, Gary Hampton is set to join Turlock for the fifth time. This time as the interim city manager. He previously served as their police chief (2006-11) and as the city manager (2016-17), along with a couple of other stints.
OK: City Manager Clarifies Statements in Local Election Data Center Kerfuffle
A city manager made what seemed to be rather innocuous statements in the local newspaper about the upcoming local election concerning a effort to possibly de-annex data centers which would result in millions of dollars in lost property tax revenue.
Apparently, someone was not happy so he was compelled to issue a clarifying statement days later. When it comes to making comments about local election issues, please be careful.
News Around the Country
AZ: Gilbert Launches National Search for Next Town Manager
AZ: Peoria Deputy City Manager Mike Faust promoted to top spot
AZ: Pima County tapped Tucson Police Chief Chad Kasmar to fill a deputy county administrator position that's been vacant for just over a year
CA: Legislative aide with no direct local government experience lands first job as a city administrator in Biggs
CO: DCA Beth Helmke promoted to permanent Chaffee County administrator
CO: Shawna Legarza, former director of emergency management, promoted to La Plata County manager
FL: Jefferson County Manager Shannon Metty again under the gun; resigns day later
FL: Margate city manager’s purchasing authority raised from $50,000 to $100,000; department heads from $3,500 to $5,000 on single purchases
FL: Rick Johnson, who led Mulberry back from the brink of ruin, retires
GA: Fort Valley police chief, city administrator fired over 'ethical lapses,' financial mismanagement, mayor says
GA: Ex-Senoia city manager accused of secretly boosting salary by 85 percent
ID: Coeur d'Alene city council hires former Post Falls mayor as interim city administrator
IL: Elwood taps their former police chief to be their village administrator
MI: St. Johns releases details on severance deal for fired city manager Chad Gamble
MN: Edina's city manager will retire in January 2027
NC: Audit finds flaws in former Cary manager's leadership and financial practices
NH: Gorham prepares to recruit new town manager, police chief
OK: Fort Gibson trustees have flurry of town administrator applications - happy with 20 applicants
PA: Columbia Borough inks deal with police chief to fill manager position
TX: Doubling council salaries, expanding city manager’s authority could be on Fort Worth’s May ballot
TX: Former Jasper City Manager signs up for seat on the council
VA: Kathy Knutson announced in late January that she is stepping down as Independence Town Manager
VA: Supervisors Appoint Jane Meadows as Interim Warren County Administrator, Debate Circumstances of Gotshall Resignation
Compensation & Contracts
MI: New Lake Odessa manager will earn $95,725
OR: Eugene’s incoming city manager set to earn $306K, begin work in April