2008.01.16: January 16, 2008: Headlines: COS - Philippines: City Government: Monterey Herald: Salinas City Manager Dave Mora (RPCV Philippines), credited with steering the city away from economic disaster during at least two financial crises, will retire
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2008.01.16: January 16, 2008: Headlines: COS - Philippines: City Government: Monterey Herald: Salinas City Manager Dave Mora (RPCV Philippines), credited with steering the city away from economic disaster during at least two financial crises, will retire
Salinas City Manager Dave Mora (RPCV Philippines), credited with steering the city away from economic disaster during at least two financial crises, will retire
Mayor Dennis Donohue, son of a former Recreations-Park Department manager, said Mora joins the list of legendary managers in the history of the city. "The intellectual capacity and compassion of Dave Mora is unmatched," Donohue said. "This city will face a significant loss." Many have credited Mora with rescuing the city from financial disaster after the budget crisis of the early 2000 forced cuts of $15 million in services. "You kept us afloat," Councilwoman Janet Barnes told Mora. "Your fiscal conservativeness kept us afloat. You've been our captain." After 35 years in public service and seeing Salinas in good shape, Mora said it was a good time to go. "I want to leave when things are virtually stable," he said. "That's the case for the next 10 to 12 months."
Salinas City Manager Dave Mora (RPCV Philippines), credited with steering the city away from economic disaster during at least two financial crises, will retire
Salinas City Manager Dave Mora announces retirement
Mora credited with guiding city through tough times
By CLAUDIA MELÉNDEZ SALINAS
Herald Salinas Bureau
Article Last Updated: 01/16/2008 01:37:52 AM PST
Dave Mora Says elected officials in Salinas ÔÔalways had the best interest of the community at heart."
Salinas City Manager Dave Mora, credited with steering the city away from economic disaster during at least two financial crises, said Tuesday he will retire Sept. 30.
In a tearful announcement before the start of the regular City Council meeting, Mora said his 17 years at the helm of Salinas were some of the best in his life in the public sector.
"I've had the privilege to work with elected officials who disagreed on stuff but had one thing in common ... they always had the best interest of the community at heart," he said.
His announcement comes a week after Deputy City Manager Jorge Rifa left to become city administrator for the City of Commerce in Southern California.
Mora, 63, stopped reading from his prepared statement several times to fight back tears. He praised city employees for their hard work and commitment to public service and said he planned to remain in Salinas.
Mayor Dennis Donohue, son of a former Recreations-Park Department manager, said Mora joins the list of legendary managers in the history of the city.
"The intellectual capacity and compassion of Dave Mora is unmatched," Donohue said. "This city will face a significant loss."
Mora came to the city in 1990, after serving as the Oxnard city manager for five years. At the time of his hiring, Russ Jeffries was mayor. He has since served for Alan Styles, Anna Caballero and Donohue. As part of his retirement package, he'll be allowed to cash in up to 17 weeks of accrued management
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leave. Mora earns $215,000 annually.
Although his employment with the city is finished on Sept. 30, his full-time employment will end on June 30 and he will be on hand for the transition for no more than 20 days after that.
After Mora concluded his announcement, about two dozen city employees surrounded him and praised him as a good leader.
"Dave Mora is the best boss I've ever had," Police Chief Dan Ortega said. "He's a man of integrity, character, of his word. He hires his department directors to run departments, he gives good direction, he doesn't mince words, he doesn't micromanage. I'm personally going to miss him."
Many have credited Mora with rescuing the city from financial disaster after the budget crisis of the early 2000 forced cuts of $15 million in services.
"You kept us afloat," Councilwoman Janet Barnes told Mora. "Your fiscal conservativeness kept us afloat. You've been our captain."
After 35 years in public service and seeing Salinas in good shape, Mora said it was a good time to go.
"I want to leave when things are virtually stable," he said. "That's the case for the next 10 to 12 months."
Claudia Meléndez Salinas can be reached at 753-6755 or
cmelendez@montereyherald.com.
Education: B.A., CSU-Los Angeles, 1967; master of public and international affairs, University of Pittsburgh, 1971. Résumé: U.S. Peace Corps, the Philippines, 1967-70; director of community relations, Santa Barbara, 1973-77; assistant to Santa Barbara city administrator, 1977-79; deputy Santa Barbara city administrator, 1979-81; Los Gatos town manager, 1981-85; Oxnard city manager, 1985-90; Salinas city manager, 1990 to present.
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