Carney officially Lodi's next city manager

May 3—Scott Carney has officially been hired as the City of Lodi's city manager.

The Lodi City Council unanimously approved Carney's appointment to the post during its Wednesday night meeting.

"Mr. Carney's comprehensive management of government programs at both state and local levels, his emphasis on community involvement, and his focus on leadership development will benefit our residents, our business owners, and the 400-plus staff that serve the City of Lodi," Mayor Lisa Craig said.

The city said that Carney brings a "versatile professional skill set" that includes contract management, administrative services, legislative affairs, fiscal management and budget oversight.

He is currently works for the State of California as the Deputy Director of Administration for the Department of Health Care Services.

Prior to that, Carney served as deputy city manager for the City of Stockton where he helped the city emerge from bankruptcy.

Carney said there is a real sense of connection in Lodi, and that he looks forward to developing strong ties through active involvement and participation in local events.

"The hands-on nature of local government appeals to me because it offers the opportunity to make a difference in the daily life of residents" he said. "Lodi's unique charm, central location, and the potential for purposeful growth are all very compelling. I'm enthusiastic to get to work building upon Lodi's past achievements and engaging the community to shape its future."

Carney held a variety of roles with the State of California from 1998 to 2014, including deputy director of fiscal services and director of administrative services.

Prior to his employment with the state, he served as contracts manager for Contra Costa County and as a special projects coordinator for Families First, Inc.

Carney holds a bachelor's degree in sociology and organizational studies from UC Davis, a master's degree in social welfare from UC Berkeley, and is currently pursuing a doctorate of education in leadership and innovation from the University of the Pacific.

Carney one of 24 candidates from cross the country who applied for the city manager's position. Seven front-runners were chosen from the original pool of candidates, and the council interviewed and chose the top three.

They were then interviewed with a community panel and a city staff panel before the council made its final decision.

According to Wednesday's staff report, Carney's first day will be June 3. His base salary will be $275,000 with the option of a one-time $5,000 increase upon relocating to Lodi, staff said.