City Council selects Ron Bradley as interim city manager

Story has been updated to clarify the start time of Wednesday's special City Council meeting:

Ron Bradley, who has extensive experience in city government in the Inland Empire, has been selected as interim city manager for the City of Menifee, according to Mayor Neil Winter.

No official announcement has been made by the city, but Winter told Menifee 24/7 that Bradley was unanimously selected following interviews conducted with the finalists during a City Council closed session Saturday morning. Terms of Bradley's contract will be reported at a 6:30 p.m. meeting of the City Council on Wednesday, when council members are expected to approve the contract and make his hiring official.

Bradley's selection comes about seven weeks after City Manager Rob Johnson resigned, receiving a $235,000 severance package upon leaving through a contract negotiated during the leadership of Mayor Scott Mann, who also is no longer with the city. Jeff Wyman, the City's economic development director, has been serving as city manager during that time.

"We haven't had time to do a press release," said Winter, who said the selection of Bradley was announced coming out of closed session, as required, but to an empty council chambers. "I think we made a wise choice in the interim and this will help us moving forward."

Bradley has developed a reputation for developing young talent in public administration as well as serving in key positions himself. He served as Temecula's City manager from 1994-98 and previously was city manager of La Mesa from 1980-88. In addition to holding management positions in private companies, he also served as interim city manager in Laguna Hills, Murrieta and Hemet.

City Council member Matt Liesemeyer said an original field of seven candidates was reduced to three finalists who were interviewed Saturday morning, which was the most convenient time for council members to meet and finalize their selection before it is made official on Wednesday. He said he understands there will be some restrictions on how much Bradley, who is 77, can be paid because of his status as a retired employee through the California Public Employee Retirement System (CALPERS).

"Being an interim position, we didn't do a huge selection process," Liesemeyer said. "We each kind of beat the bushes and brought names to the table. After four or five hours worth of interviews and deliberations and some argument and discussion, we decided unanimously Ron would be the interim city manager.

"His experience in the region between Temecula, Murrieta and Hemet, and knowing some of the players in the area, was a big factor in our decision. We trust his veteran leadership. Hopefully, he can help us find out who the next long-term city manager will be."

Wednesday's regular city council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. but this item was not on the previously announced agenda, so it will be addressed during a special council meeting beginning a half-hour earlier.