Ventura makes it official with Bill Ayub as city manager
Former Sheriff Bill Ayub was selected as Ventura’s newest city manager early Tuesday.
The Ventura City Council voted 6-1 in favor of Ayub as a meeting that started Monday evening dragged on past midnight.
Councilmember Liz Campos voted against Ayub's appointment. She said community members in her district opposed his selection because of his law enforcement background.
"Some of them spoke about traumas in their life that I knew nothing about before," Campos said to The Star after the meeting. "Out of respect for them, even knowing that my one vote will be meaningless, I had to say no."
Ayub's contract start date was Tuesday, technically the same day the panel approved his employment agreement. The decision came at a late hour because the council spent about five hours hearing an appeal of an affordable housing project.
"I'm thrilled," Ayub said as council members came by to shake his hand in chambers following the vote. "It's certainly a late hour, but I can't wait to come to work in the morning. There's a lot to do and I'm excited to take it all in."
Ayub was Ventura County sheriff for more than four years until he lost the June 2022 election to Jim Fryhoff and concluded his career on Jan. 2. He holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from CSU Northridge and a master's degree in emergency services administration from CSU Long Beach.
Ayub said he would continue drawing a pension from his employment at the sheriff’s department while he earns a city manager salary.
"I don't have an option to stop it," he said of the county pension. Ayub said his pension is $21,339 a month, with an annual cost of living adjustment capped at 3% maximum per year.
As city manager, he will earn a base salary of $280,000. With benefits, the total annual compensation is worth $351,130, according to the city. Ayub said his salary includes a $500 monthly vehicle allowance and $100 monthly cell phone allowance.
The hiring of a permanent city manager ends months of uncertainty at Ventura City Hall. Since late December, when former City Manager Alex McIntyre resigned after being put on leave, three other men have held the post on an interim basis.
Wes Woods II covers West County for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at wesley.woodsii@vcstar.com, 805-437-0262 or @JournoWes.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Ventura makes it official with Bill Ayub as city manager
