Mayor Wade Harper announced that the City Council has hired Steve Duran, currently the City Manger in Hercules, California, to replace Jim Jakel, who is retiring in January after 10 years as Antioch’s City Manager. All contract terms have been agreed upon and the City is set to approve a contract on December 10, 2013.
Duran, who took the reins in Hercules in 2011, is largely credited with saving that scandal ridden and financially beleaguered city from bankruptcy and helping an all new City Council restore public trust after years of mismanagement and malfeasance by previous administrations. After major layoffs, Friday furloughs and two successful tax measures, Hercules was able to eliminate its structural deficit and balance its fiscal year 2013-2014 budget. Duran also managed to get Hercules’ Intermodal Transit Center project, which will eventually bring passenger rail, bus service, ferry service and the Bay Trail together on San Pablo Bay. Most recently, he finalized a deal for a Safeway anchored shopping center in Hercules.
Prior to his stint in Hercules, Duran spent nine years as the Community & Economic Development Agency Director in Richmond, California, where he had executive oversight of the Office of Economic Development, the Redevelopment Agency, the Housing Authority and the Employment & Training Department. His other public sector experience includes four years with the San Jose Redevelopment Agency, where he was Downtown Development and Implementation Manager.
Mayor Harper noted that the City Council believes Duran is the best fit for his new position because of his experience with financial challenges, economic development and budget skills for implementation of Measure C. He stated, “Steve is the right person to lead the City staff and deal with the complex issues in the community.”
Duran said, “It was a tough decision to leave Hercules; but Hercules is on the right track now and the City Council isn’t about to repeat the mistakes of previous administrations.
They are a very sharp group.” He added, “I find the challenges and opportunities in Antioch very motivating and the best match for my experience in the long run.” He added, “The City Council has good chemistry. They seem to work well together and truly put the City’s interests first.”
Duran’s compensation package includes an annual salary of $230,000, which will be discounted to $207,000 until City furloughs are discontinued, and a one-year severance package. He is set to officially start work in Antioch in January 2014.
1 comment
Steve a good person. However, I don’t think he has done his homework in regards to the challenge he is up against in Antioch.
This is the most dangerious city in Contra Costa and one of the most in the nation. Most outsiders who have never lived in Antioch will be suprised at how ridiculously ghetto and sour mentality this city has become -in a short time span to boot.
There is a shooting in Antioch almost every day! Why should this matter to the City Manager? well it all has to do with money and the only major money producer in Antioch is property tax, which is very low due to ridiculously low values.
Ahhh.. the gift of section 8.
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