-Editorial
In a move that has become as predictable as summer heat in the Imperial Valley, the Calexico City Council approved the appointment of yet another interim city manager at their March 5th meeting. This time, the honor goes to Rick Daniels, marking the latest chapter in the city’s revolving-door approach to executive leadership.
With more than 18 city managers—whether permanent, interim, or transitional—since 2006, Calexico continues its well-documented tradition of temporary leadership. The position has been vacant since June 2024 when former City Manager Esperanza Colio-Warren was put on administrative leave before negotiating a separation.
Since 2006, Calexico has seen a revolving door of city managers, with individuals such as Luis Estrada, Marlene Best, Kevin Northcraft, Ralph Velez, Louis Fuentes, Judy Hashem, Victor Carrillo, Oscar Rodriguez, Richard Warren, Andrew Takata, John Quinn, Nick Finley, Armando Villa, Miguel Figueroa, Diego Favila, David Dale, and Esperanza Colio among those who have held the position. The frequent turnover in leadership has been a consistent challenge for the city as it continues its search for long-term stability in administration.
Current Acting City Manager Juan Contreras, who also serves as Interim Fire Chief following Chief Diego Favila’s leave, will continue working with the city. Contreras has been recognized by many in the community for his dedication and accessibility, earning praise for his efforts in both administrative and public safety capacities. Contreras will focus on the current staffing issues at the fire department that need immediate attention.
All the members of the council thanked Contreras for his worked and praised this work ethic.
Councilman Lorenzo Calderon commended Acting City Manager Juan Contreras for his dedication and responsiveness to the community over the past eight months, while also expressing support for incoming Interim City Manager Daniels.
“You’re someone who walks the walk and talks the talk. And I think it was proven here today—when our community called, you responded. You took care of the issues they had locally, and that speaks volumes about you,” Calderon said, addressing Contreras. “Since I’ve been here, I have never seen someone back up and support their staff like you have. Your department is lucky to have you.”
Calderon also voiced his approval of Daniels’ appointment, citing his extensive municipal experience. “I am in favor of this item for several reasons. Mr. Daniels will only be serving as interim city manager for 90 days, but he brings valuable expertise in municipal operations, wastewater management, transportation, economic development, planning, and public works,” he noted.
He further emphasized the city’s urgent need for leadership, particularly in addressing challenges within the fire department. “Our city is facing serious issues with fire services. Since COVID, our firefighters have not been able to take a vacation. What does that tell you? Mental health issues, and fatigue—are real concerns. That is why strong leadership is essential to maintaining the level of medical care and fire response that our citizens deserve.”
“We need structure,” Mayor Diana Nuricumbo said during the discussion on city operations. “That’s one of the things that I spoke about at this strategic workshop. That’s my number one priority. That’s the number one deficiency that I’ve found in the city since the first day I stepped foot into City Hall as the mayor.”
Addressing concerns about city staff, Nuricumbo defended employees, emphasizing that the issue lies not with them but with a lack of organizational structure. “I know a lot of people blame our employees for issues with the city. All I can tell you is that from being here, we have really good employees. We have employees that are dedicated, that have stayed on under a lot of duress, being short-staffed,” she said. “The problem is not the employees, and I’ll tell you that right now. The problem is a lack of structure.”
She highlighted the importance of hiring the right leadership to establish long-term stability. “That’s what Mr. Daniel brings. He brings structure,” Nuricumbo said, referring to the interim leadership tasked with finding a permanent city manager. “We trust that he knows what we need, which is why we’re bringing him on board, so he can find us that permanent city manager that we can have here for many, many years to come.”
Nuricumbo expressed confidence that the search for a new city manager would be completed soon. “We expect that to be in less than 90 days,” she said before moving forward with the council agenda.
Daniels, a retired CalPERS annuitant and former City Manager of Needles and Desert Hot Springs, has been tapped to fill the role from March 6, 2025, to June 6, 2025, or until the city finds someone to take the job on a more permanent basis—whichever comes first. Under Government Code Section 21221(h), Daniels can work up to 960 hours per fiscal year without risking his retirement benefits.
Under the terms of his appointment, Daniels will be paid $105.77 per hour, without additional benefits, overtime, or paid leave. The city council will consider the appointment at its upcoming meeting, where they will once again debate a decision that history suggests will be repeated in a few months.
In the same vein, the Council took action at the February 19 meeting, revising the salary schedule as part of its ongoing search for a permanent City Manager.
The Council approved a revised salary schedule for the City Manager position, increasing the pay range to attract and retain top executive leadership. The new salary range was set between $18,333 and $22,284 per month, up from the previous range of $15,083 to $18,334. Mayor Diana Nuricumbo stated that the adjustment was aimed at making the city more competitive in recruiting the most qualified candidate for the role.
The City Manager, serving as Calexico’s Chief Executive Officer, was responsible for overseeing municipal operations, managing city departments, and implementing policies set by the City Council. The salary increase aligned the position’s compensation with regional benchmarks and industry standards, ensuring the city remained competitive in attracting experienced leadership.
The fiscal impact of the salary adjustment was estimated at $16,642.60 for the remainder of the 2025 fiscal year, with an annual projected cost of $325,216.94 in the following year, accounting for salary adjustments, benefits, and anticipated cost increases.
Councilman Calderon was the sole dissenting vote, expressing concerns about the long-term financial impact on the general fund. He noted that the city’s financial standing remained uncertain, and the salary increase could place additional strain on future budgets
