Manteca’s political earthquake continues.
On Tuesday evening, the City Council voted 5-0 to dismiss City Manager Tim Ogden, the Manteca Bulletin reports. That makes Ogden the second city manager to depart in the past 37 months.
Ogden had recently been placed on leave. So too had the city’s police chief and finance director, who has since left. Human Resources Director Joe Krisovich was recently let go. Community Development Director Greg Showerman resigned and took a job in Modesto. Ogden’s predecessor, Elena Reyes, was on the job for less than six months before her dismissal.
Within a year, the city has lost over half of its management team and the reasons for the shakeup still aren’t clear. Manteca Mayor Ben Cantu has described it as “a perfect storm” of employee issues.
During his short tenure, City Manager Ogden was credited with finalizing a $180 million deal that brought the 500-room Great Wolf Resort to Manteca.
UPDATE: An article published in the Manteca Bulletin Thursday, Dec. 19 makes clear there is no animosity between Tim Ogden and the City Council. Ogden’s departure was the result of a mutual agreement, prompted in part by recent changes in the makeup of the City Council. California City News will have more on Ogden’s exit including a look back at his accomplished tenure in Manteca next month.